summa-contra-gentiles

CHAPTER XVI 23
agent, which is actuaHzed by a form inherent to it,
and
not by
its whole substance. Hence the Philosopher proves
(7 Metaph.y that material things, which have forms in
matter, are engendered by material agents that have forms
in matter, and not by per se existing forms. Now God is
actual being not by a form inherent to Him, but by His
whole substance, as we have proved above. ^ Therefore the
proper mode of His action is to produce a whole subsistent
thing, and not merely an inherent thing, namely a form in
matter. And every agent that requires no matter for its
action, acts in this way. Therefore God requires no preexisting
matter in His action.
Further. Matter is
compared to an agent as the recipient
of the action proceeding from the :
agent for the action
which is the agent's as proceeding therefrom, is the patient's
as residing therein. Wherefore matter is required by an
agent that it may receive the agent's action : since the
agent's action received in the patient is the patient's act
and form, or some beginning of a form therein.
does not act by an action that requires
Now God
to be received in a
patient because His action : is His substance, as already
proved.' Therefore He requires no prejacent matter in
order to produce an effect.
Further. Every agent that requires prejacent matter in
acting, has a matter proportionate to its action, so that
whatever is in the potency of the agent, is all in the potentiality
of the matter otherwise : it could not bring into act
all that are in its active power, and thus would have that
power, with regard to such things, to no purpose. Now
matter has no such proportion to God. For matter is not
in potentiality to any particular quantity, as the Philosopher
declares (3 Phys.) :* whereas the divine power is simply
infinite, as we proved in the First Book.^ Therefore
God requires no prejacent matter as necessary for His
action.
Again.
Of different things
there are different matters:
* D. 6, viii. 5, 6.
• Chs. viii., ix.
* Bk. I., chs. xxii., xxiii.
* vi. 5. * Ch. xliii.