Caput 2
The Questioning Soul
A believer challenges the divine order by questioning why suffering, worldly goods, and human agency exist if they lead to conflict with God's will.
Then the religious man mentioned above appeared in his place, saying, "O Christ, Judge, You willingly endured the most bitter suffering; why, because of this, should I not live honorably and take pride in the world?" Also, you gave me worldly goods; why shouldn't I have the things I want? "And why did you give me the limbs of my body, if I'm not meant to move and use them according to my own will?" And why did you give the law and justice, if not to carry out vengeance? "Also, you've allowed for rest and peace; why then have you ordained weariness and tribulation, that we should experience them?"
The Divine Response
The Judge provides a corrective perspective, explaining that pride, worldly goods, bodily limbs, and trials are meant to serve the soul's growth and honor the Creator.
The Judge replied, "My friend, human pride is long endured through my patience, so that humility may be exalted and my power made manifest." And because pride was not created by me but was invented by the devil, it must be shunned, because it leads to hell. Humility, however, must be guarded, because it leads to heaven. It is a humility that I, God, have taught by my word and my example." “Also, worldly goods are given and granted to you by me so that you might use them reasonably, and so that the things which have been created might be turned toward the Uncreated—that is, toward me, the Lord and Creator—by praising and honoring me for my gifts, rather than living according to the desires of the flesh.” The members of the body were given to man so that they might show a certain likeness to the virtues of the soul, and so that they might stand ready for the soul's service and virtue, just like its instruments. I also established justice and law so they might be fulfilled with heavenly love and compassion, and so that divine unity and harmony might be strengthened among people. Also, the reason I gave humanity rest and physical quiet was to strengthen the weakness of the flesh and to help the soul receive fortitude and virtue. But because the flesh sometimes grows arrogant without thinking, trials must be endured, and everything that corrects it should be accepted with gratitude.
Read the original Latin
Item apparuit religiosus qui supra in gradu suo dicens: "O Christe iudex, tu voluntarie sustinuisti amarissimam penam; cur propter hoc ego non debeo honorabiliter me habere et in mundo superbire?"
"Item tu dedisti michi bona temporalia; cur propter hoc non debeo ea, que appeto, possidere?"
"Item cur dedisti michi membra corpori meo, si non debeam ea mouere et exercitare secundum voluntatem meam?"
"Item cur dedisti legem et iusticiam nisi ad vindictam faciendam?"
"Item tu permisisti quietem habere et requiem; cur lassitudinem et tribulacionem ordinasti, vt ea senciamus?"
Respondit iudex: "Amice, superbia hominis ex paciencia mea diu tolleratur, vt exaltetur humilitas virtusque mea manifestetur.
Et quia superbia non est a me creata sed a dyabolo inuenta, ideo fugienda est, quia ducit ad infernum. Humilitas vero custodienda est, quia ducit ad celum. Quam ego Deus docui verbo et exemplo meo."
"Item bona temporalia ideo a me data et concessa sunt homini, vt homo eorum vsum habeat racionabiliter et vt ea, que creata sunt, commutentur in increatum, scilicet in me Dominum creatorem, laudando et honorando me de bonis meis, non autem viuendo secundum desiderium carnis."
"Item membra corporis ideo homini data sunt, vt anime ostendant quandam similitudinem virtutum et vt starent ad officium et virtutem anime tamquam eius instrumenta."
"Item iusticia et lex ideo a me instituta est, vt scilicet impleretur cum superna caritate et compassione et vt inter homines vnitas diuina et concordia firmaretur."
"Item, quod dedi homini, vt requiem et corporalem quietem posset habere, hoc feci ad corroborandam infirmitatem carnis et ad percipiendam anime fortitudinem et virtutem.
Sed quia caro quandoque improuide insolescit, ideo tollerande sunt tribulaciones et omnia illa gratanter, per que corrigatur."
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