Chapter 1 (135)
Distinction XXXVI | 147 natural understanding, darkened by sin, is reformed and assisted in understanding by some virtue and grace which is called the spirit of understanding. In the same way, by that virtue which is called the spirit of wisdom, the mind's reason is helped and raised up to contemplation of, and delectation in, the eternal truth.
2. THAT THIS WISDOM IS GOD'S, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONE WHICH IS GOD.
—AUGUSTINE, IN BOOK 14, ON THE TRINITY. It is also to be known that, as Augustine says, the wisdom of which we now speak is not "that wisdom of God which is God, but the wisdom of man; yet it is a true wisdom, which is according to God, and is his true and principal worship."' And so, if "man's mind worships God, of which it is capable because it was made by him and can be partaker of him, then it becomes wise. And it becomes wise not by its own light, but by participation in that highest light. For this wisdom of man is also of God; yet it is not God's in such a way as that by which God is wise, for he is not wise by participation in himself, as the mind is wise by participation in God. In the same way, not only that by which he himself is just, but also that which he gives to man when he justifies the impious, is called God's justice."*"
DISTINCTION XXXVI
Chapter 1 (135)
1. ON THE CONNECTION OF THE VIRTUES WHICH ARE NOT SEPARATED. It is
also usual to ask whether the virtues are so conjoined that they cannot be possessed separately by anyone: one who has one of them has all of them.
—JEROME, ON ISAIAS. Concerning this, Jerome says: "All the virtues are joined to each other, so that he who lacks one of them lacks all of them"; and so one who has one of them has all of them.
2. And this indeed seems probable. For since charity is the mother of all the virtues,' it is rightly believed that in whomever is the mother herself, namely charity, in him also are all her children, that is, the virtues.—
AUGUSTINE, ON JOHN. Hence Augustine: "Where there is charity, what can possibly be wanting? But where there is none, what is there that can possibly be profitable?"'—AUGUSTINE, TO JEROME: "Why, then, do we not say that, whoever has this virtue has all of them, since charity is the 'Augustine, De Trinitate, bk 14 cl nl.
*Gf Rom. 10; 3.
'Augustine, De Trinitate, bk 14 c12 n15.
'Interlinear gloss, on Is. 56, 1; see also Jerome, Jn /saiam 16, 11.
See above, dist. 23 c3 n2.
Augustine, /n loannem 15, 12, tr. 83 n3.