All that is true is true of truth; and every soul exists as a soul because of this, by virtue of which it is a true soul. Thus, in every soul, its very existence as a soul is from the truth. However, the soul is one thing, and truth is another; for truth is not at all subject to error, and the soul is often deceived. So, since the soul is from the truth, it is not from itself. The truth is God. Therefore, the soul has God as the Creator of its being.

Question 2. On Free Decision (or Choice, or Arbitrariness)

Everything that happens cannot be equal to the one from whom it comes, because otherwise justice will certainly be removed from nature, which is obliged to give everyone his own. Therefore, when God created man, although He created him the best, He did not create him as He Himself was. And the person who is good voluntarily is better than the one who is good out of necessity. Thus, it was necessary to give man free will (voluntas libera).

Question 3. Is God to blame for the fact that man is getting worse?

A person does not become worse through the fault of a wise person. For this is not a minor sin, but, on the contrary, so great that it cannot be characteristic of any wise man. And God surpasses any wise man. Therefore the less does God make man worse, for the will of God is much more perfect than that of a wise man. And when they say that it is someone's fault, they say that it is also his will. This means that the reason that a person becomes worse is the depravity of the will. And if this depravity, as reason teaches, is certainly not in the will of God, then it should be clarified: in what is it?

Question 4. What is the reason that a person becomes worse?

The reason that a person becomes worse is either in himself, or in something else, or in nothing. If nothing, then there is no reason. Or, if nothing is understood in this way, that man is created out of nothing, or out of that which is created out of nothing, the cause will again be in himself, for nothing is something like his matter. If it is in someone else, then it must be asked, whether in God, or in a certain man, or in that which is neither God nor man. But not in God, for God is the cause of goodness. So, if in a person, then [a person becomes worse] either through violence or through persuasion. But in no way by violence, lest it be found to be stronger than God; for God created man so perfect, that if he had wished to remain the best, nothing to oppose him could have hindered him. But if we agree that a man has become corrupt through the conviction of another man, then we must again ask: He who persuades himself was corrupted by whom, for he who persuades of such a person cannot but be bad. There remains something unknown, which is neither God nor man. But even this, whatever it was, either used violence or persuaded. As for violence, we answer as above. As for persuasion, whatever it may be, we answer, that since persuasion does not compel the unwilling, the cause of his corruption goes to the will of that person himself, whether he is corrupted by someone's conviction or without any conviction.