Chapter 2 (46)
Distinction XVI | 67 Chapter 2 (46)
OF THE STATES OF MAN, AND WHAT CHRIST TOOK FROM EACH OF THEM. It
is here to be noted that Christ, who came to save all,' took something from each of the states of man. There are four states of man: first before sin, second after sin and before grace, third under grace, fourth in glory.
From the first state, he took immunity from sin. Hence Augustine, expounding that phrase of John the Evangelist, He who comes from above, is over all,' says: "Christ came from above, that is, from the loftiness of human nature before sin, because it was from that height that the Word of God took on human nature; he took its punishment without taking its fault."* But he took the punishment and other defects from the second state; from the third, he took the fullness of grace; from the fourth, he took the inability to sin and the perfect contemplation of God. Indeed, he took simultaneously some of the goods of the wayfarer and some of the goods of the fatherland, as he took also some of the evils of the wayfarer.
DISTINCTION XVII
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WHETHER EVERY PRAYER OR WILL OF CHRIST WAS FULFILLED. After the
above, it is good to consider whether Christ willed or prayed for anything which was not done. This may be thought to be the case because he himself said: Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. But not my will, but yours, be done.' Indeed, here he seems to be separating his own will from the Father's.
Chapter 2 (48)
1. ON THE WILLS OF CHRIST ACCORDING TO HIS TWO NATURES. In regard
to this, it is not to be doubted that in Christ there were different wills according to his two natures, namely a divine will and a human one. And human will is a disposition of reason or a disposition of sensuality. The disposition of the soul is one thing according to reason, another according to sensuality, and yet each of these is called human will. By the disposition of reason, he willed the same as by his divine will, that is, to suffer and die; by the disposition of sensuality, he did not will this—indeed, he wanted to flee it.
'Cf. Mt. 18, 11.
25 ily Sane Ordinary gloss, on Jn. 3, 31.
'Mt. 26, 39.