Section XIV: The Hardening of the Evil Angels in Evil, § 66
SECTION XIV: ON THE OBSTINACY OF THE EVIL ANGELS IN EVIL
§ 66. Thomas treats the cause of the obstinacy of devils in evil, saying that one must take it not only with reference to the gravity of the fault but also with respect to the condition of their state ([ST,] part 1, q. 64, art. 2). The appetitive faculty [vis appetitiva] is in proportion to the faculty of knowledge [apprehensiva]. An angel apprehends first principles without moving, as we do, because he does not think discursively. However, we understand by thinking discursively (διανοοῦντες). For this reason our will remains mutable while that of an angel is fixed and immutable. Biel describes their obstinacy in evil in this way (Sent. 2, dist. 7, q. 1): “An evil angel cannot exist without evil act; he cannot but want the blessedness that God is unwilling to give him; he cannot but refuse7 the punishment that God wants to inflict, nor refuse to be in any place where God wants him to be. Therefore, in constant consideration of the bitter pangs of hell and actively pondering his lost blessedness along with every despair” (lost hope) “of recovering, he is bothered by a spirit of impatience and rises up in a constant murmur and hatred of God, who is punishing him.”