Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/24



THE Apostle has taught us on the preceding Sunday to arise from the dead; on this day he teaches us towards what we ought to arise, for the Scripture, which our heavenly Master has given for us, is to be studied and read. And the Lord as a good Master was the more solicitous to provide us with the best writings, that He might make us perfectly instructed. "Whatever things," He said, "were written, were written for our learning." But these writings are comprised in two books that is to say, in the Book of Creation, and in the Book of Scripture. The first book has so many creations: it has just so many most perfect writings, which teach the truth without a lie; hence, when Aristotle was asked whence he had learnt so many and so great things, answered, " From the things themselves, which know not how to deceive." But they teach two things to be learned; and of the things which may be known four things are to be taught. First, that there is a God; secondly, that this God is one; thirdly, that this God is triune; and, fourthly, that He is the highest good. For the world teaches by itself that it is His work. Wis. xiii. 5, "For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the Creator of them may be seen, to be known thereby." Because they are one, and are preserved, in the same manner, they teach the unity of God; for, if there were many Gods, the world would have already been destroyed, since division is the cause of destruction." S. Matt. xii. 25, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." For all things exist by number, weight, and measure; or, according to S. Augustine, " On the Trinity by mode, by species, and by order; so that they teach a three-fold Godhead." Wis. xi. 21 , " Thou hast ordered all things in measure, number, and weight." Because all things are good, they teach that He is the highest goodness through Whom so many good things proceed. According to S. Augustine it is a great token of goodness that every creature conceives itself to be good; therefore, because God is good,