through their own carelessness, or through the deceit of dæmons. As, then, the rational creatures were wasting away and such noble works perishing, what was God who is good to do? Permit the corruption to prevail against them, and death to hold the mastery over them? In that case, where were the use of their being made in the beginning? For it had been better not to have been made than, having been made, to be neglected and perish. For from neglect weakness, and not goodness, would be detected in