Caput 3
The Question of Human Appetite
A seeker challenges the Judge regarding the purpose of human senses, desires, and free will.
Then the religious man mentioned earlier appeared in his place and said, "O Judge, I ask you: why did you give us bodily senses if we aren't meant to be moved by the appetites of the flesh and live according to them?" "And why did you give us food and the things that sustain the flesh—that is, meals and other delights—if we aren't meant to live to our fill according to the appetites of the flesh?" Also, why did you give us free will, if not so that we might follow our own desires? “Also, why did you give men and women the seed of union and the nature to go with it, if it isn't to be poured out according to the appetite of the flesh?” And why did you give us a heart and a will, if not so that we might love what tastes the sweetest, and cherish what is most delightful to enjoy?
The Divine Purpose of Creation
The Judge provides a corrective response, explaining that human faculties were designed for virtue, moderation, and union with God.
The Judge replied, "My friend, I gave humanity sense and intelligence to consider and imitate the ways of life, and to flee from the ways of death." I also provided food and physical necessities for the moderate sustenance of the body, so that the soul might more strongly perform its virtues and not be weakened by excessive consumption. I also gave humanity free will for this reason: so they might set aside their own will for my sake—for the sake of me, their God—and through this, gain greater merit. I also gave the seed of human generation for this reason: so that it might sprout in its proper place and manner, and so that it might bear fruit for a just and reasonable cause. “I gave the human heart for this reason: so that a person might hold Me within it—their God, who am everywhere and incomprehensible—and so that in thinking of Me, they might find their delight.”
Read the original Latin
Item apparuit in gradu suo religiosus qui supra dicens: "O iudex, quero a te: Cur dedisti nobis sensus corporeos, si non secundum sensus carnis moueamur et viuamus?"
"Item cur dedisti cibaria et carnis sustentamenta, scilicet cibos et alia delectabilia, si non viuamus ad saturitatem secundum carnis appetitum?"
"Item cur nobis dedisti liberum arbitrium, nisi vt sequamur voluntatem nostram?"
"Item cur dedisti hominibus et mulieribus semen commixtionis et naturam, si non secundum appetitum carnis effundatur?"
"Item cur dedisti cor et voluntatem, nisi vt diligatur, quod sapit dulcius, et ametur, quod delectabilius est ad fruendum?"
Respondit iudex: "Amice, ego dedi homini sensum et intelligenciam ad considerandum et imitandum vias vite et fugiendum vias mortis."
"Item cibos et carnis necessaria dedi pro corporis moderata sustentacione et vt anime virtutes exequeretur forcius et non debilitaretur ex nimia sumpcione."
"Item dedi homini liberum arbitrium ea racione, vt ipse dimitteret propriam voluntatem propter me Deum suum, vt ex hoc homo maius meritum consequeretur."
"Item dedi semen commixtionis ea de causa, vt loco et modo germinaret debito et vt causa iusta et racionabili fructificaret."
"Item ideo dedi homini cor, vt in eo me Deum suum, qui vbique sum et incomprehensibilis, concluderet et vt cogitando in me esset delectacio sua."
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