Dist. 12, Divisio Textus
Book II: On the Creation of Things · Distinction 12
COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM XII.
De conditione naturae corporalis.
Haec de angelicae naturae conditione etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Supra egit Magister de conditione naturae spiritualis; in hac secunda parte agit de conditione corporalis. Et quoniam creaturae corporalis duo sunt principia, videlicet materiale et formale; ideo pars ista duas habet. In prima agit de productione creaturae corporalis quantum ad principium materiale; et haec productio dicitur creatio. In secunda agit de productione ipsius quantum ad principium formale; et haec productio dicitur distinctio, infra distinctione decima tertia: Prima autem distinctionis operatio fuit etc.
Prima pars continet praesentem distinctionem, in qua intendit agere de materiae rerum corporalium productione. Et quoniam circa productionem materiae corporalis duae fuerunt solemnes opiniones, ideo pars illa duas habet. In prima unam ex illis eligit. In secunda iuxta illam opinionem de materia illa tractat et inquirit, ibi: De qua re priusquam tractemus etc. — Prima pars habet quatuor particulas. In prima dicta dicendis continuat. In secunda diversas opiniones Sanctorum circa productionem materiae corporalium explicat, ibi: Quidam namque sanctorum etc. In tertia alteram ex illis opinionibus eligit et explanat, ibi: Secundum hanc itaque traditionem etc. In quarta et ultima quoddam dubium determinat, ibi: Attende, quia hic dicit Augustinus etc.
Similiter secunda pars principalis, in qua de ipsa materia secundum opinionem prius1 electam inquirit, quatuor habet partes. In prima determinat, qualiter fuerit informis et confusa. In secunda determinat, ubi fuerit locata, ibi: Nunc superest quod secundo proponebatur. In tertia vero anticipando determinat, quibus diebus, vel in quot fuerit distincta, ibi: Nunc superest, ut dispositionem etc. Quarto vero et ultimo auctoritate Alcuini confirmat, ibi: Quatuor enim modis, ut dicit Alcuinus etc.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam huius partis secundum duo, quae Magister determinat de informi materia corporalium, circa duo hic incidit dubitatio.
Primo circa materiae informitatem. Secundo vero circa eius quantitatem.
Circa primum quaeruntur tria. Primo quaeritur, utrum materia corporalium creata sit in omnimoda possibilitate. Secundo, utrum creata sit in perfecta actualitate. Tertio, utrum creata sit sub aliqua formarum diversitate.
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COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XII.
On the condition of corporeal nature.
These things [are said] concerning the condition of angelic nature etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Above, the Master treated of the condition of spiritual nature; in this second part he treats of the condition of corporeal [nature]. And since the corporeal creature has two principles, namely the material and the formal, this part therefore has two [sections]. In the first he treats of the production of the corporeal creature as regards its material principle; and this production is called creation. In the second he treats of the production of the same as regards its formal principle; and this production is called distinction, below in the thirteenth distinction: Now the first operation of the distinction was etc.
The first part contains the present distinction, in which he intends to treat of the production of the matter of corporeal things. And since concerning the production of corporeal matter there were two solemn opinions, this part therefore has two [subsections]. In the first he chooses one of them. In the second he treats of that matter and inquires concerning it according to that opinion, there: Concerning which matter, before we treat etc. — The first part has four particles. In the first he joins what has been said with what is to be said. In the second he sets forth the various opinions of the Saints concerning the production of corporeal matter, there: For certain of the saints etc. In the third he chooses and explains one of these opinions, there: According to this tradition therefore etc. In the fourth and last he determines a certain doubt, there: Note, that here Augustine says etc.
Likewise the second principal part, in which he inquires concerning the matter itself according to the opinion previously1 chosen, has four parts. In the first he determines in what manner it was formless and confused. In the second he determines where it was located, there: Now it remains [to consider] what was proposed in the second place. In the third, anticipating, he determines on which days, or in how many [days], it was distinguished, there: Now it remains, that the disposition etc. Fourthly and lastly he confirms [the matter] by the authority of Alcuin, there: For in four modes, as Alcuin says etc.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
For the understanding of this part, according to the two matters which the Master determines concerning the formless matter of corporeal things, a doubt arises here concerning two matters.
First, concerning the informity of matter. Secondly, concerning its quantity.
Concerning the first, three [questions] are asked. First it is asked whether the matter of corporeal things was created in complete possibility. Secondly, whether it was created in perfect actuality. Thirdly, whether it was created under any diversity of forms.
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- Vat. cum pluribus codd. plus, refragantibus aliis codd. et ed. 1.The Vatican edition together with several codices [reads] plus, with other codices and edition 1 dissenting. ---