As I was reading tonight, I ran across this passage from an Orthodox Christian:
Let not fear force you in its usual way to turn your thoughts over in your mind and dwell upon them. On the contrary, rest assured that your Guardian is with you. Let your wisdom convince you with all certainty that with all creation you are under one Lord, Who by a single nod moves everything, shakes, checks and orders everything. Not a single slave can harm any of his fellow slaves without the permission of Him Who provides for all and Who rules all. And so, take courage!
If freedom has been given to some, yet not in everything. Neither demons, nor carnivorous beasts, nor wicked men can carry out their will to destroy and kill unless the supreme Ruler permits it, and says how much they may do. This Will does not permit the free will of evil creatures to act as they like, otherwise no one clothed in flesh would be able to remain alive. But the Lord does not abandon His creation, and does not let devils and men do as they like with it.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the second paragraph? Is this within the realm of tenable orthodox thought? If it is in error, how serious is the error? I know that the Scripture and the Fathers say that it is by God's grace and will that we humans can have good will, but I have never read before (that I can remember) that God sometimes prevents us from going too far in what we will as far as evil goes.
