Dist. 18, Divisio Textus
Book III: On the Incarnation of the Word · Distinction 18
COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM XVIII.
De usu voluntatis Christi, qui consistit in exercitio merendi.
De merito Christi etiam praetermittendum non est etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Supra egit Magister de voluntate Christi. In hac parte agit de usu voluntatis, qui consistit in exercitio merendi. Dividitur autem pars ista in duas partes. In quarum prima agit de merito Christi in se. Secundo vero agit de ipso ad nostram utilitatem ordinato, ibi : Ad quid ergo voluit pati et mori etc.
Prima pars dividitur in quatuor partes secundum quatuor quaestiones, quas determinat. In prima determinat Magister, cui meruerit principaliter, ostendens, quod aliquid meruit sibi. In secunda vero determinat, quando mereri incepit, ostendens, quod ab instanti conceptionis, ibi : Nec solum hoc meruit etc. In tertia vero determinat, quid meruerit, ostendens, quod non tantum gloriam impassibilitatis, sed etiam exaltationem nominis, ibi : Nec tantum gloriam impassibilitatis etc. In quarta vero determinat, qua necessitate merueritp379-1, ibi : Si vero quaeritur, utrum Christus etc.
Secunda vero pars principalis dividitur in duas partes. In quarum prima proponit efficaciam meriti Christi respectu nostri. In secunda vero multiplici auctoritate confirmat, ibi : Sed quomodo per mortem nos a diabolo redemit etc. Subdivisionesp379-2 partim manifestae sunt in littera.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam autem huius partis, in qua agitur de merito Christi, incidit hic quaestio circa duo.
Primo quaeritur de ipsius merito quantum ad usum sive exercitium.
Secundo vero quantum ad praemium sive fructum.
Circa primum quaeruntur tria.
Primo quaeritur, utrum Christus meruerit ab instanti conceptionis.
Secundo quaeritur, utrum aliquid meruerit post conceptionem.
Tertio quaeritur, utrum aliquid meruerit in passione.
COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XVIII.
On the use of Christ's will, which consists in the exercise of meriting.
"Concerning the merit of Christ also it must not be passed over," etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Above the Master treated of the will of Christ. In this part he treats of the use of the will, which consists in the exercise of meriting. Now this part is divided into two parts. In the first of these he treats of the merit of Christ in himself. Secondly he treats of it as ordered to our benefit, there: "To what end, then, did he will to suffer and die," etc.
The first part is divided into four parts according to the four questions which he determines. In the first the Master determines for whom he merited principally, showing that he merited something for himself. In the second he determines when he began to merit, showing that it was from the instant of conception, there: "Nor did he merit this alone," etc. In the third he determines what he merited, showing that it was not only the glory of impassibility, but also the exaltation of the name, there: "Nor only the glory of impassibility," etc. In the fourth he determines by what necessity he meritedp379-1, there: "But if it is asked whether Christ," etc.
The second principal part is divided into two parts. In the first of these he sets forth the efficacy of Christ's merit with respect to us. In the second he confirms it by manifold authority, there: "But how did he redeem us from the devil by his death," etc. The subdivisionsp379-2 are partly evident in the text.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
Now for the understanding of this part, in which there is treatment of the merit of Christ, a question arises here concerning two things.
First, there is inquiry concerning his merit as to its use or exercise.
Secondly, as to the reward or fruit.
Concerning the first, three things are asked.
First, it is asked whether Christ merited from the instant of conception.
Secondly, it is asked whether he merited anything after the conception.
Thirdly, it is asked whether he merited anything in the passion.
- Cod. O In quarta ostendit, quando et qualiter meruerit.Codex O: "In the fourth he shows when and how he merited."
- Codd. A K adiiciunt autem.Codices A and K add autem ("however").