1869. As this is a circumstance of life both with spirits and with people on earth, it follows that to those who have faith in the Lord, evil is not accounted, for they are held by the Lord in the belief that the evil is aroused by evil spirits, which is most true, consequently in the truth of faith. Therefore, whatever enters does not defile a person [2944-2946].
1869. Since such is the condition of life both with spirits and with men, it follows that to those who are in faith towards the Lord evil is not imputed, because such an one is held by the Lord in the faith that evil is excited by evil spirits, which is most true, and thus he is in the verity of faith. Whatever, therefore, enters, does not defile the man. In like manner, though a particular act is sometimes excited by the evil, yet it is not imputed for the same reason. But this is a case of very rare occurrence, owing to causes which, by the Divine permission, I shall treat of elsewhere.
1869. Cum talis sit conditio vitae tam spirituum quam hominum, sequitur [quod] 1
qui in fide in Dominum sunt, iis non imputetur malum, nam in fide a Domino tenentur 2
, quod malum excitetur a spiritibus malis, quod verissimum est, ita in veritate fidei; quicquid itaque intrat, non polluit hominem [Matth. XV: 11, Marc. VII: 18]; similiter etiam excitatur a malis, actus quandoque, qui nec tunc imputatur ex eadem causa, sed hoc fit rarissime; ex causis, de quibus Domino dignante, alibi [2944-2946].
Footnotes:
1. sic in J.F.I. Tafel's edition
2. The Manuscript has tenetur