The Literal Meaning of Genesis
BOOK ELEVEN I4I
"Only the greater good should exist." And thus, in wishing to establish equality among the kinds of goods, they reduce the number; and senselessly increasing one kind, they destroy the other.
Who would listen to these people if they were to say, "Since sight is more excellent than hearing, there ought to be four eyes and no ears'? Hence, if that rational creature is more excellent which without any fear of punishment serves God without pride, and if among men another has been created who is so constituted that he is unable to recognize God's gifts in himself except in seeing another's punishment, so that he does not become proud but fears,?! that is, he does not presume on himself but relies on God—who in his right mind will say, "This creature ought to be like the other"? The man who makes such an objection should see that he is really saying nothing else than, "This creature ought not to be, but only the other." This attitude reveals a simple and ignorant mind. Why would God not create also those who He foreknew would be wicked, wishing to show His anger and manifest His power, and thus enduring with much patience the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 1n order to make known the riches of Hts glory for the vessels of mercy, which He bas prepared beforehand for glory??? For thus let him who boasts, boast only in the Lord,*? when he sees that not only his existence depends on God, and not on himself, but also that his well-being depends on none other than Him from whom he has his existence. .
11. Consequently, it is inappropriate to say, "There ought not to be any men on whom God would bestow such a gift of His mercy if it could not take place unless there were those also in whom He showed the justice of His punishment."
CHAPTER 9
God willed that men should be what they themselves would will to be.
Why, indeed, should there not be both kinds of men, since the goodness and justice of God are duly proclaimed in both?