Palladium theologicum, Tomus quintus: De virtutibus
Gaudenzio da Brescia (1612–1672)
Reuerendi patris Gaudentij Bontempi, ... Palladium theologicum, seu Tota theologia scholastica in septem tomos distributa. Ad intimam mentem d. Bonauenturae seraphici doctoris ... Tomus quintus, De virtutibus
First published 1676
Bontempi's Palladium theologicum (Lyon 1676) is a complete scholastic theology composed ad mentem D. Bonaventurae, arranged in seven tractatus on the order of the Secunda secundae. This fifth volume, De virtutibus, treats the theological virtues (faith, hope, charity, with their gifts, beatitudes and fruits), the cardinal virtues and their opposite vices, and the states and offices of men (religious and prelates, bishops, princes), including the extensive disputations on contracts, religion, vows, fortitude, temperance and the judicial process. It is a significant example of the Bonaventurian scholastic school and a counterpart to the Thomist manuals of the period.
Tractatus I: PRIMUS DE VIRTUTIBUS THEOLOGICIS
Proemium I: Prooemium
Disputatio I: ON FAITH
Quaestio I: What FAITH signifies, and what it is
Quaestio II: What the object of FAITH is
Quaestio III: Whether the object of FAITH is something complex
Quaestio IV: Whether the object of FAITH can be false
Quaestio V: Whether the object of FAITH can be evident scientifically
Quaestio VI: Whether FAITH is concerned with those things which are seen by vision on the way
Quaestio VII: Whether the articles of FAITH are evidently credible
Whether the articles of FAITH are evidently credible.
I have treated THIS question sufficiently p. 1 tract. 1. disp. 1. quaest 9. with D. Bonav. in the sermons Hexaëmer. especially §. 9. and 10. and in the little work: Principium Scripturae.
The testimonies of God are exceedingly credible, as Psal. 92. proclaims. On which arguments see also Valentia disput. 1. quaest. 1. p. 4. Scotus quaest. 2. Proleg. sent. and the Scotists. Medina tract. de fide Poncius disp. 28.
The PRINCIPAL argument is taken from the excellence of Christ, on which Valentia relies disp. 17. drawn from D. Bonav. p. prima of the goads of Divine love, cap. 6. If Christ had falsely wished to arrogate to himself the name and dignity of the Son of God; he would assuredly have acted insanely, and wrongly; nor would God have confirmed his words with so many miracles, and his adversaries would have found follies and errors in his sayings, which they could not. But celebrated even among foreigners are his innocence, wisdom, and prophecy, miracles, etc. the efficacy of his words, etc.
The SECOND is the multitude of prophecies concerning our faith.
The THIRD is the firmness of the Church amid so many tempests.
The FOURTH is the victory over so many wise men, and Tyrants.
The FIFTH is the knowledge of the witnesses, and their illustrious fame.
The SIXTH, the marvelous constancy of so many Martyrs.
The SEVENTH, the concord of the witnesses, with the parts of so many lands divided; and with so many different times.
The EIGHTH is the unshaken firmness of those things which faith teaches.
The NINTH, the absurdities and nonsense of so many opposing sects.
The TENTH, the fruits which abound from this holiness of the law.
The ELEVENTH, the testimony of foreigners.
The TWELFTH, The unhappy end of those persecuting the Church. See there, and what I shall add in quaest. 11.