The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil According to the Holy Scriptures

ARTICULUS II.

Whether the use of matrimony, temporarily interdicted to Adam, can be understood under the tree of the Knowledge of good and evil.

Matrimony
does not
have anything
evil in itself
considered.

The first foundation and reason of our adversaries, perhaps, why they understand under this tree of the knowledge of good and evil the use of matrimony temporarily interdicted to the first man Adam, is that most foul persuasion and opinion—already long since convicted and reprobated by the Church and the Holy Fathers, especially St. Augustine—that this very use comprehends something evil in itself. Thus once taught Saturninus, the disciple of Simon Magus, Marcion, Tatian, the Manichaeans, the Encratites, the Adamites, and the Pelagians, among whom the first-born supporter and defender of the impious Pelagius himself, Julian,