The Literal Meaning of Genesis
BOOK TEN Ten to depart this life) because the contamination of sin, coming from sinful flesh and infecting the soul when it enters the body, will be the ruin of the soul after death unless it is purified by the sacrament of the Mediator while still in the flesh. Thus, they say, this remedy is provided by Divine Providence for any soul which God foreknew would have lived a holy life if it were to live in this world to the age when it could make an act of faith, but which for reasons known to Him alone He wished to be born in a body and which He then without delay took from the body.
When this is their reply, what can be said against them except that we are made uncertain of the salvation of those who after a good life have died peacefully in the Church if each one is to be judged not only according to the life he lived but also according to that which he would have lived if he had been able to live longer? Indeed, in this theory souls are accountable before God not only for past sins but also for future sins, and death does not free them from guilt if it takes them before the sins are committed, nor is any benefit bestowed upon him who was caught up lest evil change his understanding.®° For why is God, knowing this future wickedness as He does, not going to judge man according to it if He came to the aid of an infant who was going to die and provided that the taint of impurity from the sinful body would not harm it and thus decided to give it salvation through baptism because He foreknew that this infant, if it were to live, would have lived a good and faithful life?
29. Can this argument be rejected because it is mine? But perhaps those who maintain that they are certain of this opinion bring forth other texts of Scripture or proofs from reason to remove this ambiguity or at least to show that their theory is not contradicted by the statements of St. Paul, when with considerable emphasis he tells us of the grace by which we are saved, saying, As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive;°® and, As by one man's disobedience many have been made sinners, so by one Man's obedience many will be made just.©' By the many sinners referred to, St. Paul meant all men without exception, and hence just before this, speaking of Adam, he said, ... in whom all have sinned.©8 That the souls of infants cannot be separated