even as it was determined for them and ordained from the beginning,
and that they cannot avoid acting amiss.
Now say we of a truth, if it is to be so,
[that it is a useless command] which God commanded through
David, Declina a malo et fac honum :
Turn from evil and do good:' and again the Apostle saith,
' How much the more a man laboureth for God, so much better reward shall he have : '
if each man's life can ever take such a course
that he cannot turn aside from shameful deeds,
then it is unjust for the unrighteous to receive
any punishment for their wickedness.
Likewise the good are unjustly honoured,
if it can be true that it was so determined for them ;
and we labour in vain in our service,
either in alms, or in other deeds,
if we have no more reward from our Lord for it,
than those reckless men who live without consideration,
and go in all things by their own will,
and spend their lives in their own pleasures.
God Almighty formed many creatures,
and gave to none of them their own freedom
or reason, save to the shining angels
and to men, of the creatures whom He formed by His hands.
These two creations possess reason,
and every man hath his own freedom,
so that he knoweth what he willeth, and knoweth what he nilleth,
but nevertheless God compelleth us not to do good,
neither doth He debar us from working evil,
