Chapter 2 (121)
Distinction XXXII | 135
DISTINCTION XXXII]
Chapter | (120) 1. ON THE FOUR PRINCIPAL VIRTUES. After the above matters, we must treat the four virtues which are called principal or cardinal; they are justice, fortitude, prudence, temperance.
2. ON THEIR USES HERE.—IN BOOK 14, ON THE TRINITY. Concerning these, Augustine says: "Justice consists in helping the wretched, prudence in guarding against treacheries, fortitude in bearing troubles, temperance in controlling evil pleasures."'
3. Of these, it is said in the book of Wisdom: He teaches sobriety and prudence, justice, and truth.' This text calls temperance sobriety, and fortitude truth. These virtues are called 'cardinal,' as Jerome says;' "by them, it is possible to live well in this mortal life,'* and afterwards to come to eternal life.
Chapter 2 (121) THAT THESE VIRTUES WERE IN CHRIST. They were and are most fully in Christ, of whose fullness we have received;' in him, they had the same uses which they have in the fatherland, and even some of those which they have on the way.
Chapter 3 (122) 1. ON THEIR USES.—AUGUSTINE, IN BOOK 14, ON THE TRINITY. But "there is a little question as to whether these virtues, since they begin to be in the mind (which was a mind even when it existed before without them), cease to be when they have brought us to things eternal. To some, it has seemed that they will cease, and in the case of three [of them], namely prudence, fortitude, and temperance, such an assertion seems not to be entirely empty."'
2. ON THE USE OF JUSTICE IN THE FUTURE. "For justice is immortal,' and will then be made more perfect in us rather than cease to be, when we may blessedly live in contemplation of the divine nature, which created
'Augustine, De Trinitate, bk 14 c9 n12.
Wis. 8, 7.
>Cf. Jerome, Epistola 66 (ad Pammachium), n3.
"Augustine, De Trinitate, bk 14 c9 n12.
'Jn. 1, 16.
"Augustine, De Trinitate, bk 14 c9 n12.
"AWARE ih, WS.