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Objection 1: It would seem that there is no eternal law. Because
every law is imposed on someone. But there was not someone from
eternity on whom a law could be imposed: since God alone was from
eternity. Therefore no law is eternal.
Objection 2: Further, promulgation is essential to law. But
promulgation could not be from eternity: because there was no one to
whom it could be promulgated from eternity. Therefore no law can be
eternal.
Objection 3: Further, a law implies order to an end. But nothing
ordained to an end is eternal: for the last end alone is eternal.
Therefore no law is eternal.
On the contrary, Augustine says (De Lib. Arb. i, 6):
"That Law which is the Supreme Reason cannot be understood to be
otherwise than unchangeable and eternal."
I answer that, As stated above (Question 90, Article 1, ad
2; Articles 3,4), a law is nothing else but a dictate of
practical reason emanating from the ruler who governs a perfect
community. Now it is evident, granted that the world is ruled by
Divine Providence, as was stated in the FP, Question 22,
Articles 1,2, that the whole community of the universe is governed
by Divine Reason. Wherefore the very Idea of the government of
things in God the Ruler of the universe, has the nature of a law.
And since the Divine Reason's conception of things is not subject to
time but is eternal, according to Prov. 8:23, therefore it is
that this kind of law must be called eternal.
Reply to Objection 1: Those things that are not in themselves,
exist with God, inasmuch as they are foreknown and preordained by
Him, according to Rm. 4:17: "Who calls those things that are
not, as those that are." Accordingly the eternal concept of the
Divine law bears the character of an eternal law, in so far as it is
ordained by God to the government of things foreknown by Him.
Reply to Objection 2: Promulgation is made by word of mouth or in
writing; and in both ways the eternal law is promulgated: because both
the Divine Word and the writing of the Book of Life are eternal.
But the promulgation cannot be from eternity on the part of the
creature that hears or reads.
Reply to Objection 3: The law implies order to the end actively,
in so far as it directs certain things to the end; but not
passively---that is to say, the law itself is not ordained to the
end---except accidentally, in a governor whose end is extrinsic to
him, and to which end his law must needs be ordained. But the end of
the Divine government is God Himself, and His law is not distinct
from Himself. Wherefore the eternal law is not ordained to another
end.
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