Bonaventure

Quaestio III. Utrum vermis ille sit invariabilis.

Tertio et ultimo quaeritur, utrum vermis ille sit invariabilis. Et quod sic, videtur:

1. Quia culpa est invariabilis; et poena respicit culpam: ergo cum hic vermis sit poena, patet etc.

2. Item, ignis continue affligit et aequaliter: ergo similiter videtur, quod et vermis.

3. Item, omne variabile terminabile; sed vermis ille est interminabilis³: ergo etc.

Contra:

1. Vermis est ex recordatione peccati; sed non simul peccata recolent, cum non sint deiformes: ergo successive. Sed maiori poena⁴ maior debetur remorsus, et ubi hoc, ibi variabilitas: ergo etc.

2. Item, si vermis est, corrodit; sed quando aliquid diutius roditur, magis debilitatur et magis gravatur: ergo poena malorum semper crescit.

3. Item, si semper rodit; cum non sit infinitum bonum, quod adimit, ergo aliquando adimeret totum; sed hoc est impossibile: ergo etc.

Conclusio

Vermis ille non variatur.

Respondeo: Dicendum, quod iusto Dei iudicio, sicut dictum est supra⁵, fiet, ut mali simul omnia peccata memorentur, ut de omnibus continue torqueantur; et ideo vermis est pro omnibus et non intensior nunc quam ante.

Ad argumenta ad oppositum:

Ad 3. Ad illud quod obiicitur de ademptione⁶, dicendum, quod sicut egressus continuus alicuius ab aliquo est dupliciter: vel per innovationem secundum partem et partem, ut rivus a fonte, et motus a motore; aut eiusdem continuatione, ut ramus a radice, et radius a sole: sic ademptio continua vel per novi ablationem, sicut ignis comburit ligna; vel per eius continuationem, sicut ignis infernalis corpus, et dolor animum; et sic vermis continue rodit. Et illud melius supra⁷ patet de poena ignis; et per hunc modum intelligendum est de poena vermis⁸.

On the footnote numbering. Quaracchi restarts its footnote numbering on every printed page. This quaestio sits entirely within printed page 1053, whose register runs 1–11; the markers anchored in this quaestio are notes 3 through 8 of page 1053, and the labels below are qualified accordingly. Notes 1 and 2 of page 1053 anchor in the preceding quaestio (p2-a2-q2), and note 9 — together with its unnumbered continuation at the head of the right-hand footer — and notes 10 and 11 anchor in the following DUBIUM CIRCA LITTERAM MAGISTRI.

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Question III. Whether that worm is unchangeable.

Third and last it is asked whether that worm is unchangeable. And that it is, seems to be the case:

1. Because guilt is unchangeable; and punishment regards guilt: therefore, since this worm is a punishment, it is evident, etc.

2. Likewise, fire afflicts continuously and equally: therefore it likewise seems that the worm does also.

3. Likewise, everything changeable is terminable; but that worm is unterminable³: therefore, etc.

On the contrary:

1. The worm arises from the recollection of sin; but they will not recall their sins all at once, since they are not deiform: therefore successively. But to a greater punishment⁴ a greater remorse is owed, and where this is, there is changeableness: therefore, etc.

2. Likewise, if it is a worm, it gnaws; but when something is gnawed at for a longer time, it is more weakened and more burdened: therefore the punishment of the wicked always increases.

3. Likewise, if it always gnaws: since the good which it takes away is not infinite, therefore at some time it would take away the whole; but this is impossible: therefore, etc.

Conclusion

That worm does not vary.

I respond: It must be said that by the just judgement of God, as was said above⁵, it will come about that the wicked remember all their sins at once, so that they may be continuously tormented over all of them; and therefore the worm is for them all, and is not more intense now than before.

To the arguments on the contrary:

To 3. To that which is objected concerning the taking away⁶, it must be said that, just as the continuous going forth of something from something else is twofold — either by renewal part by part, as a stream from a spring, and motion from a mover; or by the continuation of the same thing, as a branch from a root, and a ray from the sun — so continuous taking away is either by the removal of something new, as fire burns up wood; or by the continuation of the same thing, as infernal fire [consumes] the body, and grief the mind; and in this way the worm continuously gnaws. And that is better made plain above⁷ concerning the punishment of fire; and in this manner it is to be understood concerning the punishment of the worm⁸.

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