Natural Knowledge of God in the Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquina
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goodness or be<strong>in</strong>g to Hi. ettect •• 25<br />
In <strong>the</strong> part ot <strong>the</strong> chapt.r ju.t oompl.ted, we oonsider.d <strong>God</strong> <strong>in</strong> Him<br />
.elt, a. He makes known <strong>the</strong> pertections at His Be<strong>in</strong>g through Hia oreated<br />
. ...,<br />
similitudes. We now ask our.elves if <strong>the</strong>re is anyth<strong>in</strong>g fur<strong>the</strong>r to be pred-<br />
icated ot <strong>God</strong> by oonsider<strong>in</strong>g Hi. a. <strong>the</strong> active Pr<strong>in</strong>oiple ot His ext.rnal<br />
ettect.. <strong>God</strong> haa produced manitold ettecta. Do <strong>the</strong>n exhau.t <strong>the</strong> power<br />
.'<br />
30<br />
ot <strong>God</strong>?<br />
Or can limit. be assigned to His p~r?<br />
~e power ot <strong>God</strong> i. purely active .<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong>re is no potentiality <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>God</strong>. Beoause <strong>God</strong> is pure act, because He is First Be<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>the</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>ciple<br />
<strong>of</strong> all o<strong>the</strong>r be<strong>in</strong>gs, <strong>the</strong>re mu.t be power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> highest degree <strong>in</strong> <strong>God</strong>. 2S<br />
1hil power is not to be thought ot as dist<strong>in</strong>ot trom His <strong>in</strong>tellect or will,<br />
it is ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> act ot His <strong>in</strong>tellect or at His will. 1be di.t<strong>in</strong>ction between<br />
<strong>God</strong>' •. power and His knowledge is a produot <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d; <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Div<strong>in</strong>e<br />
28St. !homa., Summa !heolegioa, I a, q. 13, art. 2, cor.1<br />
!herefore <strong>the</strong> atoresaid name. [lite, goodnes., eto.] .ignify ~<br />
div<strong>in</strong>e substanoe, but <strong>in</strong> an imp.rfect .anDer, .ven as oreatures repre •• nt<br />
it imperteotly. So when we say <strong>God</strong> .!! good, <strong>the</strong> mean<strong>in</strong>g is not, ~.!!.<br />
<strong>the</strong> oau •• ot ~oodn.ss,<br />
or <strong>God</strong> is not eTil, but <strong>the</strong> mean<strong>in</strong>g is, whatever<br />
good !! attri ute ~ oreatU'r.s-;-pre-eii'its <strong>in</strong> <strong>God</strong>, and <strong>in</strong> a more excellent<br />
and higher way. Henoe it doe. not tollow that <strong>God</strong> is good, because H.<br />
cause. goodness, but'ra<strong>the</strong>r, on <strong>the</strong> contrary, He cause. goodness <strong>in</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
becau.e H. i. good; aooord<strong>in</strong>g to what August<strong>in</strong>e says (De Dootr. Christ, i,<br />
32), beoause !!!..!! good, !!!!!. -<br />
I<br />
26 St. !homa., Summa !heologica, I a, q. 25, art. 1, oor.1<br />
For it 1s manitest that .veryth<strong>in</strong>g, acoord<strong>in</strong>g as it is <strong>in</strong> aot'and i.<br />
perteot, i. <strong>the</strong> active pr<strong>in</strong>ciple ot someth<strong>in</strong>g ••••• ow ••• <strong>God</strong> is pur. aot,<br />
.implyand <strong>in</strong> all ways pertect •••• Whence it .ost titt<strong>in</strong>gly belong. to Him<br />
to be an active pr<strong>in</strong>cipl ••••• On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, <strong>the</strong> notion <strong>of</strong> active pr<strong>in</strong>oiple<br />
is oon.istent with aotive power •••• It rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong>refore that <strong>in</strong> <strong>God</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>re is active power <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> highest degree.
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