Ch. 21 "Eminent Existence in God of All Perfections Found in Creatures" from "The Compendium of Theology" by St. Thomas Aquinas

CHAPTER 21 EMINENT EXISTENCE IN GOD OF ALL PERFECTIONS FOUND IN CREATURES

Unde etiam apparet quod omnes perfectiones in quibuscumque rebus inventas, necesse est originaliter et superabundanter in Deo esse. Nam omne quod movet aliquid ad perfectionem, prius habet in se perfectionem ad quam movet, sicut magister prius habet in se doctrinam quam aliis tradit. Cum igitur Deus sit primum movens, et omnia alia immoveat in suas perfectiones, necesse est omnes perfectiones rerum in ipso praeexistere superabundanter.

The further inference clearly follows that all perfections found in anything at all must originally and superabundantly be present in God. Whatever moves something toward perfection, must first possess in itself the perfection it confers on others. Thus a teacher has in his own mind the knowledge he hands on to others. Therefore, since God is the first mover, and moves all other beings toward their perfections, all perfections found in things must pre-exist in Him superabundantly.

Item. Omne quod habet aliquam perfectionem, si alia perfectio ei desit, est limitatum sub aliquo genere vel specie: nam per formam, quae est perfectio rei, quaelibet res in genere, vel specie collocatur. Quod autem est sub specie et genere constitutum, non potest esse infinitae essentiae: nam oportet quod ultima differentia per quam in specie ponitur, terminet eius essentiam; unde et ratio speciem notificans, definitio vel finis dicitur. Si ergo divina essentia infinita est, impossibile est quod alicuius tantum generis vel speciei perfectionem habeat, et aliis privetur, sed oportet quod omnium generum vel specierum perfectiones in ipso existant.

Besides, whatever has a particular perfection but lacks another perfection, is contained under some genus or species. For each thing is classed under a genus or a species by its form, which is the thing’s perfection. But what is placed under species and genus cannot be infinite in essence; for the ultimate difference whereby it is placed in a species necessarily closes off its essence. Hence the very ratio or description that makes a species known is called its definition, or even finis. Therefore, if the divine essence is infinite, it cannot possess merely the perfection of some genus or species and be lacking in other perfections; the perfections of all genera or species must be in God.