The Literal Meaning of Genesis
BOOK ELEVEN 139
CHAPTER 6
Why God continually allows men to be tempted.
8. Some people are puzzled by this temptation of the first man, wondering why God allowed it to happen, as if they do not see that in our days the whole human race is unceasingly tempted by the snares of the Devil. Why does God allow this also? Perhaps we could say that by these temptations virtue is proved and exercised and that it is a more glorious victory not to have yielded when under temptation than to have been unable to be tempted. Even those who abandon their Creator and follow after their tempter continually tempt those who remain faithful to the word of God and who offer to their tempters an example of how to avoid yielding as a remedy for inordinate desires and arouse in them a holy fear as a remedy for pride. Hence St. Paul says, .. . considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.'8 It is remarkable how Sacred Scripture everywhere shows a continual concern about recommending that humility by which we are subject to our Creator, lest we should presume on our own strength as if we did not need His help.
Hence, since the saints make progress by means of sinners, and the faithful by means of the unfaithful, it is idle to say that God would not create those who He foreknew would be wicked. For why should He not create those who He foreknew would be a help to the good, so that they would be born to exercise and instruct men of good will in a useful way, and that they themselves would be justly punished for their own bad will?
CHAPTER
A creature made so as to be able not to sin 1s good.
9. God, they say, should have made man of such a nature that he would simply not wish to sin. Now I grant that a nature that has no desire at all to sin is a better nature. But let them grant