Summa contra Gentiles3.60 Chapter LX. That those who see God see all in him at once

Whereas we have shown that the created intellect which sees the divine substance, sees therein all the species of things; and since whatever is seen in one species, must needs be seen at once and by one vision, because vision must correspond to the principle of vision: it follows that the intellect which sees the divine substance, sees all, not suc-—cessively but at once.

Again. The supreme and perfect happiness of the intellectual nature consists in seeing God, as proved above.” Now happiness results not from a habit but from an act, since it is the ultimate perfection and last end. Consequently whatever we see in the beatific vision of the divine substance is all seen by us actually: and therefore not one thing after another.

Besides. Whenever a thing arrives at its last end, it is at rest: since all movement is to the attainment of an end. Now the last end of the intellect is the vision of the divine substance, as shown above.? Therefore the intellect that sees the divine substance does not pass from one intelligible thing to another, Therefore whatsoever it knows in this vision, it considers it all actually.

Moreover. In the divine substance the intellect knows all the species of things, as we have proved. Now of some genera there are an infinite number of species, for instance of numbers, figures and proportions. Therefore the intellect sees an infinite number of things in the divine substance. But it would not see them all unless it saw them at one time: because it is not possible to pass through the infimite.

Consequently all the intellect sees in the divine substance, it sees at once.

Hence Augustine says (15 De Trin. xvi.): Our thoughts will not then be unstable, going to and fro from one thing to another: but we shall see all we know by one glance.