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Objection 1: It seems that vengeance is not lawful. For whoever
usurps what is God's sins. But vengeance belongs to God, for it is
written (Dt. 32:35, Rm. 12:19): "Revenge to Me,
and I will repay." Therefore all vengeance is unlawful.
Objection 2: Further, he that takes vengeance on a man does not
bear with him. But we ought to bear with the wicked, for a gloss on
Cant 2:2, "As the lily among the thorns," says: "He is not a
good man that cannot bear with a wicked one." Therefore we should not
take vengeance on the wicked.
Objection 3: Further, vengeance is taken by inflicting punishment,
which is the cause of servile fear. But the New Law is not a law of
fear, but of love, as Augustine states (Contra Adamant. xvii).
Therefore at least in the New Testament all vengeance is unlawful.
Objection 4: Further, a man is said to avenge himself when he takes
revenge for wrongs inflicted on himself. But, seemingly, it is
unlawful even for a judge to punish those who have wronged him: for
Chrysostom [Opus Imperfectum, Hom. v in Matth.] says: "Let
us learn after Christ's example to bear our own wrongs with
magnanimity, yet not to suffer God's wrongs, not even by listening
to them." Therefore vengeance seems to be unlawful.
Objection 5: Further, the sin of a multitude is more harmful than
the sin of only one: for it is written (Ecclus. 26:5-7):
"Of three things my heart hath been afraid . . . the accusation of
a city, and the gathering together of the people, and a false
calumny." But vengeance should not be taken on the sin of a
multitude, for a gloss on Mt. 13:29,30, "Lest perhaps .
. . you root up the wheat . . . suffer both to grow," says that
"a multitude should not be excommunicated, nor should the
sovereign." Neither therefore is any other vengeance lawful.
On the contrary, We should look to God for nothing save what is good
and lawful. But we are to look to God for vengeance on His enemies:
for it is written (Lk. 18:7): "Will not God revenge His
elect who cry to Him day and night?" as if to say: "He will
indeed." Therefore vengeance is not essentially evil and unlawful.
I answer that, Vengeance consists in the infliction of a penal evil
on one who has sinned. Accordingly, in the matter of vengeance, we
must consider the mind of the avenger. For if his intention is
directed chiefly to the evil of the person on whom he takes vengeance
and rests there, then his vengeance is altogether unlawful: because to
take pleasure in another's evil belongs to hatred, which is contrary
to the charity whereby we are bound to love all men. Nor is it an
excuse that he intends the evil of one who has unjustly inflicted evil
on him, as neither is a man excused for hating one that hates him: for
a man may not sin against another just because the latter has already
sinned against him, since this is to be overcome by evil, which was
forbidden by the Apostle, who says (Rm. 12:21): "Be not
overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good."
If, however, the avenger's intention be directed chiefly to some
good, to be obtained by means of the punishment of the person who has
sinned (for instance that the sinner may amend, or at least that he
may be restrained and others be not disturbed, that justice may be
upheld, and God honored), then vengeance may be lawful, provided
other due circumstances be observed.
Reply to Objection 1: He who takes vengeance on the wicked in
keeping with his rank and position does not usurp what belongs to God
but makes use of the power granted him by God. For it is written
(Rm. 13:4) of the earthly prince that "he is God's minister,
an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." If, however,
a man takes vengeance outside the order of divine appointment, he
usurps what is God's and therefore sins.
Reply to Objection 2: The good bear with the wicked by enduring
patiently, and in due manner, the wrongs they themselves receive from
them: but they do not bear with them as to endure the wrongs they
inflict on God and their neighbor. For Chrysostom [Opus
Imperfectum, Hom. v in Matth.] says: "It is praiseworthy to be
patient under our own wrongs, but to overlook God's wrongs is most
wicked."
Reply to Objection 3: The law of the Gospel is the law of love,
and therefore those who do good out of love, and who alone properly
belong to the Gospel, ought not to be terrorized by means of
punishment, but only those who are not moved by love to do good, and
who, though they belong to the Church outwardly, do not belong to it
in merit.
Reply to Objection 4: Sometimes a wrong done to a person reflects
on God and the Church: and then it is the duty of that person to
avenge the wrong. For example, Elias made fire descend on those who
were come to seize him (4 Kgs. 1); likewise Eliseus cursed the
boys that mocked him (4 Kgs. 2); and Pope Sylverius
excommunicated those who sent him into exile (XXIII, Q. iv,
Cap. Guilisarius). But in so far as the wrong inflicted on a man
affects his person, he should bear it patiently if this be expedient.
For these precepts of patience are to be understood as referring to
preparedness of the mind, as Augustine states (De Serm. Dom. in
Monte i).
Reply to Objection 5: When the whole multitude sins, vengeance
must be taken on them, either in respect of the whole
multitude---thus the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea while
they were pursuing the children of Israel (Ex. 14), and the
people of Sodom were entirely destroyed (Gn. 19)---or as
regards part of the multitude, as may be seen in the punishment of
those who worshipped the calf.
Sometimes, however, if there is hope of many making amends, the
severity of vengeance should be brought to bear on a few of the
principals, whose punishment fills the rest with fear; thus the Lord
(Num 25) commanded the princes of the people to be hanged for the
sin of the multitude.
On the other hand, if it is not the whole but only a part of the
multitude that has sinned, then if the guilty can be separated from the
innocent, vengeance should be wrought on them: provided, however,
that this can be done without scandal to others; else the multitude
should be spared and severity foregone. The same applies to the
sovereign, whom the multitude follow. For his sin should be borne
with, if it cannot be punished without scandal to the multitude:
unless indeed his sin were such, that it would do more harm to the
multitude, either spiritually or temporally, than would the scandal
that was feared to arise from his punishment.
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