a. The First Way of Speaking

125. One way is that the negative conclusion is held only by faith [William of Ware], because of the authorities of the saints [nn.11-14], and cannot be proved by reason. For it is not evidently clear why it should be repugnant to a creature to produce some effect whole and wholly with nothing of it presupposed, since anything in the effect is more imperfect than such an agent cause is, and so could be contained in the cause eminently, and thereby virtually and actively. - This is plain by explaining causes and effects. For that which is more perfect in form is also more perfect in matter, because form is more perfect than matter, Metaphysics 7.3.1029a20-32. Therefore, if the cause can have the form in its active virtue, it does not seem repugnant to its perfection that it should have the matter in its virtue and thus the total effect. Therefore, if the creature can have the form in its active virtue, it does not appear why it will not similarly be able to have the matter, and so the whole effect wholly. Also, if several angels could belong to the same species, as was said in Ord. II d.3 nn.227-237, it does not appear why an angel cannot produce an angel as fire produces fire, for in both cases the product has the same proportion to the producer’s perfection.