summa-contra-gentiles

CHAPTER III 5
one astray from the truth of faith, in so far as they disagree
with true knowledge of God. This happens
in several
ways.
First, because through ignorance of the natureof creatures
men are sometimes so far misled as to deem that which
can but derive its
being from something else, to be the first
cause and God, for they think that nothing exists besides
visible creatures. Such were those who thought that any
kind of body was God of whom : it is said (Wis. xiii. 2) ;
Who have . . .
imagined either the fire, or the wind, or
the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or
the sun and moon to he the gods.
Secondly, because they ascribe to certain creatures that
which belongs to God alone. This also results from error
about creatures : for one does not ascribe to a thing that
which is
incompatible with its nature, unless one is
ignorant
of its nature : for instance if we were to ascribe three feet to
a man. Now that which belongs to God alone is incompatible
with the nature of a creature : even as that which
belongs to man alone is
incompatible with another thing's
nature. Hence the foregoing error arises from ignorance
of the creature's nature. Against this error it is said
(Wis. xiv. 21): They gave the incommunicable name^ to
stones and wood. Into this error fell those who ascribe the
creation of things, or the knowledge of the future, or the
working of miracles to causes other than God.
Thirdly, because something
is withdrawn from the divine
power in its working on creatures, through ignorance of
the creature's nature. This is evidenced in those who
ascribe to things a twofold principle, and in those who aver
that things proceed from God, not by the divine will, but
by natural necessity, and in those who withdraw either all
or some things from divine providence, or who deny that it
can work outside the ordinary course of things. For all
these are derogatory to the divine power. Against these it
is said (Job xxii. 17): Who . . . looked upon the Almighty
as if He could do nothing, and (Wis. xii. 17)
: Thou showest
^
V'ulg., names.