nature, and has its origin, not in the Creator, but in the will._
It is with reference to the nature, then, and not to the wickedness
of the devil, that we are to understand these words, "This is the
beginning of God's handiwork;"[480] for, without doubt, wickedness
can be a flaw or vice[481] only where the nature previously was not
vitiated. Vice, too, is so contrary to nature, that it cannot but
damage it. And therefore departure from God would be no vice, unless
in a nature whose property it was to abide with God. So that even
the wicked will is a strong proof of the goodness of the nature. But
God, as He is the supremely good Creator of good natures, so is He of
evil wills the most just Ruler; so that, while they make an ill use
of good natures, He makes a good use even of evil wills. Accordingly,
He caused the devil (good by God's creation, wicked by his own will)
to be cast down from his high position, and to become the mockery
of His angels,--that is, He caused his temptations to benefit those
whom he wishes to injure by them. And because God, when He created
him, was certainly not ignorant of his future malignity, and foresaw
the good which He Himself would bring out of his evil, therefore
says the psalm, "This leviathan whom Thou hast made to be a sport
therein,"[482] that we may see that, even while God in His goodness
created him good, He yet had already foreseen and arranged how He
would make use of him when he became wicked.