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Why, said Havilah, does Aza inquire respecting evil, if he believes that all things are from God?
Not for myself, said Aza smiling; for since I believe in the absolute predestination which the Prophet taught, none of these questions trouble me. I inquired, because one who holds that sin is the work either of the Despairing One, or of man himself, inquired thus of me concerning Adam and every other sinner. He inquired, as Adam did of Moses, why he should suffer for that which was preordained; and whether it is not a mockery to give threats and promises when the issue is already fixed?
If such an one should inquire again, said Havilah, tell him that we will explain why there is guilt, and sorrow the consequence of guilt, when he shall declare why his gardens are not full of the fruit and waters of Paradise; why the life of man is not stretched out to a thousand years; and why all his days are not filled with gladness. Why man is not made equal to the holy among the genii, and the genii to the angels, and the angels to the archangels, we know no more than why there is evil in the world.
Tell him also, said Eber, that it is no mock-
