Of God and His Creatures
Connexion of what follows with what has gone before.
There can be no perfect knowledge of anything unless its activity be
known: for from the mode of activity proper to a thing, and the species
to which it belongs, the measure and quality of its power is estimated;
and the power shows the nature of the thing, for each thing is
naturally active according to the nature with which it is actually
endowed.* But there is a twofold activity:* one immanent in the agent, and a perfection of
his, as feeling, understanding and willing; the other passing out to an
exterior thing, and a perfection of the thing made and constituted
thereby, as warming, cutting and building. Both of these acts are
proper to God: the first, inasmuch as he understands, wills, rejoices
and loves; the second inasmuch as He produces and brings things into
being, conserves and governs them. Of the first act of God we have
spoken in the previous book, treating of the divine knowledge and will.
It remains now to treat of the second action, whereby things are
produced and governed by God.
1.102 : That the Happiness of God is most Perfect, and exceeds all other Happiness
2.4 : That the Philosopher and the Theologian view Creatures from different Standpoints