Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question V: On the prudence of the flesh
NOW we must treat of the vices opposed to Prudence by excess, which bear a false likeness of Prudence.
IAM agendum de vitiis oppositis Prudentiae per excessum, quae speciem falsam Prudentiae habent.
PRUDENCE OF THE FLESH is the scheming of reason, clever, and adapted to attaining some perverse end, conformed to the depraved carnal appetite; and it is a mortal sin, if it sets itself up as the ultimate end.
PRUDENTIA carnis est machinatio rationis, solers, et accommodata ad consequendum pravum aliquem finem, conformem depravato appetitui carnali; estque peccatum mortale, si eum ultimum finem sibi praestituat.
Of this the Apostle speaks, Rom. 8. The prudence of the flesh is an enemy to God: for it is not subject to the law of God. See St. Thomas quaest. 55. art. 1. Valencia quaest. 5. punct. 2. Tanner num. 55. with St. Bonaventure cited at the beginning.
De hac intelligitur Apostolus Rom. 8. Prudentia Carnis inimica est Deo: Legi enim Dei non est subiecta. Vide D. Thom. quaest. 55. art. 1. Valentia quaest. 5. punct. 2. Tanner. num. 55. cum D. Bonavent. allegato initio.
This sin, however, is not distinct from that which is committed by a perverse work, unless this prudence is directly willed, as I said in quaestione 4.
Hoc vero peccatum non est distinctum ab eo, quod patratur pravo opere, nisi directe sit volita haec prudentia, ut dixi quaestione 4.