Dist. 48, Art. 2, Q. 2
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/4/d/48/q/bon-sent-IV-d48-a2-q2
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### Article II. *On the renewal of the higher bodies.*
### Question II. *Whether the supercelestial bodies will come to rest.*

Secondly it is asked, whether the supercelestial bodies will come to rest. And that they will, it seems:

1. Because the motion of the supercelestial bodies is on account of continual generation; but every generation is ordered to the multiplication of men, and the multiplication of men to the perfection of the supernal city: if therefore it is necessary that that city be perfected, it is necessary that all generation cease: therefore also the motion of the supercelestial bodies, and so forth.

2. Likewise, every motion is on account of some end; but every ordered motion, unless it be in vain, at some time attains its end; but what is moved on account of something, once that is attained, comes to rest: therefore, since the motion of the supercelestial bodies is of this kind, it is clear, etc.

3. Likewise, rest is a nobler disposition than motion; which is clear in God: therefore if the world after the resurrection will be in the best disposition, all bodies in it will be at rest.

4. Likewise, reason says this, and not faith only, that all things were created on account of man and for the work of service: therefore all things ought to have a use and an act suited to human service; but incorruptible man after the resurrection has no need of variable service: therefore, etc.

**On the contrary:**

1. The supercelestial bodies serve man by light and by motion; but because they serve by light, they are rewarded with greater light: therefore, since they serve in motion, they ought to be rewarded with swifter motion.

2. Likewise, a spherical body is naturally apt for motion; but by grace a natural aptitude is perfected and is not rendered imperfect; but each thing is more perfect when it is joined to its act: therefore the spherical bodies will be moved actually and continuously.

3. Likewise, nothing that belongs to a thing according to its assimilation to God ought ever to be taken away by way of reward; but «the supercelestial bodies, as the Commentator says, are moved that they may be assimilated to God», and in that very motion they are assimilated: therefore, etc.

4. Likewise, circular motion is by nature unterminable; but God by glory will not destroy nature: therefore he will not terminate the motion of the supercelestial bodies; and if this: therefore they will always be moved.

### Conclusion

> *The motion of the supercelestial bodies will be terminated, although by nature it does not have of itself a term within.*

**I respond:** It must be said that, as Isidore says, and as is had in the text, «the sun and the moon after the judgement will not tend toward their setting, but will stand in their own order, in which they were created».

But for the understanding of the objections it must be noted that in motion there is a twofold end to consider, namely the *end within*, and this is called the *term* or *consummation*; and the *end without*, and this is the *term of intention*, as for example, when a stone descends from above to the earth, the place of the earth is the end, which is the *term within*;

but rest in that place is the end which is the *term of intention*. — I say therefore that there are certain motions which naturally have both ends, as are *rectilinear* motions; but there are certain motions which have the one *by nature*, namely the *end of intention*, while the other they have only *by reason of the moving principle itself*, as is the circular motion of a wheel which is turned for the sharpening of a knife. For that the wheel should rest now, or afterwards, is not determined, because it could always be moved if there were one who could and would move it; but when the knife has been made sharp, since that motion was ordered to this, it was necessary that it come to rest, or else be done in vain.

Since, therefore, the motion of the supercelestial bodies is ordered to the completing of the number of the elect, and it is necessary that that number be completed: therefore the motion also is terminated, although by nature it does not have of itself a *term within*.

**To the arguments:**

*To 1.* To that which is objected, that it is rewarded in light, therefore it ought to be rewarded in motion; it must be said that the case is not alike: because the service of *motion* does not belong to the bodies of the Blessed in the same way as the service of *light*.

*To 2.* To that which is objected, that a natural aptitude is to be perfected; it must be said that this is true of a natural aptitude which is toward an act of perfection; but not of one which is toward an act of imperfection.

*To 3.* To that which is objected concerning assimilation, it must be said that it is not assimilated *simply*, but *in causing*; and therefore for a time it is assimilated in this.

*To 4.* To that which is objected last, that it is naturally unterminable; it must be said that this is false, because according to the intention of nature, which is regulated according to the divine institution, it is terminable, although it is not terminable by reason of a *term* which regards the conditions of the movable thing and of space.

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