1 Objection 1: It would seem that bodies do not obey the angels in local motion. For the local motion of natural bodies follows on their forms. But the angels do not cause the forms of natural bodies, as stated above Article 2). Therefore neither can they cause in them local motion.
1 Ad tertium sic proceditur. Videtur quod corpora non obediant Angelis ad motum localem. Motus enim localis corporum naturalium sequitur formas eorum. Sed Angeli non causant formas corporum naturalium, ut dictum est. Ergo neque possunt causare in eis motum localem.
2 Objection 2: Further, the Philosopher Phys. viii, 7) proves that local motion is the first of all movements. But the angels cannot cause other movements by a formal change of the matter. Therefore neither can they cause local motion.
2 Praeterea, in VIII Physic. probatur quod motus localis est primus motuum. Sed Angeli non possunt causare alios motus, transmutando materiam formaliter. Ergo neque etiam possunt causare motum localem.
3 Objection 3: Further, the corporeal members obey the concept of the soul as regards local movement, as having in themselves some principle of life. In natural bodies, however, there is not vital principle. Therefore they do not obey the angels in local motion.
3 Praeterea, membra corporalia obediunt conceptioni animae ad motum localem, inquantum habent in seipsis aliquod principium vitae. In corporibus autem naturalibus non est aliquod principium vitae. Ergo non obediunt Angelis ad motum localem.
4 On the contrary, Augustine says De Trin. iii, 8, 9) that the angels use corporeal seed to produce certain effects. But they cannot do this without causing local movement. Therefore bodies obey them in local motion.
4 Sed contra est quod Augustinus dicit, III de Trin., quod Angeli adhibent semina corporalia ad aliquos effectus producendos. Sed hoc non possunt facere nisi localiter movendo. Ergo corpora obediunt eis ad motum localem.
5 I answer that, As Dionysius says Div. Nom. vii): Divine wisdom has joined the ends of the first to the principles of the second. Hence it is clear that the inferior nature at its highest point is in conjunction with superior nature. Now corporeal nature is below the spiritual nature. But among all corporeal movements the most perfect is local motion, as the Philosopher proves Phys. viii, 7). The reason of this is that what is moved locally is not as such in potentiality to anything intrinsic, but only to something extrinsic, that is, to place. Therefore the corporeal nature has a natural aptitude to be moved immediately by the spiritual nature as regards place. Hence also the philosophers asserted that the supreme bodies are moved locally by the spiritual substances; whence we see that the soul moves the body first and chiefly by a local motion.
5 Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut Dionysius dicit VII cap. de Div. Nom., divina sapientia coniungit fines primorum principiis secundorum, ex quo patet quod natura inferior in sui supremo attingitur a natura superiori. Natura autem corporalis est infra naturam spiritualem. Inter omnes autem motus corporeos perfectior est motus localis, ut probatur in VIII Physic., cuius ratio est, quia mobile secundum locum non est in potentia ad aliquid intrinsecum, inquantum huiusmodi, sed solum ad aliquid extrinsecum, scilicet ad locum. Et ideo natura corporalis nata est moveri immediate a natura spirituali secundum locum. Unde et philosophi posuerunt suprema corpora moveri localiter a spiritualibus substantiis. Unde videmus quod anima movet corpus primo et principaliter locali motu.
6 Reply to Objection 1: There are in bodies other local movements besides those which result from the forms; for instance, the ebb and flow of the sea does not follow from the substantial form of the water, but from the influence of the moon; and much more can local movements result from the power of spiritual substances.
6 Ad primum ergo dicendum quod in corporibus sunt alii motus locales praeter eos qui consequuntur formas, sicut fluxus et refluxus maris non consequitur formam substantialem aquae, sed virtutem lunae. Et multo magis aliqui motus locales consequi possunt virtutem spiritualium substantiarum.
7 Reply to Objection 2: The angels, by causing local motion, as the first motion, can thereby cause other movements; that is, by employing corporeal agents to produce these effects, as a workman employs fire to soften iron.
7 Ad secundum dicendum quod Angeli, causando motum localem tanquam priorem, per eum causare possunt alios motus, adhibendo scilicet agentia corporalia ad huiusmodi effectus producendos; sicut faber adhibet ignem ad emollitionem ferri.
8 Reply to Objection 3: The power of an angel is not so limited as is the power of the soul. Hence the motive power of the soul is limited to the body united to it, which is vivified by it, and by which it can move other things. But an angel's power is not limited to any body; hence it can move locally bodies not joined to it.
8 Ad tertium dicendum quod Angeli habent virtutem minus contractam quam animae. Unde virtus motiva animae contrahitur ad corpus unitum, quod per eam vivificatur, quo mediante alia potest movere. Sed virtus Angeli non est contracta ad aliquod corpus. Unde potest corpora non coniuncta localiter movere.