Prologue

Just as in the arts the foundation is first laid, obstacles removed, and the building gradually completed to the summit desired, in which consists the standing of the whole structure; so in morals, when the virtues have first been set forth and the vices refuted, men are to be more securely promoted to certain states of life and offices, in which they may shine forth as an example to the rest in the work, and an enrichment of doctrine.

Hence St. Thomas, having completed the treatises on the virtues and discussed the vices by which they are assailed, pursues certain matters pertaining to particular persons, which differ in a threefold way; for some are freely granted by God for the salvation of one's neighbor, which are therefore called Graces freely given; others are indeed instituted by God and in part designated, yet entrusted to the dispensations, or ministrations, of men; and these are certain States and Offices, in which some are instituted and instructed in order that they may give leadership to the rest. We therefore, as is our custom, composing the Angelic method of St. Thomas with the Seraphic doctrine of St. Bonaventure, under the title Treatise on the Theological Virtues, to which we have reduced the Cardinal Virtues, have plainly and fully concluded whatever can be a support or a stumbling-block to virtue: That therefore we may put the finishing hand to this volume, there must now finally be treated of the various States and Offices of men; And we reckon those offices, not which serve the affairs of the world, but which are incumbent upon ministering the affairs of salvation; whatever, however, might be desired from us for the instruction of conscience in temporal ministries, we treated above, where we dealt with justice; Here, then, having undertaken in the first disputation the subject of States and perfection in common, we shall examine those two distinguished prelacies, namely the Episcopal and the Regular, the latter somewhat more at length: Then of the Active and Contemplative life, where also the Preachers will be treated of last. But of the Graces freely given I shall here be silent, since they have already been treated of elsewhere.