Book XIV

That the disobedience of the first man would have plunged all men into the endless misery of the second death, had not the grace of God rescued many.

Of carnal life, which is to be understood not only of living in bodily indulgence, but also of
living in the vices of the inner man.

That sin is caused not by the flesh, but by the soul, and that the corruption contracted from
sin is not sin, but sin’s punishment.

What it is to live according to man, and what to live according to God.

Of the character of the human will which makes the affections of the soul right or wrong.

That the words love and regard (amor and dilectio) are in Scripture used indifferently of
good and evil affection.

Of the three perturbations, which the Stoics admitted in the soul of the wise man to the exclusion of grief or sadness, which the manly mind ought not to experience.

Of the perturbations of the soul which appear as right affections in the life of the righteous.

Whether it is to be believed that our first parents in Paradise, before they sinned, were free
from all perturbation.

Of the fall of the first man, in whom nature was created good, and can be restored only by
its Author.

Of the nature of man’s first sin.

That in Adam’s sin an evil will preceded the evil act.

Of the pride in the sin, which was worse than the sin itself.

Of the justice of the punishment with which our first parents were visited for their
disobedience.

Of the nakedness of our first parents, which they saw after their base and shameful sin.

Of the shame which attends all sexual intercourse.

That it is now necessary, as it was not before man sinned, to bridle anger and lust by the
restraining influence of wisdom.

Of the foolish beastliness of the Cynics.

That man’s transgression did not annul the blessing of fecundity pronounced upon man
before he sinned, but infected it with the disease of lust.

Of the conjugal union as it was originally instituted and blessed by God.

Whether generation should have taken place even in Paradise had man not sinned, or whether
there should have been any contention there between chastity and lust.

That if men had remained innocent and obedient in Paradise, the generative organs should
have been in subjection to the will as the other members are.

Of true blessedness, which this present life cannot enjoy.

That we are to believe that in Paradise our first parents begat offspring without blushing.

Of the angels and men who sinned, and that their wickedness did not disturb the order of
God’s providence.

Of the nature of the two cities, the earthly and the heavenly.