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And where would such envy or malice come from in him?It is envy if he deceived his creature by his commands to prevent it from trying, as far as it could, to imitate his virtues.But it is malice—indeed cruelty—if he punishes mortals for unjust acts they committed by obeying his law.
Et unde ei aut tanta invidia aut tanta malignitas? Invidia est enim, si ad hoc decepit praecipiendo creaturam suam, ne virtutes eius, in quantum poterat, conaretur imitari; malignitas autem, immo crudelitas, si puniat propter iniusta opera mortales, quae, cum legi eius oboediunt, perpetrarunt.