De judiciaria potestate in finali et universali judicio
1177CIn regeneratione, cum sederit Filius hominis in sede majestatis suae, sedebitis et vos super sedes duodecim, judicantes duodecim tribus Israel (Matth. XIX). Ecce audivimus quid Veritas ipsa apostolicis viris promittat. Sed audiamus adhuc quid alio loco dicat: Qui non credit, inquit, jam judicatus est (Joan. III). Ex hac, ni fallor, gemina Scriptura oritur illa sententia, quod quatuor ordines sunt eorum qui ad illud tremendum judicium veniunt. Nam ex illa prima sententia colliguntur ordines tres, judicaturi, judicandi et salvandi, judicandi et damnandi. His tribus juxta aliam sententiam quartus ordo adjungitur, judicati et damnati. Sed si hujusmodi idcirco judicati dicuntur, quia eorum damnatio certa habetur, non satis video cur istis quatuor, quos jam 1177Ddiximus, quintum ordinem non annumeremus. Nam parvulorum statim post baptisma morientium tam est certa salvatio quam non credentium certa damnatio, nisi forte his qui nil proprii meriti unquam habuerunt velit quis summum perfectionis gradum attribuere, et judicantium ordini annumerare. Sed dico: Si quidam qui in hac adhuc vita sunt jam judicati dicuntur, illi qui jam sententiam suae damnationis acceperunt cur non multo rectius jam judicati dicantur? Non enim soli illi qui non credunt statim post mortem ad inferna descendunt. Si quis autem contendat illos solos ante generale 1178Cjudicium ad inferna descendere, illud saltem non audebit negare, omnes videlicet in exitu animae vel bonam vel malam sententiam accipere, et unumquemque vel ad supplicium, vel in refrigerium ire. Sed puniendi quidem atque salvandi eo ipso quo puniuntur purgantur. Unde et ignis ille purgatorius dicitur per quem in eis peccati rubigo consumitur. Qui autem puniuntur et purgantur eo ipso agnoscunt seipsos ad salutem reservari, quo se vident paulatim ab omni labe mundari. Caeteri vero eo ipso sententiam suae damnationis agnoscunt, quo nullum purgationis remedium accipiunt. Quorumlibet igitur mortuorum salvatio seu damnatio, quamvis sit incerta apud nos, videtur tamen certa apud illos. Si ergo recte jam judicati dicuntur qui necdum 1178Dmeritorum suorum retributionem acceperunt, quare non multo magis illi qui jam receperunt, et salvationis vel damnationis suae sententiam certissime, ut dictum est, agnoverunt? Qui ergo sunt illi qui ab apostolicis viris dicuntur judicandi? Si dicimus quia soli illi qui in Salvatoris adventu vivi inventi erunt, et nondum ullam retributionis suae sententiam acceperunt, Joannis nobis in hoc sententia contradicit, qui in Apocalypsi sua scribit: Et dedit, inquit, mare mortuos qui in eo erant, et mors et infernus dederunt mortuos qui in ipsis erant, et judicatum est de singulis secundum opera ipsorum 1179A(Apoc. XX). Ecce audis quoniam mors et infernus dederunt mortuos quae erant in ipsis, ut secundum opera eorum judicaretur de singulis. Tu forte illos solos in illo extremo examine judicandos putabas, quorum salvatio vel damnatio exstat incerta. Sed quorum, quaeso, damnatio certior est, quam spirituum malignorum? Sed quid de illis dicit Apostolus: An nescitis quia angelos judicabimus? (I Cor. VI.) Ecce dicuntur judicandi, qui tamen juxta aliquid recte dicuntur judicati. Vide ergo ne forte similiter et illi qui jam dicuntur judicati, recte dicantur et adhuc judicandi. An forte idipsum tibi quaeris adhuc amplius probari? Fulgebunt justi, et tanquam scintillae in arundineto discurrent, judicabunt nationes (Sap. V). Quid apertius? Judicabunt nationes. Nonne hi sunt qui 1179Bnon credunt, et idcirco jam judicati sunt? Videntur itaque omnes aut judicaturi, aut judicandi, et de judicandis quidem alii salvandi, alii autem damnandi. Videntur itaque in illo futuro judicio tres ordines tantum esse. Quomodo ergo quatuor, vel potius quinque? Ut autem de caeteris taceam, ut quid vel illi iterum judicantur quorum damnatio non dicam praenoscitur, sed jam inchoata rectissime creditur? Quo autem modo apostoli eos judicabunt qui ab eis absque dubio judicandi sunt? An forte dicturi sumus quia hoc sit apostolos judicium facere damnandis quia damnandi sunt, salvandis quia salvandi sunt? Sed quid magni erit dicere hoc illis quia damnandi 1179Cerunt; illis, inquam, qui damnationis suae sententiam cognoverunt, seu etiam exceperunt? Sed forte dicis, quia hoc est apostolicos viros inferiores quosque judicare ex inspectione conscientiae singulorum quam juste isti salventur, illi damnentur discernere. Quomodo enim creditur Deus in illa die manifestare abscondita tenebrarum, nisi quod absque dubio revelabit intima et occulta conscientiarum? Non erit itaque illud judicium in altereatione sermonum, sed manifestatione cogitationum: Testimonium, secundum Apostolum, reddente singulis conscientia ipsorum, et inter se invicem cogitationum accusantium, aut etiam defendentium in die cum judicabit Dominus occulta hominum (Rom. II.) Sed procul dubio ad inspectionem mutuarum conscientiarum 1179Dsicut palam erit apostolis quam recte reprobi damnentur, sic palam erit reprobis quam recte apostoli glorificentur. Sicut ergo apostoli dicuntur judicare reprobos, cur non recte et reprobi dicantur judicare apostolos? An forte dicturi sumus, quia boni vident conscientias malorum, sed mali non vident conscientias bonorum? Sed si boni quique mutuo conscientias alterutras conspiciunt, cur juxta praedictam judicandi rationem non se invicem judicabunt? Sicut ergo inferiores a superioribus, sic superiores judicabuntur ab inferioribus. An forte perfectiores videbunt conscientias inferiorum, inferiores vero non videbunt conscientias perfectorum? Sed si superiores quique videbunt conscientias inferiorum, boni utique omnes 1180Avidebunt conscientias malorum. Cur ergo non dicuntur judicare reprobos quilibet electi quemadmodum et apostoli? Sed si ad majorem eorum confusionem patebunt omnibus conscientiae malorum, cur non aeque ad majorem eorum gloriam pateant omnibus conscientiae bonorum? Quomodo ergo non se invicem judicabunt qui se invicem exterius interiusque videbunt? Quid ergo quasi pro magno apostolis promittitur, cum eis a Domino dicitur: Sedebitis et vos judicantes duodecim tribus Israel.
Ex hac itaque sententiarum perplexione, ut arbitror, patet in his omnibus sub quanto involucro veritas latet. In primis itaque sciendum est quod aliter consideratur judicium secundum 1180Bhoc quod versatur in sola cogitatione, aliter secundum hoc quod exercetur in opere. Illud est praescientiae, istud, ut sic dicam, experientiae. Illud cognitionis, istud exsecutionis. Illud est praesentis vitae, istud vitae futurae. Illud itaque judicium quod dicitur praescientiae, non impedit illud in quo est exsecutio sententiae. Istud ergo quod est praesentis vitae non tollit illud quod est vitae futurae; imo si illud non esset futurum, istud esset nullum. Si igitur consideres judicium praesentis Ecclesiae secundum modum hujus vitae, invenies ordines quatuor, vel potius quinque. Nam, exceptis his quos novit in locum judicum assurgere, certa est de quorumdam damnatione, 1180Ccerta de quorumdam salvatione, et de quibus certam sententiam non habet, novit alios ad vitam, alios ad mortem pertinere. Quantum autem ad ultimum futurae vitae examen, tres ordines tantum inveniuntur. Alii autem judicant, non autem judicantur; alii vero judicantur et salvantur; alii judicantur et damnantur. Jam vides, ut arbitror, quam recte dicantur adhuc judicandi illi etiam qui jam dicuntur judicati. Judicium siquidem quod in praesenti praenoscitur, in futuro irrogatur. Sed illud forte erit adhuc aliquibus mirabile, quod illi qui post mortem retributionem pro meritorum suorum qualitate receperunt, adhuc ad judicium venturi, et pro suis meritis judicandi sunt, maxime illi qui damnationis suae sententiam et agnoverunt 1180Det acceperunt. Sciendum itaque est quod judicium aliquando est secundum partem, aliquando secundum plenitudinem. Secundum partem est, quod fit de sola sententiae qualitate, non autem de ejus quantitate. Tale est judicium praesentis Ecclesiae. Nam qualitatem sententiae (utrum videlicet damnandi vel salvandi sunt) de quibusdam novimus, sed quantitatem suppliciorum in hac vita vel unius alicujus damnati scire non possumus. Sed illud utique judicium quod mortem hominis sequitur non solum in qualitate, sed etiam in quantitate juxta meritorum modum dispensabitur. Moderabitur autem retributionum quantitas et secundum multitudinem, et secundum magnitudinem. Secundum multitudinem, ut ubi fuit multiplex culpa, ibi sit et multiplex 1181Apoena. Secundum magnitudinem, ut in uno quoque genere peccandi, ubi fuerit culpa major, ibi sit et poena intensior. Judicium itaque hujus vitae videtur uniforme; nam est, ut jam diximus, de sola sententiae qualitate. Illud autem quod datur in hominis morte videtur esse multiforme, non tamen omniforme. Nam quamvis modificetur secundum totam vitam hominis, non tamen secundum totum quod est hominis. Quamvis enim unusquisque in morte accipiat prout gessit in corpore, recipit tamen in anima sola, non autem in anima simul et corpore. Vide ergo quid sit inter istud secundum et illud tertium ultimumque judicium. Istud quod fit in uniuscujusque morte, et illud quod futurum est in communi omnium resurrectione. Istud, ut dictum est, 1181Bfit de tota vita hominis, non tamen secundum totum quod est hominis. Illud autem ultimum judicium erit de toto, et secundum totum. Istud fit cum aliquibus et coram aliquibus, illud fiet simul de omnibus et coram omnibus. Vide quam recte confunditur coram universis, qui hic non timuit offendere Dominum universitatis. Vide quam recte glorificatur coram omnibus, qui Dominum universitatis glorificavit in omnibus. Vide quam recte caput perditionis coram omnibus dejectionis suae ignominiam suscipit, qui a principio omnium dejectioni insudavit. Attende autem illud ultimum judicium quam sit congruum, vel ut sic dicam necessarium. Saepe divina judicia quasi injusta reprehendimus; 1181Csaepe contra ejus flagella murmuramus. Ibi, judicantibus apostolicis viris, propalabitur coram universis quam justus Dominus in omnibus viis suis et sanctus in omnibus operibus suis. Erit itaque ultimum illud judicium usquequaque plenissimum, ita ut sufficienter respondeat conscientiis singulorum, simul et omnium. Erit ergo omniforme quod ad omnia poterit satisfacere. Primum itaque dicatur uniforme, secundum multiforme, tertium omniforme. Primum autem et secundum judicium sunt secundum partem, solum vero tertium erit secundum plenitudinem. Nam quamvis secundum sit multo plenius primo, tertium tamen erit incomparabiliter plenius illo. Sicut itaque primum exigit secundum, sic secundum exigit tertium.
1181DRestat solum illud quaerere, quis sit ille judicandi modus qui apostolis promittitur, cum dicitur: Sedebitis et vos judicantes duodecim tribus Israel, vel illud: Judicabunt sancti nationes et dominabuntur populis (Sap. III). Videamus itaque quid Joannes de hoc judicio dicat cum in Apocalypsi sua scribat: Et vidi, inquit, mortuos magnos, et pusillos stantes in conspectu throni, et libri aperti sunt, et alius liber apertus est qui est vitae, et judicati sunt mortui ex his quae scripta erant in libris secundum opera ipsorum (Apoc. XX). Quid intelligimus per hos libros, nisi singulorum conscientias? Apertio igitur librorum, manifestatio conscientiarum. His libris inscribitur quidquid ab eis memoriter retinetur. His libris quasi scriptum tenetur quidquid ab eis 1182Aplena intelligentia comprehenditur. In aliis itaque hujusmodi libris continentur merita humana, in aliis vero etiam judicia divina. In illis qualitas actionum, in istis qualitas etiam retributionum. Unusquisque enim in corde suo quasi scriptum gerit unde sua eum conscientia accusat, vel defendit. Qui autem divinae contemplationi assistunt, qui in libro Sapientiae quotidie legunt, velut in cordium voluminibus transcribunt quidquid jam perspicua veritatis intelligentia conprehendunt. Quid itaque sunt judicandorum conscientiae, nisi quaedam, ut sic dicam, actiones scriptae? Quid vero sunt judicantium corda divinitus in omnem veritatem edocta, nisi quaedam quasi canorum decreta? Ex hac gemina Scriptura omnis sententia trahitur, 1182Bunde judicandorum quilibet damnatur, vel absolvitur. Judicandos itaque nihil aliud est actionum suarum libros coram judicibus aperire, quam conscientias illis non posse abscondere. Nihil vero aliud est judices in hujusmodi codicibus legere, quam conscientiarum occulta manifesta visione penetrare, et quo quisque merito polleat, vel sordescat, indubitanter agnoscere. Judices autem coram judicandis decretorum suorum libros aperire, est ad cordium suorum inspectionem inferiorum quorumlibet visum admittere, sensumque suum in his quae ad judicii rationem spectant revelare. Judicandi vero, dum in hujusmodi quasi canonum decretis legunt, retributionis sententiam, sententiaeque rationem quam 1182Cquisque meretur inveniunt. Hujusmodi itaque scripturam legere, hoc erit eis judicii sententiam accepisse. Hoc autem erit apostolicos viros judicandorum quemlibet judicare, dandae sententiae rationem oculis eorum ingerere. Certe si haberem aurem apertam ad verbum cordis sicut habeo ad verbum oris, posses utique me sola cogitatione de tuis quae velles secretis docere. Docenda namque cogitare hoc esset docere, et docenda cogitantem intellexisse, hoc esset discenda didicisse. Omne autem quod a sensato dicitur prius cogitatur quam dicatur. Proposita igitur quaestione solutionem cogitare, hoc esset quaestionem solvere si possemus mutuas cogitationes videre. Ecce quam facilis doctrina esset si aurem apertam haberemus ad alieni cordis cogitatum, 1182Dquanto magis si ad ejus sensum oculum haberemus apertum? Attende quae dico. Aliud est videre cogitatum, et longe aliud videre sensum. Multa habeo in cognitione quae modo non habeo in cogitatione. Et innumera sunt de quibus certam et promptam sententiam teneo, de quibus modo nil cogito. In hujusmodi autem, cum placuerit, possum sensum meum videre, et in considerationem adducere. Quod agitur in corde meo, hoc, ni fallor, et in tuo. Si igitur possem videre cor tuum quemadmodum videt seipsum, ex sola saepe contemplatione sensus tui posset instrui ignorantia cordis mei, et quod nunc agitur verbo oris, tunc ageretur verbo cordis. Quid est enim cordis dicere, nisi sic sentire? Verbum itaque cordis sententia 1183Aintelligentias. Judicantis itaque sententiam ad cordis ejus inspectionem vidisse et intellexisse, hoc est judicium dedisse et accepisse. Nonne in ultimo illo examine judicandorum conscientia etiam tacendo profitebitur coram judicaturis: talis et talis est culpa mea? Nonne judicantium intelligentia coram judicandis etiam tacendo protestabitur, quoniam pro tali et tali culpa debetur talis et talis poena? Quae est enim ista confessio vel attestatio, nisi mutua ad alterutrum conscientiarum vel intelligentiarum revelatio.
Miraris fortassis qui haec audis. Audi adhuc unde amplius mireris. Certe, si possemus mutuos sensus in alterius cordibus alternatim legere, possent te centum homines sub uno eodemque tempore de 1183Bdiversis quaestionibus consulere et responsum accipere. Nonne idem esset cuique propositae quaestionis solutionem accepisse, et certam sententiae tuae veritatem in corde tuo legisse? Nil itaque obstat ultimo examine uno etiam quolibet judicante diversos diversis de causis diversas sententias simul et sub eodem momento accipere. Alioquin quomodo duodecim homines, duodecim tribus Israel poterunt judicare, nisi forte putes eos in hoc negotio multa tempora expendere? An forte quia multi sunt qui in numerum judicantium concurrunt putandi sunt inter se officium dividere, et tali modo vel ordine negotium accelerare? Sed quantulus, quaeso, numerus judicantium in comparatione judicandorum? 1183CSed cur de rebus invisibilibus non credimus quod in rebus visibilibus similitudinis attestatione probamus? Certe si multarum quaestionum solutiones scriptae essent in uno tomo, et coram multis inspectoribus explicaretur, et a diversis per diversas quaestiones legeretur, sub uno eodemque momento posset simul et sub eodem tempore diversis ad diversa satisfacere, et nodos dubitationum dissolvere. Cur ergo non credatur charta incorporea digito Dei inscripta hoc posse praestare oculis incorporeis, quod charta corporea digito humano exarata praestare probatur oculis corporeis? Dicis ad haec fortassis: Ecce concedamus unum eumdemque judicem multis pro singulis causis juxta ostensae similitudinis rationem sub 1183Deodem temporis momento posse satisfacere. Sed nunquid aeque concedendum est unum eumdemque hominem posse simul et semel pro omnibus quae gessit et rationem reddere, et pro singulis sententiam retributionis accipere? Nam testimonium habemus ex Evangelio: Quia oportet nos rationem reddere etiam pro omni verbo otioso (Matth. XII). Sed si credimus nos de singulis verbis vel factis, cogitationibus, voluntatibus siggillatim et succedenter respondere, quot, quaeso, tempora oportet in ejus examinatione expendere quem constat, ut scribitur, nongentos annos, et eo amplius vixisse? Sed miramur quaeque, vel etiam minime credimus quae experti 1184Anon sumus. Miramur utique utpote qui interim alienas conscientias non videmus, et proprias nonnisi palpando, nec nisi ex parte cognoscimus. Certe, si contingit quempiam quemlibet domum inter densas nocturni temporis tenebras intrare, potest multa eorum quae ibi latent etiam palpando deprehendere. Sed si alius supervenerit et cum lucerna intraverit, cogita quam multa sunt quae potest sibi et aliis sub uno et simplici aspectu ostendere, non solum eorum quae vix potuit per multa tempora palpando cognoscere, sed et eorum quoque quae nullo modo posset palpando deprehendere.
Ut enim de caeteris taceam, quando inter album et nigrum, inter formosum et deforme palpando discernere poterimus, quod ad lumen lucernae sub 1184Bprimo statim aspectu dijudicamus? Quid autem sunt perfectorum corda divinae sapientiae splendore illustrata, nisi luminaria accensa? De his lucernis Dominus minatur ubi per prophetam loquitur: In tempore illo scrutabor domos Hierusalem in lucernis (Soph. I). Hierusalem idem sonat quod visio pacis. Domus itaque Hierusalem sunt conscientiae securae: nam hae sunt quae videntur internam pacem habere. Quid igitur fiet de domibus Babylonis quando domus etiam Hierusalem scrutandae sunt cum lucernis? Quid erit de conscientiis turpibus et desperatis, si confidentiae praesumptio tollitur etiam male securis? Domus itaque Hierusalem a Domino perscrutandae perhibentur, quia in illis etiam conscientiis quae 1184Csecurae sibi videbantur nihil occultum, nihil indiscussum relinquetur quod a veritatis lumine non arguatur. Hoc autem domorum scrutinium cum lucernis se Dominus facturum perhibet, quia latebrosarum etiam cogitationum vel voluntatum judicium, illorum utique ministerio faciet, quos summa veritatis intelligentia ad omnis judicii examen intime illuminavit. Splendor ergo quidam divini luminis de perfectorum cordibus radiabit, qui unicuique universa quae in corde suo bona vel mala latebant, manifesta visione denudabit. Cogita igitur quomodo nunc ad hujus corporeae lucis infusionem eorum quae in domo sua sunt statim omnia circumspicit, et non solum quantitatem, sed qualitatem rerum sub uno et simplici aspectu deprehendit. Constat autem lucem 1184Dillam incorpoream, multo praestantiorem, multo efficaciorem in genere proprio, quam ista sit vel esse possit in genere suo. Parum itaque est quod dixi quod radius ille incorporeus plene demonstrat singulos sibimetipsis, imo et sibi et aliis. Videmus quomodo ad primum radium emergentis solis omnia quae omnium oculis caeca nox abduxerat, iterum omnium oculis reddat, quomodo statim omnia pateant quae prius latebant. Vix adhuc montium cacumina lucis radium suscipiunt, et jam ex luminis reverberatione quam in valles refundunt, omnia quae ibi sunt, omnia quae ibi fiunt omnibus patefiunt. Sic utique, sic summi et perfecti viri perpetua stabilitate 1185Afundati, stupenda sublimitate magnificati et vere montes aeterni, radium divinae sapientiae immediate suscipiunt, et ex suscepta, ut sic dicam, reverberatione quam circumquaque diffundunt, omnia, quae pro judicii ratione manifestari oportet, sub temporis momento in lucem adducunt. Hinc est illud quod audis in Psalmis: Illuminans tu mirabiliter a montibus aeternis (Psal. LXXV). Jam, ut arbitror, ex parte perpendis ista illuminatio a montibus aeternis quam fit absque omni ambiguitate mirabilis. Nam ex illo divini splendoris lumine quod immediate suscipiunt ad inferiora refundendo judicandorum quibuslibet tam meritorum quam retributionum qualitatem haud dubia visione ostendunt. Certe nos qui in hac adhuc vita sumus cum aliquos illustrare volumus, multos 1185Bad idem, sed diversos ad diversa sub uno eodemque tempore illuminare non possumus. Sed, si non possumus simul et sub eodem tempore erudire diversos ad diversa, quanto minus unum eumdemque ad multa multumque diversa? Cogita ergo quam sit mirabilis illuminatio illa ubi sub una visione in multitudine maxima singulorum quilibet simul et semel illuminatur ad innumera. Sed istam mentis dilatationem qua ad tam multa sub una visione comprehendenda in Dei lumine dilatatur animus humanus, quia per experientiam interim probare non possumus, difficile credimus. Hic illud occurrit quod venerabilis papa Gregorius de beato Benedicto scribit (lib. II Dialog., cap. 35). Refert siquidem de illo quod quodam tempore, 1185Cdum nocturnis insisteret orationibus, subito fusa desuper luce totus mundus quasi sub uno solis radio collectus ante ejus oculos est adductus. Sed audiamus quid ipse Gregorius ad haec velut exponendo adjungit: « Quod autem, inquit, collectus mundus ante ejus oculos dicitur, non coelum et terra contracta est, sed videntis animus dilatatus. » Si igitur animus in hoc adhuc mundo positi in Dei lumine tantum dilatari potuit, qui mortali carne circumdatus, et sub hujus vitae statu eatenus constitutus fuit, quid de illo futurae vitae statu credere debemus ubi alterutras conscientias mutuo videbimus? Sed si ad corporeae lucis infusionem innumera possunt sub uno aspectu cadere, quanto magis ad illam incorporeae lucis infusionem credendum est incomparabiliter 1185Dplura posse comprehendi sub una et simplici visione? Si igitur juxta proprietatis suae similitudinem demus incorporeae luci quod experimento probamus de luce visibili, nescio quid impediat ultimum illud judicium sub omni celeritate fieri. An forte hoc ipsum Dominus per similitudinem exprimere voluit cum dixit: Sicut fulgur exit ab oriente et 1186Aparet usque in occidentem, sic erit adventus Filii hominis? (Matth. XXIV.) Fulgur certe cum paret, subito apparet, et sub omni celeritate disparet. De illa itaque luce quae malorum conscientias detegit, et quales qualia mereantur ostendit, nunquid credere oportet quod subito illis appareat et subito dispareat, quamvis memoria eorum quae viderint omnino non pereat? Non enim sine causa fortassis adventum suum fulguri potius quam radio solis comparavit: nam et ipse ab oriente usque in occidentem pertingit, sed fulgur nunquam nisi ad modicum apparet; nam de radio solis multo aliter accidere solet. Apparebit itaque sicut fulgur, et ab oriente in occidentem attingens a fine usque in finem, ut sub miranda celeritate omnia quae ubique terrarum sunt, erunt, 1186Bvel fuerunt, proferat in lucem, et quantum spectat ad judicii rationem omnia simul et semel prodeant ad manifestationem: Omnes, inquit Apostolus, resurgemus, sed non omnes immutabimur. In momento, in ictu oculi, etc. (I Cor. XV). Qui poterit omnium corpora sub tanta festinatione reparare, nunquidnam sub eadem celeritate non poterit omnium corda ad quaecunque voluerit in quantum placuerit illuminare? Si tantae claritatis radium qualem superius designavimus de virorum apostolicorum cordibus radiare non putamus, quid de illo corde dicturi sumus in quo habitat candor ille lucis aeternae, in quo absconditi sunt omnes thesauri sapientiae et scientiae, in quo habitat plenitudo illius luminis quod illuminat 1186Comnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum? Nemo utique fidelium est qui dubitare audeat lucem ad omnia sufficientem de Christi corde posse radiare, et, quod consequens est, nemo qui negare praesumat tantae illustrationis radios viros apostolicos immediate suscipere, et in alios refundere, ut constet quod scriptum est: Illuminans tu mirabiliter a montibus aeternis. Erunt itaque absque dubio apostolici viri prae hominibus caeteris, imo et prae omnibus spiritibus malignis, non solum veritatis intelligentia perspicaciores, sed et potestatis praerogativa supereminentiores, in tantum ut caeterorum omnium nemo omnino possit eorum vel sententiam refellere, vel violentiae resistere. Nam et tortores daemones qui prius homines trahebant ad tormenta, 1186Djam versa vice juxta decreta judicantium hominum disponentur per loca poenalia. Ecce jam apparet, ut arbitror, quae sit illa judiciariae potestatis praerogativa apostolicis viris ab uno omnium Domino collata. Ecce quae prius putabatur nullius esse momenti tantae sublimitatis inventa est, quanta a minus eruditis vix poterit credi.
On Judiciary Power in the Final and Universal Judgment
1177CIn the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit upon the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit upon twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matth. XIX). Behold, we have heard what Truth himself promises to the apostolic men. But let us hear further what he says in another place: He who does not believe, he says, is already judged (Joan. III). From this twofold Scripture, unless I am mistaken, arises that opinion: that there are four orders of those who come to that fearful judgment. For from that first saying three orders are gathered — those who will judge, those who will be judged and saved, those who will be judged and damned. To these three, according to the other saying, a fourth order is joined: those already judged and damned. But if such men are called "already judged" for this reason, that their damnation is held certain, I do not sufficiently see why we should not add a fifth order to these four which we have already 1177Dnamed. For the salvation of little children who die immediately after baptism is as certain as the damnation of unbelievers is certain — unless perhaps someone should wish to attribute the highest grade of perfection to those who never had any merit of their own, and to number them in the order of those who judge. But I say: if certain men who are still in this life are called already judged, why should not those who have already received the sentence of their damnation much more rightly be called already judged? For not only those who do not believe descend to hell immediately after death. But if anyone should contend that they alone descend to hell before the general 1178Cjudgment, he will at least not dare to deny this: namely, that all, at the departure of the soul, receive either a good or a bad sentence, and that each one goes either to punishment or into refreshment. But those who are to be punished and yet saved are purged by the very fact that they are punished. Whence that fire too is called purgatorial, by which the rust of sin is consumed in them. And those who are punished and purged recognize, by that very thing, that they are reserved for salvation, in that they see themselves gradually cleansed from every stain. But the rest recognize the sentence of their damnation by this very thing, that they receive no remedy of purgation. The salvation or damnation of any of the dead, therefore, although it is uncertain among us, nevertheless seems certain among them. If, then, those who have not yet 1178Dreceived the recompense of their merits are rightly called already judged, why not much more those who have already received it, and have most certainly recognized, as has been said, the sentence of their salvation or damnation? Who, then, are those who are said to be judged by the apostolic men? If we say that it is only those who will be found alive at the coming of the Savior, and have not yet received any sentence of their recompense, John's opinion contradicts us in this, who writes in his Apocalypse: And the sea, he says, gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up the dead that were in them, and it was judged of every one according to their works 1179A(Apoc. XX). Behold, you hear that death and hell gave up the dead that were in them, so that it might be judged of every one according to their works. You perhaps thought that only those were to be judged in that final examination whose salvation or damnation stands uncertain. But whose damnation, I ask, is more certain than that of the malignant spirits? But what does the Apostle say of them: Know you not that we shall judge angels? (I Cor. VI.) Behold, they are said to be judged, who nevertheless in some respect are rightly called already judged. See, then, whether perhaps in like manner those too who are now called already judged may rightly be said to be still to be judged. Or do you perhaps seek that this very thing be proved to you yet further? The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds; they shall judge nations (Sap. V). What could be plainer? They shall judge nations. Are these not the ones who 1179Bdo not believe, and therefore are already judged? So it seems that all are either to judge or to be judged; and of those to be judged, some are to be saved, others to be damned. It seems, then, that in that future judgment there are only three orders. How then four, or rather five? But to say nothing of the rest: why are even those judged again whose damnation — I will not say is foreknown, but is most rightly believed already begun? And in what way will the apostles judge those who are without doubt to be judged by them? Or are we perhaps to say that this is what it is for the apostles to pass judgment: for the damned, because they are to be damned; for the saved, because they are to be saved? But what great thing will it be to say to them that they will be damned 1179C— to them, I say, who have known the sentence of their damnation, or have even received it? But perhaps you say that this is what it is for the apostolic men to judge each of their inferiors: to discern, from the inspection of the conscience of each, how justly these are saved and those are damned. For how is God believed to make manifest on that day the hidden things of darkness, except that he will without doubt reveal the innermost and secret things of consciences? That judgment, therefore, will not consist in an altercation of words, but in the manifestation of thoughts: their conscience, according to the Apostle, bearing witness to them, and their thoughts among themselves mutually accusing, or also defending one another, in the day when the Lord shall judge the hidden things of men (Rom. II.) But without doubt, at the inspection of mutual consciences, 1179Djust as it will be plain to the apostles how rightly the reprobate are damned, so it will be plain to the reprobate how rightly the apostles are glorified. As, therefore, the apostles are said to judge the reprobate, why should not the reprobate too be rightly said to judge the apostles? Or are we perhaps to say that the good see the consciences of the wicked, but the wicked do not see the consciences of the good? But if all the good mutually behold one another's consciences, why, according to the aforesaid manner of judging, will they not judge one another? As, therefore, the lower are judged by the higher, so the higher will be judged by the lower. Or will the more perfect perhaps see the consciences of the lower, but the lower not see the consciences of the perfect? But if all the higher will see the consciences of the lower, then surely all the good 1180Awill see the consciences of the wicked. Why then are not all the elect said to judge the reprobate, just as the apostles are? But if, to their greater confusion, the consciences of the wicked will lie open to all, why should not, equally, to their greater glory, the consciences of the good lie open to all? How, then, will they not judge one another, who will see one another outwardly and inwardly? What, then, is promised to the apostles as though it were something great, when it is said to them by the Lord: You also shall sit, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
From this perplexity of opinions, therefore, it is clear, as I judge, under how great a wrapping the truth lies hidden in all these matters. First of all, then, it must be known that judgment is considered in one way 1180Binsofar as it is engaged in thought alone, and in another way insofar as it is carried out in deed. The former belongs to foreknowledge, the latter, so to speak, to experience. The former to cognition, the latter to execution. The former belongs to the present life, the latter to the life to come. That judgment, then, which is called of foreknowledge does not impede that in which there is the execution of the sentence. That, therefore, which belongs to the present life does not do away with that which belongs to the life to come; indeed, if the latter were not to come, the former would be nothing. If, then, you consider the judgment of the present Church according to the manner of this life, you will find four orders, or rather five. For, excepting those whom she knows rise into the place of judges, she is certain of the damnation of some, 1180Ccertain of the salvation of some; and of those concerning whom she has no certain sentence, she knows that some belong to life, others to death. But as regards the final examination of the life to come, only three orders are found. Some judge but are not judged; some are judged and saved; some are judged and damned. Now you see, as I judge, how rightly even those who are already called judged are said to be still to be judged. For the judgment which is foreknown in the present is imposed in the future. But this will perhaps still be marvelous to some: that those who after death have received recompense according to the quality of their merits are still to come to judgment, and to be judged according to their merits — especially those who both recognized 1180Dand received the sentence of their damnation. It must therefore be known that judgment is sometimes according to a part, sometimes according to fullness. It is according to a part when it deals with the quality of the sentence alone, and not with its quantity. Such is the judgment of the present Church. For we know the quality of the sentence (namely, whether they are to be damned or to be saved) concerning certain persons, but in this life we cannot know the quantity of the punishments even of any single damned person. But that judgment which follows a man's death will surely be dispensed not only in quality, but also in quantity, according to the measure of merits. And the quantity of the recompenses will be regulated both according to multitude and according to magnitude. According to multitude, so that where the fault was manifold, there too there may be a manifold 1181Apunishment. According to magnitude, so that in each kind of sinning, where the fault was greater, there too the punishment may be more intense. The judgment of this life, then, seems uniform; for it is, as we have said, about the quality of the sentence alone. But that which is given at a man's death seems to be multiform, yet not omniform. For although it is measured according to the whole life of a man, it is not according to the whole of what belongs to a man. For although each one at death receives according as he has done in the body, he nevertheless receives it in the soul alone, and not in soul and body together. See, then, what lies between this second and that third and last judgment. This, which takes place at the death of each individual, and that, which is to be at the common resurrection of all. This, as has been said, 1181Bdeals with the whole life of a man, yet not according to the whole of what belongs to a man. But that last judgment will be about the whole, and according to the whole. This takes place with some and before some; that will take place concerning all at once and before all. See how rightly he is confounded before the whole company, who here did not fear to offend the Lord of the whole. See how rightly he is glorified before all, who glorified the Lord of the whole in all things. See how rightly the head of perdition receives before all the ignominy of his casting-down, who from the beginning toiled at the casting-down of all. But consider how fitting, or, so to speak, how necessary, that last judgment is. Often we reproach the divine judgments as though unjust; 1181Coften we murmur against his scourges. There, when the apostolic men judge, it will be made public before the whole company how just the Lord is in all his ways and holy in all his works. That last judgment, then, will be in every respect most full, so that it may sufficiently answer to the consciences of each, and of all together. It will therefore be omniform, being able to satisfy all things. Let the first, then, be called uniform, the second multiform, the third omniform. The first and second judgments are according to a part, but the third alone will be according to fullness. For although the second is much fuller than the first, yet the third will be incomparably fuller than that. As, then, the first requires the second, so the second requires the third.
1181DIt remains only to ask what is that manner of judging which is promised to the apostles, when it is said: You also shall sit, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, or that: The saints shall judge nations and shall rule over peoples (Sap. III). Let us see, then, what John says of this judgment when he writes in his Apocalypse: And I saw, he says, the dead, great and small, standing in the sight of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works (Apoc. XX). What do we understand by these books, if not the consciences of individuals? The opening of the books, therefore, is the manifestation of consciences. In these books is inscribed whatever is retained by them in memory. In these books is held as though written whatever is 1182Acomprehended by them with full understanding. In some such books, then, are contained human merits, but in others also the divine judgments. In the former, the quality of actions; in the latter, the quality also of recompenses. For each one bears in his heart, as it were written, that whereby his conscience accuses or defends him. But those who attend upon divine contemplation, who daily read in the book of Wisdom, transcribe, as it were into the volumes of their hearts, whatever they now comprehend with a clear understanding of the truth. What, then, are the consciences of those to be judged, if not, so to speak, certain written actions? But what are the hearts of those who judge, taught by God into all truth, if not, as it were, the decrees of canons? From this twofold Scripture every sentence is drawn, 1182Bwhereby any of those to be judged is damned or absolved. For those to be judged to open the books of their actions before the judges is nothing else than to be unable to hide their consciences from them. And for the judges to read in such volumes is nothing else than to penetrate by manifest vision the hidden things of consciences, and to recognize without doubt by what merit each is strong or is defiled. But for the judges to open before those to be judged the books of their decrees is to admit the sight of any of the lower to the inspection of their hearts, and to reveal their understanding in those things which pertain to the reckoning of judgment. But those to be judged, while they read in such decrees, as it were, of canons, find the sentence of recompense, and the reason of the sentence which 1182Ceach one deserves. To read such writing, then, this will be for them to have received the sentence of judgment. And this will be for the apostolic men to judge any of those to be judged: to press upon their eyes the reason of the sentence to be given. Certainly, if I had an ear open to the word of the heart as I have to the word of the mouth, you could surely teach me by thought alone whatever you wished of your secrets. For to think the things to be taught would be to teach, and to have understood one thinking the things to be taught would be to have learned the things to be learned. Now everything that is said by a person of sense is thought before it is said. When a question, then, has been proposed, to think the solution would be to solve the question, if we could see one another's thoughts. See how easy teaching would be if we had an ear open to the thought of another's heart — 1182Dhow much more if we had an eye open to its understanding? Attend to what I say. It is one thing to see a thought, and far another to see the understanding. I have many things in knowledge which I do not now have in thought. And there are countless things about which I hold a sure and ready opinion, about which I now think nothing. In such matters, however, when it pleases me, I can see my own understanding and bring it into consideration. What goes on in my heart goes on, unless I am mistaken, in yours also. If, then, I could see your heart as it sees itself, often from the mere contemplation of your understanding the ignorance of my heart could be instructed, and what is now done by the word of the mouth would then be done by the word of the heart. For what is it for the heart to speak, if not to think thus? The word of the heart, therefore, is the judgment 1183Aof the understanding. To have seen and understood the judge's sentence by the inspection of his heart, then, is to have given and received judgment. Will not, in that last examination, the conscience of those to be judged, even by keeping silence, profess before those who are to judge: such and such is my fault? Will not the understanding of those who judge, before those to be judged, even by keeping silence, testify that for such and such a fault such and such a punishment is due? For what is this confession or attestation, if not the mutual revelation of consciences or understandings to one another?
You who hear these things perhaps marvel. Hear further that at which you may marvel yet more. Certainly, if we could read one another's understandings by turns in each other's hearts, a hundred men could consult you at one and the same time about 1183Bdifferent questions and receive an answer. Would it not be the same for each to have received the solution of the question proposed, and to have read in your heart the sure truth of your opinion? Nothing, then, prevents that, in the last examination, even with any single one judging, different men should receive different sentences for different causes at once and in the same moment. Otherwise, how will twelve men be able to judge the twelve tribes of Israel, unless perhaps you think that they spend much time on this business? Or perhaps, because there are many who come together into the number of those who judge, are they to be supposed to divide the office among themselves, and in such a manner or order to hasten the business? But how small, I ask, is the number of those who judge in comparison with those to be judged? 1183CBut why do we not believe concerning invisible things what we prove in visible things by the testimony of likeness? Certainly, if the solutions of many questions were written in a single volume, and it were unfolded before many inspectors, and read by different men through different questions, at one and the same moment it could, at once and in the same time, satisfy different men as to different things, and loose the knots of doubts. Why, then, should it not be believed that an incorporeal page inscribed by the finger of God can furnish to incorporeal eyes what a corporeal page written by a human finger is proved to furnish to corporeal eyes? To this you perhaps say: Behold, let us grant that one and the same judge can satisfy many men for their individual causes, according to the reasoning of the likeness shown, in 1183Dthe same moment of time. But is it equally to be granted that one and the same man can, at once and together, both render an account for all that he has done, and receive for each the sentence of recompense? For we have testimony from the Gospel: that we must render an account even for every idle word (Matth. XII). But if we believe that we answer for individual words or deeds, thoughts, and wills one by one and in succession, how much time, I ask, must be spent in the examination of one who, as it is written, is known to have lived nine hundred years and more? But we marvel at whatever, or even scarcely believe, we have not 1184Aexperienced. We marvel, surely, inasmuch as we meanwhile do not see the consciences of others, and know our own only by groping, and only in part. Certainly, if it happens that someone enters any house amid the dense darkness of the night-time, he can, even by groping, detect many of the things that lie hidden there. But if another comes upon him and enters with a lamp, consider how many are the things that he can show to himself and to others in one simple glance — not only of those which he could scarcely come to know by groping over much time, but also of those which he could in no way detect by groping.
For, to say nothing of the rest: when shall we be able to distinguish by groping between white and black, between the comely and the misshapen, which by the light of a lamp we discern 1184Bat once, at the very first glance? And what are the hearts of the perfect, illumined by the splendor of divine wisdom, if not kindled lamps? Of these lamps the Lord threatens where he speaks through the prophet: At that time I will search the houses of Jerusalem with lamps (Soph. I). Jerusalem means the same as vision of peace. The houses of Jerusalem, then, are secure consciences: for these are they which seem to have inward peace. What, then, will become of the houses of Babylon, when even the houses of Jerusalem are to be searched with lamps? What will become of foul and desperate consciences, if the presumption of confidence is taken away even from those falsely secure? The houses of Jerusalem, then, are said to be searched through by the Lord, because in those consciences too which 1184Cseemed secure to themselves nothing hidden, nothing unexamined will be left that is not convicted by the light of truth. And this searching of the houses with lamps the Lord declares he will make, because he will execute the judgment even of the most hidden thoughts and wills by the ministry of those whom the highest understanding of truth has inwardly illumined for the examination of every judgment. A certain splendor of the divine light, therefore, will radiate from the hearts of the perfect, which will lay bare to each one, by manifest vision, all the good or evil things that lay hidden in his heart. Consider, then, how now, at the pouring-in of this corporeal light, one at once surveys all the things that are in one's house, and detects not only the quantity but the quality of things in one simple glance. But it is agreed that that 1184Dincorporeal light is much more excellent, much more efficacious in its own kind, than this one is or can be in its kind. It is too little, then, that I said that that incorporeal ray fully shows individuals to themselves — indeed, both to themselves and to others. We see how, at the first ray of the emerging sun, all things which blind night had taken away from the eyes of all it restores again to the eyes of all — how at once all things lie open that before lay hidden. Scarcely yet do the peaks of the mountains receive the ray of light, and already, from the reverberation of the light which they pour back into the valleys, all things that are there, all things that are done there, are laid open to all. So indeed, so the highest and perfect men, founded in perpetual stability, 1185Amagnified with stupendous sublimity and truly eternal mountains, receive immediately the ray of divine wisdom, and from the received, so to speak, reverberation which they spread on every side, bring into the light, in a moment of time, all things that must be made manifest for the reckoning of judgment. Hence is that which you hear in the Psalms: Thou dost enlighten wonderfully from the eternal mountains (Psal. LXXV). Now, as I judge, you weigh in part how this illumination from the eternal mountains is, without any ambiguity, wonderful. For from that light of divine splendor which they receive immediately, by pouring it back to lower things, they show to any of those to be judged, with no doubtful vision, the quality both of merits and of recompenses. Certainly we who are still in this life, when we wish to enlighten some, cannot enlighten many 1185Bas to the same thing, but different men as to different things, at one and the same time. But if we cannot at once and at the same time instruct different men as to different things, how much less one and the same man as to many and greatly differing things? Consider, then, how wonderful is that illumination where, under one vision, in the greatest multitude, any individual is enlightened at once and together as to countless things. But this dilation of the mind, by which the human soul is dilated in the light of God to comprehend so many things under one vision — because we cannot for the present prove it by experience, we believe with difficulty. Here occurs that which the venerable Pope Gregory writes of blessed Benedict (lib. II Dialog., cap. 35). For he relates of him that at a certain time, 1185Cwhile he was engaged in nocturnal prayers, suddenly, light being poured from above, the whole world, as though gathered under a single ray of the sun, was brought before his eyes. But let us hear what Gregory himself adds to this, as though by way of exposition: « But that the world is said to be gathered before his eyes, he says, does not mean that heaven and earth were contracted, but that the mind of the beholder was dilated. » If, then, the mind of one still placed in this world could be so dilated in the light of God — one who was surrounded with mortal flesh and set thus far under the condition of this life — what ought we to believe of that condition of the life to come, where we shall mutually see one another's consciences? But if at the pouring-in of corporeal light countless things can fall under one glance, how much more, at that pouring-in of incorporeal light, is it to be believed that incomparably 1185Dmore things can be comprehended under one simple vision? If, then, according to the likeness of its own property, we grant to incorporeal light what by experiment we prove of visible light, I do not know what should prevent that last judgment from taking place with all speed. Or did the Lord perhaps wish to express this very thing by a likeness when he said: As lightning comes forth from the east and 1186Aappears even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man? (Matth. XXIV.) Lightning surely, when it appears, appears suddenly, and with all speed disappears. Of that light, then, which uncovers the consciences of the wicked, and shows what men deserve what things, must we not believe that it suddenly appears to them and suddenly disappears, although the memory of the things they have seen does not perish at all? For perhaps not without cause did he compare his coming to lightning rather than to the ray of the sun: for the sun too reaches from the east even to the west, but lightning never appears except for a little while; whereas with the ray of the sun it is wont to happen far otherwise. It will appear, then, like lightning, and reaching from east to west, from end to end, so that with wondrous speed it may bring forth into the light all things that everywhere on earth are, will be, 1186Bor have been, and, as far as pertains to the reckoning of judgment, all things may come forth at once and together to manifestation: We shall all, says the Apostle, rise again, but we shall not all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, etc. (I Cor. XV). He who will be able to restore the bodies of all with such haste — will he not, with the same speed, be able to illumine the hearts of all as to whatever he will, as far as it pleases him? If we do not think that a ray of such brightness as we described above radiates from the hearts of the apostolic men, what shall we say of that heart in which dwells that brightness of the eternal light, in which are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, in which dwells the fullness of that light which enlightens 1186Cevery man coming into this world? There is surely none of the faithful who would dare to doubt that a light sufficient for all things can radiate from the heart of Christ; and, as follows from this, none who would presume to deny that the apostolic men receive immediately the rays of so great an illumination, and pour them back upon others, so that what is written may stand: Thou dost enlighten wonderfully from the eternal mountains. The apostolic men, then, will without doubt, above all other men — indeed, above all the malignant spirits — be not only more perspicacious in the understanding of truth, but also more supereminent in the prerogative of power, to such a degree that of all the rest no one at all will be able either to refute their sentence or to resist their violence. For the tormentor demons too, who before dragged men to torments, 1186Dwill now, the turn being reversed, be disposed through the places of punishment according to the decrees of the men who judge. Behold, now it appears, as I judge, what is that prerogative of judiciary power conferred upon the apostolic men by the one Lord of all. Behold, what before was thought to be of no moment has been found to be of such great sublimity as can scarcely be believed by the less learned.