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Objection 1: It seems that before sin sacraments were necessary to
man. For, as stated above (Article 1, ad 2) man needs
sacraments that he may obtain grace. But man needed grace even in the
state of innocence, as we stated in the FP, Question 95,
Article 4. (FS, Question 109, Article 2; FS, Question
114, Article 2). Therefore sacraments were necessary in that
state also.
Objection 2: Further, sacraments are suitable to man by reason of
the conditions of human nature, as stated above (Article 1). But
man's nature is the same before and after sin. Therefore it seems
that before sin, man needed the sacraments.
Objection 3: Further, matrimony is a sacrament, according to
Eph. 5:32: "This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ
and in the Church." But matrimony was instituted before sin, as may
be seen in Gn. 2. Therefore sacraments were necessary to man before
sin.
On the contrary, None but the sick need remedies, according to Mt.
9:12: "They that are in health need not a physician." Now the
sacraments are spiritual remedies for the healing of wounds inflicted by
sin. Therefore they were not necessary before sin.
I answer that, Sacraments were not necessary in the state of
innocence. This can be proved from the rectitude of that state, in
which the higher (parts of man) ruled the lower, and nowise depended
on them: for just as the mind was subject to God, so were the lower
powers of the soul subject to the mind, and the body to the soul. And
it would be contrary to this order if the soul were perfected either in
knowledge or in grace, by anything corporeal; which happens in the
sacraments. Therefore in the state of innocence man needed no
sacraments, whether as remedies against sin or as means of perfecting
the soul.
Reply to Objection 1: In the state of innocence man needed grace:
not so that he needed to obtain grace by means of sensible signs, but
in a spiritual and invisible manner.
Reply to Objection 2: Man's nature is the same before and after
sin, but the state of his nature is not the same. Because after sin,
the soul, even in its higher part, needs to receive something from
corporeal things in order that it may be perfected: whereas man had no
need of this in that state.
Reply to Objection 3: Matrimony was instituted in the state of
innocence, not as a sacrament, but as a function of nature.
Consequently, however, it foreshadowed something in relation to
Christ and the Church: just as everything else foreshadowed Christ.
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