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Objection 1: It would seem that virtuous deeds done in charity
cannot be deadened. For that which is not cannot be changed. But to
be deadened is to be changed from life to death. Since therefore
virtuous deeds, after being done, are no more, it seems that they
cannot afterwards be deadened.
Objection 2: Further, by virtuous deeds done in charity, man
merits eternal life. But to take away the reward from one who has
merited it is an injustice, which cannot be ascribed to God.
Therefore it is not possible for virtuous deeds done in charity to be
deadened by a subsequent sin.
Objection 3: Further, the strong is not corrupted by the weak.
Now works of charity are stronger than any sins, because, as it is
written (Prov. 10:12), "charity covereth all sins."
Therefore it seems that deeds done in charity cannot be deadened by a
subsequent mortal sin.
On the contrary, It is written (Ezech. 18:24): "If the
just man turn himself away from his justice . . . all his justices
which he hath done shall not be remembered."
I answer that, A living thing, by dying, ceases to have vital
operations: for which reason, by a kind of metaphor, a thing is said
to be deadened when it is hindered from producing its proper effect or
operation.
Now the effect of virtuous works, which are done in charity, is to
bring man to eternal life; and this is hindered by a subsequent mortal
sin, inasmuch as it takes away grace. Wherefore deeds done in charity
are said to be deadened by a subsequent mortal sin.
Reply to Objection 1: Just as sinful deeds pass as to the act but
remain as to guilt, so deeds done in charity, after passing, as to
the act, remain as to merit, in so far as they are acceptable to
God. It is in this respect that they are deadened, inasmuch as man
is hindered from receiving his reward.
Reply to Objection 2: There is no injustice in withdrawing the
reward from him who has deserved it, if he has made himself unworthy by
his subsequent fault, since at times a man justly forfeits through his
own fault, even that which he has already received.
Reply to Objection 3: It is not on account of the strength of
sinful deeds that deeds, previously done in charity, are deadened,
but on account of the freedom of the will which can be turned away from
good to evil.
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