FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   488   489   490   491   492   493   494   495   496   497   498   499   500   501   502   503   504   505   506   507   508   509   510   511   512  
513   514   515   516   517   518   519   520   521   522   523   524   525   526   527   528   529   530   531   532   533   534   535   536   537   >>   >|  
h is underneath touches that which is above," as Dionysius observes (Div. Nom. vii), even as a man comes into contact with the angel in respect of his intellect. Now cardinal virtues are inferior to the gifts, as stated above (I-II, Q. 68, A. 8). Since, then, counsel is the first and lowest act of prudence, while command is its highest act, and judgment comes between, it seems that the gift corresponding to prudence is not counsel, but rather a gift of judgment or command. Obj. 2: Further, one gift suffices to help one virtue, since the higher a thing is the more one it is, as proved in _De Causis._ Now prudence is helped by the gift of knowledge, which is not only speculative but also practical, as shown above (Q. 9, A. 3). Therefore the gift of counsel does not correspond to the virtue of prudence. Obj. 3: Further, it belongs properly to prudence to direct, as stated above (Q. 47, A. 8). But it belongs to the gift of counsel that man should be directed by God, as stated above (A. 1). Therefore the gift of counsel does not correspond to the virtue of prudence. _On the contrary,_ The gift of counsel is about what has to be done for the sake of the end. Now prudence is about the same matter. Therefore they correspond to one another. _I answer that,_ A lower principle of movement is helped chiefly, and is perfected through being moved by a higher principle of movement, as a body through being moved by a spirit. Now it is evident that the rectitude of human reason is compared to the Divine Reason, as a lower motive principle to a higher: for the Eternal Reason is the supreme rule of all human rectitude. Consequently prudence, which denotes rectitude of reason, is chiefly perfected and helped through being ruled and moved by the Holy Ghost, and this belongs to the gift of counsel, as stated above (A. 1). Therefore the gift of counsel corresponds to prudence, as helping and perfecting it. Reply Obj. 1: To judge and command belongs not to the thing moved, but to the mover. Wherefore, since in the gifts of the Holy Ghost, the position of the human mind is of one moved rather than of a mover, as stated above (A. 1; I-II, Q. 68, A. 1), it follows that it would be unfitting to call the gift corresponding to prudence by the name of command or judgment rather than of counsel whereby it is possible to signify that the counselled mind is moved by another counselling it. Reply Obj. 2: The gift of knowledge does not direc
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   488   489   490   491   492   493   494   495   496   497   498   499   500   501   502   503   504   505   506   507   508   509   510   511   512  
513   514   515   516   517   518   519   520   521   522   523   524   525   526   527   528   529   530   531   532   533   534   535   536   537   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

prudence

 

counsel

 

stated

 

command

 

Therefore

 

belongs

 
principle
 
rectitude
 

correspond

 

helped


higher

 
virtue
 

judgment

 

perfected

 
Further
 

chiefly

 

reason

 
knowledge
 

Reason

 

movement


matter

 

counselling

 

unfitting

 
signify
 

answer

 
counselled
 

Eternal

 

Consequently

 

denotes

 

helping


corresponds

 

perfecting

 

Wherefore

 

compared

 

evident

 

Divine

 

motive

 

position

 

supreme

 

spirit


speculative
 

virtues

 

cardinal

 

intellect

 

inferior

 

lowest

 

respect

 

Dionysius

 

observes

 

touches