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Objection 1: It would seem that the elements will not be renewed by
receiving some kind of brightness. For just as light is a quality
proper to a heavenly body, so are hot and cold, wet and dry.
qualities proper to the elements. Therefore as the heaven is renewed
by an increase of brightness, so ought the elements to be renewed by an
increase of active and passive qualities.
Objection 2: Further, rarity, and density are qualities of the
elements, and the elements will not be deprived of them at this
renewal. Now the rarity and density of the elements would seem to be
an obstacle to brightness, since a bright body needs to be condensed,
for which reason the rarity of the air seems incompatible with
brightness, and in like manner the density of the earth which is an
obstacle to transparency. Therefore it is impossible for the elements
to be renewed by the addition of brightness.
Objection 3: Further, it is agreed that the damned will be in the
earth. Yet they will be in darkness not only internal but also
external. Therefore the earth will not be endowed with brightness in
this renewal, nor for the same reason will the other elements.
Objection 4: Further, increase of brightness in the elements
implies an increase of heat. If therefore at this renewal the
brightness of the elements be greater than it is now, their heat will
likewise be greater; and thus it would seem that they will be changed
from their natural qualities, which are in them according to a fixed
measure: and this is absurd.
Objection 5: Further, the good of the universe which consists in
the order and harmony of the parts is more excellent than the good of
any individual creature. But if one creature be bettered, the good of
the universe is done away, since there will no longer be the same
harmony. Therefore if the elemental bodies, which according to their
natural degree in the universe should be devoid of brightness, were to
be endowed with brightness, the perfection of the universe would be
diminished thereby rather than increased.
On the contrary, It is written (Apoc. 21:1): "I saw a new
heaven and a new earth." Now the heaven will be renewed by an
increase of brightness. Therefore the earth and likewise the other
elements will also.
Further, the lower bodies, like the higher, are for man's use.
Now the corporeal creature will be rewarded for its services to man,
as a gloss of Ambrose seems to say on Rm. 8:22, "Every
creature groaneth," and a gloss of Jerome on Is. 30:26,
"And the light of the moon shall be," etc. Therefore the elements
will be glorified as well as the heavenly bodies.
Further, man's body is composed of the elements. Therefore the
elemental particles that are in man's body will be glorified by the
addition of brightness when man is glorified. Now it is fitting that
whole and part should have the same disposition. Therefore it is
fitting that the elements themselves should be endowed with brightness.
I answer that, Just as there is a certain order between the heavenly
spirits and the earthly or human spirits, so is there an order between
heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. Since then the corporeal creature
was made for the sake of the spiritual and is ruled thereby, it follows
that corporeal things are dealt with similarly to spiritual things.
Now in this final consummation of things the lower spirits will receive
the properties of the higher spirits, because men will be as the angels
in heaven (Mt. 22:30): and this will be accomplished by
conferring the highest degree of perfection on that in which the human
spirit agrees with the angelic. Wherefore, in like manner, since the
lower bodies do not agree with the heavenly bodies except in the nature
of light and transparency (De Anima ii), it follows that the lower
bodies are to be perfected chiefly as regards brightness. Hence all
the elements will be clothed with a certain brightness, not equally,
however, but according to their mode: for it is said that the earth on
its outward surface will be as transparent as glass, water as crystal,
the air as heaven, fire as the lights of heaven.
Reply to Objection 1: As stated above (Article 1), the renewal
of the world is directed to the effect that man even by his senses may
as it were see the Godhead by manifest signs. Now the most spiritual
and subtle of our senses is the sight. Consequently all the lower
bodies need to be bettered, chiefly as regards the visible qualities
the principle of which is light. On the other hand, the elemental
qualities regard the touch, which is the most material of the senses,
and the excess of their contrariety is more displeasing than pleasant;
whereas excess of light will be pleasant, since it has no contrariety,
except on account of a weakness in the organ, such as will not be
then.
Reply to Objection 2: The air will be bright, not as casting forth
rays, but as an enlightened transparency; while the earth, although
it is opaque through lack of light, yet by the Divine power its
surface will be clothed with the glory of brightness, without prejudice
to its density.
Reply to Objection 3: The earth will not be glorified with
brightness in the infernal regions; but instead of this glory, that
part of the earth will have the rational spirits of men and demons who
though weak by reason of sin are nevertheless superior to any corporeal
quality by the dignity of their nature. or we may say that, though the
whole earth be glorified, the wicked will nevertheless be in exterior
darkness, since even the fire of hell, while shining for them in one
respect, will be unable to enlighten them in another.
Reply to Objection 4: This brightness will be in these bodies even
as it is in the heavenly bodies, in which it causes no heat, because
these bodies will then be unalterable, as the heavenly bodies are now.
Reply to Objection 5: The order of the universe will not be done
away by the betterment of the elements, because all the other parts
will also be bettered, and so the same harmony will remain.
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