Schemata
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/15/d/14/q/bon-eccl-schemata
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### Schema I.

- General division of the whole Commentary.
  - the title (1,1.), which manifests
    - the author's wisdom
    - » goodness
    - » royal power
  - the treatise (1,2-12,8.)
    - the proposition of the thing to be proved (1,2.)
    - the proof of the threefold vanity (1,3-12,7.)
      - there is proved first the vanity of mutability (1,3-3,15.)
      - there is proved secondly the vanity of iniquity (3,16-7,23.)
      - there is proved thirdly the vanity of penalty (7,24-12,7.)
    - the conclusion (12,8.)
  - the epilogue (12,9-14.)
    - it intimates the studiousness of the writer
    - » the authority of his word
    - it restrains the curiosity of the hearers
    - it opens the sum of what has been said

### Schema II.

- Part I. The vanity of mutability is proved (1,3-3,15.)
  - first, by reason of the transmutation of things
    - first this is shown in the existence of creatures
      - first as to the *being* of things in the universe
        - in the natural creature
        - » » heavenly
        - » » elemental
      - secondly as to the *being* in the human understanding, which is vain
        - because things do not lie open
        - » » » fill
        - » » » remain
    - secondly human curiosity is manifested and reproved
      - first he manifests his own curiosity
        - in the works of prudence or philosophy
          - as to the knowledge of natural things; which is described
            - according to the fitness of the one considering
            - » curiosity itself
            - » the severity of the divine judgement
            - » that the vanity of curiosity is concluded
          - as to moral consideration, where there is noted
            - the passing over from natural things to moral ones
            - the finding of affliction
            - the turning to the enjoyment of delightful things
            - the return to the consideration of useful things.
        - in the works of opulence or of mechanical art
          - as to the artificial things which are ordered to riches
            - as to the acquisition of stable possessions
            - » the multiplication of servants
            - » the amplification of animals
            - » the preservation of minerals
          - as to the artificial things which are ordered to delights, where there is noted
            - diligence in preparing
            - power in completing
            - wisdom in ordering
            - pleasure in enjoying to the full
      - secondly he reproves the same
        - first, generally
        - secondly, specially
          - first, as to the study ordered to wisdom, intimating
            - his own diligence
            - the preeminence of the wise man
            - the equality found
            - the reproof of his own vanity
          - secondly, as to the study ordered to opulence
            - reproving it because of the uncertainty of a good succession
            - » » because of the toilsome solicitude
            - preferring present pleasure
            - condemning it through the equity of the divine judgement
  - secondly, by reason of the variety in time.
    - first the variety of times is shown
      - generally
      - specially
        - as to rise and setting
          - of living things
          - of plants
          - of sentient things
          - of artificial things
        - as to state
          - of prosperity
          - of joyfulness
          - of security
        - as to use
          - of wives
          - of possessions
          - of treasures
          - of garments
        - as to the manner of conversation
          - as to the act of the rational power
          - » » » concupiscible
          - » » » irascible
    - secondly our curiosity is reproved
      - by intimating the uselessness of curiosity
      - by commending, in detestation of it, present pleasure
    - thirdly the perpetuity of the divine works is shown.

### Schema III.

- Part II. The vanity of fault is proved (3,16-7,23.)
  - the vanity of a threefold fault is shown
    - the vanity of malice
      - in rulers, intimating
        - the consideration of malice
        - the premeditation of the future judgement
        - the consideration of the present state
        - the precipitation into an erroneous opinion
      - in subjects there is noted
        - the malice of calumny
          - there is noted the consideration of calumny
          - the aggravation of misery
          - the detestation of fault.
        - the malice of envy
          - its consideration
          - » malice
          - » punishment
        - the malice of acedia
          - the torpor of acedia
          - the endurance of penury
          - the excuse of ignorance
    - the vanity of avarice
      - the consideration of avarice
      - the commendation of the society of others according to a threefold advantage
        - in raising up
        - preserving
        - defending
    - the vanity of imprudence, which is reprobated
      - on account of the evil present and accompanying
      - on account of the evil succeeding
  - A threefold remedy is set down against the vanity of the threefold fault
    - against the vanity of malice and its threefold disorder
      - against disorder in work
        - by bringing in an exhortation
        - » the reason for the exhortation
      - against the disorder of foolish speaking in the mouth
        - through inconsiderate speech
          - by forbidding precipitancy
          - by subjoining the reason
          - by adding an example
        - through false speech
        - through erroneous speech
          - by dissuading
          - by subjoining the reason
          - by making plain the root of the error
      - against the disorder of evil thought in the heart, by making plain the equity of divine providence
    - against the vanity of avarice by persuading the contempt of riches
      - because they do not enrich their possessors
        - because they do not suffice
        - » » profit
        - but because they afflict
      - because they are not handed down to posterity, where
        - future want in the offspring of the rich man is considered
        - the laborious solicitude of acquiring money is reprobated
        - the enjoyment of present gladness is commended
      - because they frequently devolve upon strangers, where
        - the vanity of avarice is proved from the transfer of riches that have been kept
        - the detestation of niggardliness is urged
        - the threefold reason for the detestation is added
    - against the vanity of imprudence through the acquisition of wisdom
      - the threefold manner of acquiring wisdom is taught, and
        - he warns that useful things be learned
        - » that hidden things be left
        - » nor lofty things be inquired into
      - the teachings of wisdom are unfolded
        - five teachings for having modesty, by showing
          - the honourable to be preferred to the sweet
          - » the future life to the present
          - » affliction to pleasure
          - » sadness to pleasantness
          - » severity to softness and flattery
        - four teachings for having constancy
          - calumny is to be avoided
          - perseverance is to be loved
          - patience is to be kept
          - wrath is to be fled
        - four teachings for having prudence
          - for the discernment of useful things
          - » » of the divine works
          - » » of times
          - » » of merits
        - four teachings for having justice
          - the rigour of severity is forbidden
          - » the headlong fall of impiety
          - the showing of mercy is commended
          - » the dissimulation of one's own injury

### Schema IV.

- Part III. The vanity of penalty is proved (7,24-12,7.)
  - punishment, which is an occasion of sin
    - from a defect of love, or proneness
      - first the finding of concupiscence is noted
        - by describing its diligent inquiry
          - as to the curiosity of his presumption
          - » the sublimity of the inquiry
          - » the studiousness of the consideration.
        - and the finding of carnal concupiscence, of which there is noted
          - proneness
          - generality
          - causality
      - secondly, the remedy of wisdom, which is commended from the consideration
        - of its nobility
          - because it renders a man noble as to his look
          - » » » » and as to his word
        - of its power
          - because it acts omnipotently
          - » » easily
          - » » irreproachably
        - of its utility
        - of the opportuneness of time
          - because the future time cannot be foreseen
          - » » » » » prevented
          - » » » » » turned aside
    - from a defect of fear, or security
      - the vanity of security is shown, because it arises
        - first from the appearance of a failure of just retribution
          - on account of the exaltation of the evil
            - there is noted the twofold loftiness of the evil
            - » the vanity of security
            - » the utility of the good
          - on account of the abasement of the good
            - the adversity of the good is set forth
            - » the security of the evil
            - vanity is concluded
            - pleasure is commended
          - on account of the indistinction of the good and the evil
            - it is shown first how security arises, and this in a fourfold order
            - secondly, how pleasure arises from it
        - secondly from the appearance of a failure in the government of providence. This is shown
          - first in general
            - as to the conduct of life
            - » the ending of death
          - secondly in particular as to prelacy, by showing
            - the abasement of the wise man described in four ways
            - the commendation of the one abased described in three ways
            - the promotion of the fool set out in a twofold order
      - the remedy of this vanity is set down
        - first against security on account of a defect of the order of providence
          - because a wicked prelate is set over others, concerning whom four things are set down
          - » » » foolish, labouring under a threefold defect
          - » » » useless and remiss, concerning which two things are set down
        - secondly against security on account of a defect of just retribution, by setting forth the consideration of just retribution
          - first he invites to good by the consideration of reward, exhorting
            - that works of mercy be done willingly — abundantly — unceasingly
          - secondly he calls back from evil by the consideration of punishment
            - exhorting that memory be had of the future time
            - reproving present gladness
            - warning that all wickedness be cast away
  - punishment, which is pure affliction
    - it is described in general
      - as to the presence of what harms
      - as to the absence of what is pleasant
      - as to the lack of a remedy
    - in particular
      - on the miseries preceding death
        - first, the weakening of the members as to six members: the shaking of the bones, the weakening of the legs, the diminution of the teeth, the darkening of the eyes, the immobility of the lips, the deafness of the ears
        - secondly, four signs of the weakening: the trembling of the body, the hoariness of the head, the swelling of the belly, the cooling of lust
      - » » accompanying »
        - the misery of death in the one dying
        - » » in those suffering with him
      - » » following »
        - the resolution of the body
          - through the dissolution of the nerves, the resolution of the veins, the breaking of the vessel of urine, the destruction of the passage of impure superfluity, the incineration of the whole body
        - the migration of the spirit to God

(After the third part there follows the conclusion of the three parts of the treatise and the epilogue of the whole book, as in Schema I.).

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