Works of St. Anselm, tr. by Sidney Norton Deane, , at sacred-
texts.com How he justly punishes and justly spares the wicked.
‑‑God, in sparing the wicked, is just, according to his own
nature because he does what is consistent with his goodness; but
he is not just, according to our nature, because he does not
inflict the punishment deserved. BUT it is also just that thou
shouldst punish the wicked. For what is more just than that the
good should receive goods, and the evil, evils? How, then, is it
just that thou shouldst punish the wicked, and, at the same
time, spare the wicked? Or, in one way, dost thou justly punish,
and, in another, justly spare them? For, when thou punishest the
wicked, it is just, because it is consistent with their deserts;
and when, on the other hand, thou sparest the wicked, it is
just, not because it is compatible with their deserts, but
because it is compatible with thy goodness. For, in sparing the
wicked, thou art as just, according to thy nature, but not
according to ours, as tho