Chapter 4.—The Difference Between What is Good in Itself and What is Good by Par-
ticipation.
6. Now, compare with this perplexity, from which you cannot escape, the consistency
of the statements in the teaching of the Catholic Church, according to which there is one
good which is good supremely and in itself, and not by the participation of any good, but
by its own nature and essence; and another good which is good by participation, and by
having something bestowed. Thus it has its being as good from the supreme good, which,
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however, is still self-contained, and loses nothing. This second kind of good is called a
creature, which is liable to hurt through falling away. But of this falling away God is not
the author, for He is author of existence and of being. Here we see the proper use of the
word evil; for it is correctly applied not to essence, but to negation or loss. We see, too, what
nature it is which is liable to hurt. This nature is not the chief evil, for when it is hurt it loses
good; nor is it the chief good, for its falling away from good is because it is good not intrins-
ically, but by possessing the good. And a thing cannot be good by nature when it is spoken
of as being made, which shows that the goodness was bestowed. Thus, on the one hand,
God is the good, and all things which He has made are good, though not so good as He who
made them. For what madman would venture to require that the works should equal the
workman, the creatures the Creator? What more do you want? Could you wish for anything
plainer than this?
The Difference Between What is Good in Itself and What is Good by Participation.
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The Difference Between What is Good in Itself and What is Good by Parti…