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Natural Knowledge of God in the Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquina

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all th<strong>in</strong>gs a. <strong>the</strong>y are. trom Hia own div<strong>in</strong>e essence down to <strong>the</strong> l'ast ot<br />

creatures. <strong>God</strong>'a be<strong>in</strong>g ia not only contormed to Hia <strong>in</strong>tellect; it ia <strong>the</strong><br />

act ot Hia <strong>in</strong>tellect; .... may say, <strong>the</strong>retore, that <strong>the</strong>re 18' truth <strong>in</strong> <strong>God</strong>' a<br />

.<br />

• 47<br />

<strong>in</strong>tellect. <strong>God</strong>'. knowledge or understand<strong>in</strong>g ia <strong>the</strong> cause ot every e<strong>the</strong>r<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g, His <strong>in</strong>tellect has made th<strong>in</strong>gs to expresa a oerta<strong>in</strong> degree ot likeness<br />

to His div<strong>in</strong>e essence. S<strong>in</strong>oe every creature i. easentially what <strong>God</strong><br />

has determ<strong>in</strong>ed it to be, <strong>God</strong> apprehends every.oreature as it is. 1here i8,<br />

<strong>the</strong>n, no <strong>in</strong>equality between <strong>the</strong> Div<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>tellect and created be<strong>in</strong>g.; <strong>the</strong>retore,<br />

<strong>the</strong>re i. truth <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Div<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>telleot. 21<br />

Hot only oan we say that<br />

<strong>the</strong>re i. truth <strong>in</strong> <strong>God</strong>, but, because Hi •. knowledge i. <strong>the</strong> cause or measure<br />

ot <strong>the</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g ot every creature, His knowledge is also <strong>the</strong> oause ot <strong>the</strong><br />

truth ot th<strong>in</strong>gs; that i., ot <strong>the</strong>ir contormity to His knowledge ot <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

Hi. truth is likewise <strong>the</strong> measure ot <strong>the</strong> truth ot every created <strong>in</strong>tellect.<br />

For human knowledge is true it it contorms to th<strong>in</strong>gs and th<strong>in</strong>gs are true<br />

because <strong>the</strong>y contorm to <strong>the</strong> Div<strong>in</strong>e M<strong>in</strong>d.<br />

Truth is <strong>the</strong> oontonrd ty ot<br />

thought and th<strong>in</strong>g. How <strong>God</strong> 11 First <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> order ot <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>telligible as<br />

He i. Fir8t <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> order ot Be<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

1heretore, <strong>God</strong> i. <strong>the</strong> tir.t and supreme<br />

Truth.<br />

Beoause <strong>God</strong> i. His own essence, we _y .ay fur<strong>the</strong>r, that,<br />

as regards truth ot <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tellect or ot th<strong>in</strong>gs, <strong>God</strong>.!!!!!!. ~ truth, or

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