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Objection 1: It would seem that the use of wine is altogether
unlawful. For without wisdom, a man cannot be in the state of
salvation: since it is written (Wis. 7:28): "God loveth none
but him that dwelleth with wisdom," and further on (Wis.
9:19): "By wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased
Thee, O Lord, from the beginning." Now the use of wine is a
hindrance to wisdom, for it is written (Eccles. 2:3): "I
thought in my heart to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn
my mind to wisdom." Therefore wine-drinking is altogether unlawful.
Objection 2: Further, the Apostle says (Rm. 14:21):
"It is good not to eat flesh, and not to drink wine, nor anything
whereby thy brother is offended or scandalized, or made weak." Now
it is sinful to forsake the good of virtue, as likewise to scandalize
one's brethren. Therefore it is unlawful to make use of wine.
Objection 3: Further, Jerome says [Contra Jovin. i] that
"after the deluge wine and flesh were sanctioned: but Christ came in
the last of the ages and brought back the end into line with the
beginning." Therefore it seems unlawful to use wine under the
Christian law.
On the contrary, The Apostle says (1 Tim. 5:23): "Do not
still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and
thy frequent infirmities"; and it is written (Ecclus.
31:36): "Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul
and the heart."
I answer that, No meat or drink, considered in itself, is
unlawful, according to Mt. 15:11, "Not that which goeth into
the mouth defileth a man." Wherefore it is not unlawful to drink wine
as such. Yet it may become unlawful accidentally. This is sometimes
owing to a circumstance on the part of the drinker, either because he
is easily the worse for taking wine, or because he is bound by a vow
not to drink wine: sometimes it results from the mode of drinking,
because to wit he exceeds the measure in drinking: and sometimes it is
on account of others who would be scandalized thereby.
Reply to Objection 1: A man may have wisdom in two ways. First,
in a general way, according as it is sufficient for salvation: and in
this way it is required, in order to have wisdom, not that a man
abstain altogether from wine, but that he abstain from its immoderate
use. Secondly, a man may have wisdom in some degree of perfection:
and in this way, in order to receive wisdom perfectly, it is requisite
for certain persons that they abstain altogether from wine, and this
depends on circumstances of certain persons and places.
Reply to Objection 2: The Apostle does not declare simply that it
is good to abstain from wine, but that it is good in the case where
this would give scandal to certain people.
Reply to Objection 3: Christ withdraws us from some things as being
altogether unlawful, and from others as being obstacles to perfection.
It is in the latter way that he withdraws some from the use of wine,
that they may aim at perfection, even as from riches and the like.
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