CHAPTER II
Of what Sin is, and how we must not take unto ourselves any good
Thing, seeing that it belongeth unto the true Good alone.
The Scripture and the Faith and the Truth say, Sin is nought else, but that the
creature turneth away from the unchangeable Good and betaketh itself to the
changeable; that is to say, that it turneth away from the Perfect to "that
which is in part" and imperfect, and most often to itself. Now mark: when the
creature claimeth for its own anything good, such as Substance, Life,
Knowledge, Power, and in short whatever we should call good, as if it were
that, or possessed that, or that were itself, or that proceeded from it, -- as
often as this cometh to pass, the creature goeth astray. What did the devil do
else, or what was his going astray and his fall else, but that he claimed for
himself to be also somewhat, and would have it that somewhat was his, and
somewhat was due to him? This setting up of a claim and his I and Me and Mine,
these were his going astray, and his fall. And thus it is to this day.