Summa contra Gentiles3.66 Chapter LXVI. That nothing gives existence except in so far as it acts by God’s power

It is evident from what has gone before that all inferior agents do not give existence except in so far as they act by God’s power.

Nothing gives existence except in so far as it is a being in act. Now God preserves things in existence by His—providence, as we have proved.? Therefore it is by God’s—power that a thing causes existence.

Again. When several different agents are subordinate to one agent, the effect that proceeds from them in common, must needs be ascribed to them in so far as they are united together in partaking of the movement and power of that agent: for many things do not make one, except in so far as they are one; thus it is clear that all the men in an army work in order to effect a victory; and this effect they bring about forasmuch as they are subordinate to the general, whose proper effect is the victory. Now it was shown in the First thing to be actually: it follows that they produce this effect its power. Besides. In all ordered active causes, the last thing in the effect of the first cause: thus the form of a house which is the proper effect of the builder, comes into being after the cement, stones and timber have prepared the way, which is the work of the inferior workmen who are subject to the builder.

tended, and is the last thing in the order of generation: because, when it is obtained, the active principle ceases to act, and the passive principle ceases to be acted upon.

it acts by the power of God. Moreover. Among the things that can be reached by the perfection is that which comes within its range through the power of the first agent: because the secondary agent’s power receives its complement from the first agent. Now the most perfect of all effects is being: since every nature and form is perfected through being actually, and is compared to actual being as a potentiality to act. Therefore existence is what secondary agents produce by the power of the first agent. 1 Ch. xiil.

Besides. The order of effects is according to the order of causes. Now the first of all effects is being: for all others are determinations of being. Therefore being is the proper effect of the first agent, and all other agents produce it by the power of the first agent. And secondary agents which, as it were, particularize and determine the action of the first agent, produce the other perfections, as their proper effects, which are particular kinds of being.

Furthermore. That which is such by its essence, is the proper cause of that which is such by participation: thus fire is the cause of all things that are afire. Now God alone is being by His essence, while all others are beings by participation: for in God alone existence is His essence.! Therefore the existence of every existing thing is His proper effect, so that whatever brings a thing into existence, does so in so far as it acts by God’s power. Wherefore it is said (Wis. i. 14): God created, that all things might be: and in several passages of Holy Writ it is stated that God makes all things.—Again in De Causis it is said that not even does” an intelligence give being except im so far as it 1s something divine, i.e. in so far as it acts by God’s power.