Refutation of the Sects

and that nothing evil has come from the benevolent Creator. There is nothing evil that is evil by nature, and the Creator is not the maker of evil things, but of good things.

And now, which of the created things do they consider good, and which evil? For very often, that which they consider good, when it exists alone without the mixture of its companion, becomes harmful, as has been attested to by all. If the sun is good, yet without the mixture of air, it is scorching and drying. Likewise, the moon has a moist nature, and without the mixture of the sun's heat, it is harmful and corrupting. And air, without the moisture of dew and heat, is harmful and corrupting. Waters flood the earth and corrupt it, and the earth, without waters, tears apart and crumbles. Thus, the four natures from which the world is composed and stands, when separate, are corruptive to one another, and when mixed with their companion, they become