

PHILOSOPHIC SCIENCES. S7 



orthodoxy, and, starting from well-understood principles, deduced from them 

 their ultimate consequences by the superiority of his dialectical method. 

 This method enabled him to range his opinions and judgments in logical order, 

 and at the same time saved him from taking a single step in the direction 

 of heresy. His " Somme de Theologie " and his " Somme contre les Gentils " 

 rank with the most remarkable productions of human genius. The precision 

 and surety with which the author of these two works maintained his balance 

 amidst the mazes of the questions involved are something marvellous. St. 

 Thomas Aquinas was born at Naples in 1227, upon the territory of Aquino, 

 from which he derived his name, and he was only thirteen years of age when 

 he completed his studies at the school of Naples. The Preaching Brothers 

 of that city induced him to join their order, notwithstanding the efforts of 

 his family, which was both noble and influential, to make him adopt a 

 judicial or diplomatic career. After taking the vows, he was sent first to 

 Paris, and afterwards to Cologne, where he attended the lectures of Albertus 

 Magnus. Thomas was of a pensive and dreamy disposition, talking little, 

 and avoiding argument and dispute. His fellow-pupils nicknamed him the 

 " Dumb ox of Sicily." His master had one day occasion to question him 

 upon several intricate matters in the presence of a numerous audience, and 

 Thomas Aquinas answered him with remarkable boldness and accuracy. Albert, 

 turning with delight towards the audience, which had listened in silence to 

 the able answers of the young Neapolitan, said, " You call Thomas a dumb 

 ox, but the day will come when the lowings of his doctrine will be heard 

 all over the world." Thomas, eager to learn and study, returned to Paris, 

 and again became a student in the house of the Dominican Friars in the Rue 

 St . Jacques ; but at the expiration of three years he was recalled to Cologne 

 by his esteemed master, with whom he studied for another four years sciences 

 of all kinds, sacred science in particular. In 1248, when Albertus became the 

 Provincial of his order in Germany, Thomas returned to Paris, to the house 

 in the Rue St. Jacques where he had already learnt so many useful lessons, 

 and it was there that he completed his theological studies by a commentary 

 on Pierre Lombard's " Sentences." After being received Doctor, he began his 

 lessons, in which he developed with marvellous lucidity the various parts of 

 his " Sum of Theology," which became the basis of his great reputation. He 

 continued his teaching to large audiences for many years, and he wrote 

 without intermission a vast number of theological treatises, forming altogether 



