III. OF THE OBJECT OF THIS HAPPINESS
What is the object of the happiness of man?
The object of the happiness of man is a good higher than himself and in which he can find his perfection
Are riches the object of this happiness of man?
No, it is not riches, for these are beneath man; nor are they sufficient to guarantee his entire welfare and his perfection
Are honours?
No, not honours; because honours do not bring perfection, but rather presuppose it, that is when they are not false honours; and if they be false they avail nothing
Is it glory or renown?
No, for these are of no worth unless they be merited; moreover among men these things are often foolish and ill-judged
Is it power?
No, because power is for the good of others, and is subject to their whims and disobedience
Is it health or bodily beauty?
No, because these good things are too unstable; furthermore they belong only to the external perfection of man and not to his internal perfection or that of his soul
Does it consist in pleasures of the body?
No, it does not consist in pleasures of the body, since these are of small account in comparison with the higher pleasures of the mind which are proper to the soul
Does the happiness of man consist in something which is a good of the soul?
Yes, the happiness of man consists in some good of soul
What is this good of the soul in which the happiness of man consists?
The good of the soul in which the happiness of man consists is God, the Supreme Good, Sovereign and Infinite
IV. OF THE POSSESSION OF THIS HAPPINESS
How can man come to possess God, his Supreme Good, and to enjoy Him?
Man can come to possess God, his Supreme Good, and to enjoy Him, by an act of his intellect which is moved to this by his will.
What must man do in order to attain his perfect happiness by this act of his intellect?
In order for man to attain to his perfect happiness this act of his intellect, it is necessary that God should be reached by him, as He is in Himself, and not merely in the way He can be reached by the aid of creatures whatsoever these creatures may be
What is this act called whereby God is reached by the intellect as He is in Himself?
This act is called the "vision of God"
Does then the perfect happiness of man consist in the vision of God?
Yes, it is in the vision of God that the perfect happiness man consists
When man has attained to this vision of God in all its perfection, does it bring with it whatsoever is of perfection to man, in his soul, body, and in everything that concerns him?
Yes, when man has attained to this vision of God in all its perfection of necessity it brings with it all that can be of perfection to man in his soul, body, and in all that concerns him; for since it is the good of man in its highest source, from it come all things felicitous for his supreme perfection
This vision then means for man the possession of all good to the exclusion of all evil?
Yes, this means for man the possession of all good to the exclusion of all evil (ibid.).
V. OF THE MEANS OF REALIZING THIS POSSESSION, OR OF THE GOOD ACTS WHICH ARE DESERVING OF IT, AND OF EVIL ACTS WHICH BRING ABOUT ITS LOSS
Can man on earth and in this life come to possess this perfect happiness which is the vision of God?
No, on earth and in this life it is impossible for man to come to possess the vision of God which is his perfect happiness, for the conditions of this life and the miseries thereof are incompatible with such fullness of happiness
How can man attain to the vision of God which constitutes his perfect happiness?
Man can only attain to the vision of God which constitutes his perfect happiness by the help of God from whom he receives it
Does God confer this boon upon man if man do not by merit prepare himself thereto?
No, God will not confer this boon upon man unless by merit he make himself worthy to receive it
What then has man to do on earth and in this life?
On earth and in this life man has only to prepare himself by way of merit to receive from God some day the beatific vision and all that it entails; and this shall come about when God gives to man his reward.
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