Mozley: A Treatise on the Augustinian Doctrine of

286 Scholastic Doctrine CHAP. x.
and the completeness of the universe requires a difference
of grades, some high and others low in it. And on this
account Grod permits evils to take place, lest good should
be obstructed by its own abundance, and to preserve this
multiformity of grades in the universe. And He deals
with the human race as He does with the universe, He
represents His goodness with that variety which is neces
sary to such representation, in the shape of mercy to those
whom He spares, of punishment to those whom He repro
"
bates
Grod willing to show His wrath, and to
make His power known, endured (i.e. permitted) with
much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruc
tion, that He might make known the riches of His glory
on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared for
glory ;"
and
"in a great house there are not only vessels of
gold and silver, but also of wood and earth, and some to
honour and some to dishonour." But why He has elected
these, and reprobated those, there is no reason but the
Divine Will, as "
Augustine saith, Why He draws this man,
and not that, do not inquire, if thou wouldest not err."
Just as in natural things, a reason can be assigned, why
out of uniform elemental matter one part is put under the
form of fire, and another under the form of earth, and so
on but ; why this or that part of matter is chosen for this
or that form none can be, except the arbitrary will of the
Creator : and as in the case of a building there is a reason
why some stones or other should be put in particular places,
but why these or those stones are selected to be put in the
places, none except the !
arbitrary will of the builder.
Two interpretations evidently divide this explanation and
defence of reprobation, one a severer, the other a milder
one. It is spoken of as positive evil, punishment on sin
1 Sicut in rebus naturalibus po- forma, et ilia sub alia, dependet ex
test assignari ratio, cum prima ma- simplici divina voluntate ; sicut ex
teria tota sit in se uniformis, quare simplici voluntate artificis dependet
una pars ejus est sub forma ignis, et quod ille lapis est in ista parte
alia sub forma terrse a Deo in prin- parietis, et ille in alia, quamvis ratio
cipio condita, ut sic sit diversitas artis habeat quod aliqui sint in hac,
specierum in rebus naturalibus; sed et aliqui sint in ilia. !" Q. 23.
quare haec pars materiae est sub ista A. 5.