Many have noted in recent years that some similarities exist between Thomas and the Dominicans on the one hand, and the Reformed on the other, on the matter of predestination. Now, without denying that point, it is interesting to note that they differed in whether predestination consists in an act of the divine intellect, or an act of the intellect and will.
Van Mastricht writes,
“It is not the case, therefore, as some of the Scholastics thought, that predestination is an act of the intellect alone; and neither is it one of the will alone. But rather, it is an act of both the intellect and the will. For this reason, it is call counsel (in which the idea of a mind, concerning the end and means, and the intention of the will, come together); and it is called πρόγνωσις (foreknowledge), but also προορισμένη βουλὴ, “the counsel of the will.” Which must not only be granted concerning election, but also concerning reprobation. For this reason, the Apostle says, “Willing to show his wrath.” And certainly, this is true regarding any decree of God, for he “does all things according to the counsel of his will,” Eph. 1:11.” (Theologia Theoretico-Practica, bk. 3, ch. 2; p. 284 in the 1715 Utrecht edition; translation my own)
Thomas, by contrast, appears to be one of those scholastics Van Mastricht has in mind, because he consistently speaks of predestination in regards to God’s mind and intellect.
He says,
“I answer that, Predestination is not anything in the predestined; but only in the person who predestines. We have said above that predestination is a part of providence. Now providence is not anything in the things provided for; but is a type in the mind of the provider, as was proved above. But the execution of providence which is called government, is in a passive way in the thing governed, and in an active way in the governor. Whence it is clear that predestination is a kind of type of the ordering of some persons towards eternal salvation, existing in the divine mind. The execution, however, of this order is in a passive way in the predestined, but actively in God.” (ST.I.Q23.A2.C)
“Preparation is twofold: of the patient in respect to passion, and this is in the thing prepared; and of the agent to action, and this is in the agent. Such a preparation is predestination, and as an agent by intellect is said to prepare itself to act, accordingly as it preconceives the idea of what is to be done. Thus, God from all eternity prepared by predestination, conceiving the idea of the order of some towards salvation.” (ST.I.Q23.A2.Rep3)
Reformed Theology Delatinized 