"God should not be called an individual substance, since the principal of individuation is matter"

Thomas Aquinas is suggesting that God should not be considered a private compound due to the fact that the idea of individuation is based upon matter. This indicates that the concept of individuation is based on the physical properties of matter, such as shape, size, and mass. Because God is not a physical being, he can not be considered an individual substance. Aquinas is recommending that God is not an individual being, however rather a collective being that is comprised of several aspects. He is recommending that God is not limited to one type or one substance, but rather is made up of several aspects that comprise the entire. This is why Aquinas thinks that God should not be thought about a specific compound. He is suggesting that God is a cumulative being that is comprised of several elements, and that the idea of individuation is not applicable to God.