|
Objection 1: It would seem that in creatures there is not
necessarily found a trace of the Trinity. For anything can be traced
through its traces. But the trinity of persons cannot be traced from
the creatures, as was above stated (Question 32, Article 1).
Therefore there is no trace of the Trinity in creatures.
Objection 2: Further, whatever is in creatures is created.
Therefore if the trace of the Trinity is found in creatures according
to some of their properties, and if everything created has a trace of
the Trinity, it follows that we can find a trace of the Trinity in
each of these (properties): and so on to infinitude.
Objection 3: Further, the effect represents only its own cause.
But the causality of creatures belongs to the common nature, and not
to the relations whereby the Persons are distinguished and numbered.
Therefore in the creature is to be found a trace not of the Trinity
but of the unity of essence.
On the contrary, Augustine says (De Trin. vi, 10), that
"the trace of the Trinity appears in creatures."
I answer that, Every effect in some degree represents its cause, but
diversely. For some effects represent only the causality of the
cause, but not its form; as smoke represents fire. Such a
representation is called a "trace": for a trace shows that someone
has passed by but not who it is. Other effects represent the cause as
regards the similitude of its form, as fire generated represents fire
generating; and a statue of Mercury represents Mercury; and this is
called the representation of "image." Now the processions of the
divine Persons are referred to the acts of intellect and will, as was
said above (Question 27). For the Son proceeds as the word of
the intellect; and the Holy Ghost proceeds as love of the will.
Therefore in rational creatures, possessing intellect and will, there
is found the representation of the Trinity by way of image, inasmuch
as there is found in them the word conceived, and the love proceeding.
But in all creatures there is found the trace of the Trinity,
inasmuch as in every creature are found some things which are
necessarily reduced to the divine Persons as to their cause. For
every creature subsists in its own being, and has a form, whereby it
is determined to a species, and has relation to something else.
Therefore as it is a created substance, it represents the cause and
principle; and so in that manner it shows the Person of the Father,
Who is the "principle from no principle." According as it has a
form and species, it represents the Word as the form of the thing made
by art is from the conception of the craftsman. According as it has
relation of order, it represents the Holy Ghost, inasmuch as He is
love, because the order of the effect to something else is from the
will of the Creator. And therefore Augustine says (De Trin. vi
10) that the trace of the Trinity is found in every creature,
according "as it is one individual," and according "as it is formed
by a species," and according as it "has a certain relation of
order." And to these also are reduced those three, "number,"
"weight," and "measure," mentioned in the Book of Wisdom
(9:21). For "measure" refers to the substance of the thing
limited by its principles, "number" refers to the species,
"weight" refers to the order. And to these three are reduced the
other three mentioned by Augustine (De Nat. Boni iii),
"mode," "species," and "order," and also those he mentions
(Questions. 83, qu. 18): "that which exists; whereby it is
distinguished; whereby it agrees." For a thing exists by its
substance, is distinct by its form, and agrees by its order. Other
similar expressions may be easily reduced to the above.
Reply to Objection 1: The representation of the trace is to be
referred to the appropriations: in which manner we are able to arrive
at a knowledge of the trinity of the divine persons from creatures, as
we have said (Question 32, Article 1).
Reply to Objection 2: A creature properly speaking is a thing
self-subsisting; and in such are the three above-mentioned things to
be found. Nor is it necessary that these three things should be found
in all that exists in the creature; but only to a subsisting being is
the trace ascribed in regard to those three things.
Reply to Objection 3: The processions of the persons are also in
some way the cause and type of creation; as appears from the above
(Article 6).
|
|