Thursday, June 01, 2006

Q19 A12: Whether five expressions of will are rightly assigned to the divine will?

Yes. Five expressions of will -- namely, prohibition, precept, counsel, operation, and permission -- are rightly assigned to the divine will because by these signs we name the expression of will by which we are accustomed to show that we will something.

It may be said that permission and operation refer to present time, permission being with respect to evil, operation with regard to good. Whilst as to future time, prohibition is in respect to evil, precept to good that is necessary and counsel to good that is of supererogation.