Doubt III: Whether the gift of knowledge is speculative

Since Science is borne especially toward doing and believing, so that it may pass judgment on these according to truth, St. Thom. and St. Bonav. cap. 3. de dono scientiae assert here that it is primarily speculative: it is nevertheless secondarily practical, because it is also ordered to operation, insofar as it prescribes that charity be begotten and defended in this or that way. Both holy Doctors prove that this gift is at once speculative and practical from St. Greg. 1. Moral. cap. 6., who says: Science in its day makes a banquet, because it makes a fast from the ignorance in the womb of the mind. But the fast of ignorance is not broken except by both science, speculative and practical; for he who has contracted an ignorance of supernatural things by acting perversely must needs expel it not only by knowing rightly, but also by acting well.

Then, speculation, or practice, of Science is drawn from the condition of the object; but the object of this science, although primarily speculable, is nevertheless in certain respects operable; for it supplies the medium and manner by which the practice of divine love is had; indeed, for this present state it would be in vain unless it illuminated toward the exercise of charity, as the Seraphic Doctor has from Hugh, lib. de vanitate mundi, where he says: In vain does the abundance of divine cognition grow in us, unless the flame of divine love increase in us.

Then, the Gift of science follows the nature of faith; for it also passes judgment on this; but faith, although primarily it does nothing concerning its object, nevertheless, once perfected, works abundantly through charity. Galat. 5.

Finally, to these considerations add that spiritual banquet of science, where the Seraphic Doctor feeds the whole throng at the threefold table of History, Allegory, and Anagoge with most savory and sweetest dishes, through the whole of chapter 3; see them there, for those dishes translated hither would perhaps lose their native savor.