Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question III: On inconstancy
INCONSTANCY is a cessation from that decree of Prudence which ought to have been continued; or the reprobation of it, as D. Thomas says. Therefore it is opposed to the essential act of Prudence, which is right practical judgment about persevering in the purpose.
INCONSTANTIA est cessatio ab eo Prudentiae decreto, quod continuari oportebat; aut illius reprobatio, ut ait D. Thomas. Igitur opponitur actui essentiali Prudentiae, qui est rectum iudicium practicum de permanendo in proposito.
HENCE Inconstancy is defined: A light passage from one purpose to another, as is drawn from D. Bonavent. 3. p. Centiloquii, cap. 43.; wherefore aptly by similitude of the Leopard's defects, the inconstant man, with D. Bernard in serm. Gilleberti, serm. 29.: Man is like the Leopard, unlike himself, a man various and inconstant, straightway changing his counsels. For by the variety of colors, As it were the Leopard wills; and wills not, as is said in the same place.
HINC definitur Inconstantia: Lenis transitus a proposito in propositum, ut eruitur e D. Bonavent. 3. p. Centiloquii, cap. 43. quare apta similitudine Pardi defectibus vir inconstans, apud D. Bernardum in serm. Gilleberti, serm. 29. Pardo similis est homo, dissimilis sibi, homo varius, et inconstans, subinde mutans Consilia. Colorum enim varietate, Quasi vult; et non vult Pardus, ut ibidem dicitur.
INCONSTANCY differs from Impseverance in this; that this is a discontinuation from the due end, proposing another to itself; that from the purpose undertaken, choosing another thing; but both are adverse to prudence, dictating that one must persevere in the good and remain in the purpose, according to more and less.
INCONSTANTIA ab Imperseverantia in eo differt; quod haec fit discontinuatio a debito fine, alium sibi proponendo; illa a suscepto proposito, aliud eligendo; verum haec et illa prudentiae, dictanti in bono perseverandum, et in proposito permanendum, secundum magis et minus adversantur.
THIS, by opposition to Constancy, has three degrees, as is gathered from the Seraphic Doctor de Gradibus virtutum, cap. 14. The first is, when someone is stricken from what he has begun by the praise, or indeed the blame of good men: The second, when someone is easily seduced by the praise or adulation of Players, or of evil men: The third is when someone is moved from a good purpose by mockery, or by any other light cause; These inconstancies are noticed especially in heretics, who, lacking the Anchor of Hope, and consequently the helm of infused prudence, are easily carried about by every wind; far from these went Job cap. 27., who, as much caressed by the adulation of prosperity as buffeted by the storms of adversity, prudently answered his friends: The justification which I began to hold, I will not abandon, as the Seraphic Doctor notes, ubi supra: Of Inconstancy D. Greg. speaks most excellently, cited by D. Bonau. in Pharetra lib. 3. cap. 5.: While the heart in adversities hopes for prosperity; in prosperities it fears adversity, hither and thither it is rolled by certain waves, and is turned about by the mutability of the various modes of alternating things.
HAEC, ex opposito Constantiae, habet tres gradus, ut colligitur e Seraphico de Gradibus virtutum, cap. 14. Primus est, cum quis a coepto percellitur laude, vel etiam vituperio bonorum hominum: Secundus, quando facile quis seducitur laude, vel adulatione Histrionum, aut malorum hominum: Tertius est quando a proposito bono quis movetur irrisione, aut quavis alia levi causa; Hae inconstantiae in haereticis praecipue animadvertuntur, qui Carentes Anchora Spei, ac proinde infusae prudentiae gubernaculo, omni vento facile circumferuntur; ab his longe abiit Iob cap. 27. qui tam prosperitatis adulatione blanditus, quam adversitatis procellis impetitus, prudenter amicis respondit: Iustificationem, quam tenere coepi, non deseram, ut notat Seraphicus Doctor, ubi supra: De Inconstantia praeclare ait D. Greg. apud D. Bonau. in Pharetra lib. 3. cap. 5. Dum cor in adversis sperat prospera; in prosperis formidat adversa, huc illucque quibusdam fluctibus volvitur, ac per modos varios rerum alternantium mutabilitate versatur.