Chapter 23.—Summary of the
Results of the Preceding Discussion.
As it is right that we should know
the causes of good and evil, so much of them at least as will
suffice for the way that leads us to the kingdom, where there will
be life without the shadow of death, truth without any alloy of
error, and happiness unbroken by any sorrow, I have discussed these
subjects with the brevity which my limited space demanded. And I
think there cannot now be any doubt, that the only cause of any
good that we enjoy is the goodness of God, and that the only cause
of evil is the falling away from the unchangeable good of a being
made good but changeable, first in the case of an angel, and
afterwards in the case of man.