Likewise, they disagreed concerning power: must it coincide with the act to which it pertains [and be unable to precede it] (1)? Or must it precede that act (2 and be unable to coincide with it? Or may it both precede and coincide with it 2) (2)? Here too, there are three positions (3).

The decisive point is that a decisive will coupled with complete power necessarily entails the act and coincides with it. Thus, the [act] (4) does not occur merely through a prior power that does not coincide with it, nor merely through a prior will that does not coincide with it. Rather, whenever the effect exists, the complete effective cause must also exist. An act cannot proceed from an agent that does not exist at the time of the act (5), nor from a power that does not exist at the time of the act, (6 nor from a will that does not exist at the time of the act 6) (6). Before the [act] (7), decisive will and complete power do not come together, for their conjunction necessarily entails the act and therefore exists only together with it. Before the act, however, power may exist without will, or will without power. There may also be a resolve to act; then, when the time for the act arrives, the resolve strengthens and becomes intent. The will at the time of the act is therefore more complete than it was (8) beforehand, [and likewise, the power at the time of the act is more complete than it was beforehand] (9).

Accordingly, before the act the servant possesses the power stipulated as a condition of the command, by virtue of which