The Literal Meaning of Genesis (continued)
for their part that, on the one hand, a nature is not evil if it is so made that it would be able not to sin if it were unwilling, and that, on the other hand, the decree by which it has been punished is just, since it has sinned by its free will and not by compulsion. If right reason tells us that that creature! is better which finds absolutely no pleasure in what is forbidden, it also tells us that that creature is good which has it in its power to control a forbidden pleasure that may arise, so that it rejoices not only in lawful and just actions but also in the control of sinful pleasure. Hence, since the latter nature is good and the former better, why should God make only the former and not both? Therefore, those who were ready to praise God only for the first class of creatures ought to praise Him all the more for both classes. The former class is found in the holy angels, the latter in holy men.?°
But those who have chosen evil have willingly and culpably corrupted a praiseworthy nature. However, the fact that this was foreknown is certainly no reason why they should not have been created. For they also have a place to fill in creation for the good of the saints. God, indeed, does not need the justice of any good man. How much less does He need the iniquity of a sinner!
CHAPTER 8
Why God created those who He foreknew would be wicked.
10. Who could say after serious thought, "It would be better for God not to create a man who He foreknew could be corrected by another's sin than to create that other who He foreknew must be condemned for his sin"? This would be to say that it is better that a man should not exist who by God's mercy would receive a crown of glory for using wisely the sin of another, than for that sinner also to exist who would be justly punished according to his deserts. For when reason shows beyond any doubt that there are two good things not equally good, but one superior to the other, simple people do not understand and say, "The two should be equal," which is equivalent to Saying,