|
Objection 1: It would seem that the damned will sometimes think of
God. For one cannot hate a thing actually, except one think about
it. Now the damned will hate God, as stated in the text of
Sentent. iv, in the last Distinction. Therefore they will think of
God sometimes.
Objection 2: Further, the damned will have remorse of conscience.
But the conscience suffers remorse for deeds done against God.
Therefore they will sometimes think of God.
On the contrary, Man's most perfect thoughts are those which are
about God: whereas the damned will be in a state of the greatest
imperfection. Therefore they will not think of God.
I answer that, one may think of God in two ways. First, in
Himself and according to that which is proper to Him, namely that He
is the fount of all goodness: and thus it is altogether impossible to
think of Him without delight, so that the damned will by no means
think of Him in this way. Secondly, according to something
accidental as it were to Him in His effects, such as His
punishments, and so forth, and in this respect the thought of God can
bring sorrow, so that in this way the damned will think of God.
Reply to Objection 1: The damned do not hate God except because
He punishes and forbids what is agreeable to their evil will: and
consequently they will think of Him only as punishing and forbidding.
This suffices for the Reply to the Second Objection, since
conscience will not have remorse for sin except as forbidden by the
Divine commandment.
|
|