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Objection 1: It would seem that the New Law is a written law.
For the New Law is just the same as the Gospel. But the Gospel is
set forth in writing, according to Jn. 20:31: "But these are
written that you may believe." Therefore the New Law is a written
law.
Objection 2: Further, the law that is instilled in the heart is the
natural law, according to Rm. 2:14,15: "(The Gentiles)
do by nature those things that are of the law . . . who have the work
of the law written in their hearts." If therefore the law of the
Gospel were instilled in our hearts, it would not be distinct from the
law of nature.
Objection 3: Further, the law of the Gospel is proper to those who
are in the state of the New Testament. But the law that is instilled
in the heart is common to those who are in the New Testament and to
those who are in the Old Testament: for it is written (Wis.
7:27) that Divine Wisdom "through nations conveyeth herself into
holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets." Therefore
the New Law is not instilled in our hearts.
On the contrary, The New Law is the law of the New Testament.
But the law of the New Testament is instilled in our hearts. For
the Apostle, quoting the authority of Jeremias 31:31,33:
"Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord; and I will perfect
unto the house of Israel, and unto the house of Judah, a new
testament," says, explaining what this statement is (Heb.
8:8,10): "For this is the testament which I will make to the
house of Israel . . . by giving My laws into their mind, and in
their heart will I write them." Therefore the New Law is instilled
in our hearts.
I answer that, "Each thing appears to be that which preponderates in
it," as the Philosopher states (Ethic. ix, 8). Now that which
is preponderant in the law of the New Testament, and whereon all its
efficacy is based, is the grace of the Holy Ghost, which is given
through faith in Christ. Consequently the New Law is chiefly the
grace itself of the Holy Ghost, which is given to those who believe
in Christ. This is manifestly stated by the Apostle who says (Rm.
3:27): "Where is . . . thy boasting? It is excluded. By
what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith": for he calls
the grace itself of faith "a law." And still more clearly it is
written (Rm. 8:2): "The law of the spirit of life, in Christ
Jesus, hath delivered me from the law of sin and of death." Hence
Augustine says (De Spir. et Lit. xxiv) that "as the law of
deeds was written on tables of stone, so is the law of faith inscribed
on the hearts of the faithful": and elsewhere, in the same book
(xxi): "What else are the Divine laws written by God Himself on
our hearts, but the very presence of His Holy Spirit?"
Nevertheless the New Law contains certain things that dispose us to
receive the grace of the Holy Ghost, and pertaining to the use of
that grace: such things are of secondary importance, so to speak, in
the New Law; and the faithful need to be instructed concerning them,
both by word and writing, both as to what they should believe and as to
what they should do. Consequently we must say that the New Law is in
the first place a law that is inscribed on our hearts, but that
secondarily it is a written law.
Reply to Objection 1: The Gospel writings contain only such things
as pertain to the grace of the Holy Ghost, either by disposing us
thereto, or by directing us to the use thereof. Thus with regard to
the intellect, the Gospel contains certain matters pertaining to the
manifestation of Christ's Godhead or humanity, which dispose us by
means of faith through which we receive the grace of the Holy Ghost:
and with regard to the affections, it contains matters touching the
contempt of the world, whereby man is rendered fit to receive the grace
of the Holy Ghost: for "the world," i.e. worldly men, "cannot
receive" the Holy Ghost (Jn. 14:17). As to the use of
spiritual grace, this consists in works of virtue to which the writings
of the New Testament exhort men in divers ways.
Reply to Objection 2: There are two ways in which a thing may be
instilled into man. First, through being part of his nature, and
thus the natural law is instilled into man. Secondly, a thing is
instilled into man by being, as it were, added on to his nature by a
gift of grace. In this way the New Law is instilled into man, not
only by indicating to him what he should do, but also by helping him to
accomplish it.
Reply to Objection 3: No man ever had the grace of the Holy Ghost
except through faith in Christ either explicit or implicit: and by
faith in Christ man belongs to the New Testament. Consequently
whoever had the law of grace instilled into them belonged to the New
Testament.
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