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Objection 1: It would seem that, in the Old Law, there should
have been given precepts of faith. Because a precept is about
something due and necessary. Now it is most necessary for man that he
should believe, according to Heb. 11:6, "Without faith it is
impossible to please God." Therefore there was very great need for
precepts of faith to be given.
Objection 2: Further, the New Testament is contained in the
Old, as the reality in the figure, as stated above (FS, Question
107, Article 3). Now the New Testament contains explicit
precepts of faith, for instance Jn. 14:1: "You believe in
God; believe also in Me." Therefore it seems that some precepts of
faith ought to have been given in the Old Law also.
Objection 3: Further, to prescribe the act of a virtue comes to the
same as to forbid the opposite vices. Now the Old Law contained many
precepts forbidding unbelief: thus (Ex. 20:3): "Thou shalt
not have strange gods before Me," and (Dt. 13:1-3) they
were forbidden to hear the words of the prophet or dreamer who might
wish to turn them away from their faith in God. Therefore precepts of
faith should have been given in the Old Law also.
Objection 4: Further, confession is an act of faith, as stated
above (Question 3, Article 1). Now the Old Law contained
precepts about the confession and the promulgation of faith: for they
were commanded (Ex. 12:27) that, when their children should
ask them, they should tell them the meaning of the paschal observance,
and (Dt. 13:9) they were commanded to slay anyone who
disseminated doctrine contrary to faith. Therefore the Old Law
should have contained precepts of faith.
Objection 5: Further, all the books of the Old Testament are
contained in the Old Law; wherefore Our Lord said (Jn.
15:25) that it was written in the Law: "They have hated Me
without cause," although this is found written in Ps. 34 and
68. Now it is written (Ecclus. 2:8): "Ye that fear the
Lord, believe Him." Therefore the Old Law should have contained
precepts of faith.
On the contrary, The Apostle (Rm. 3:27) calls the Old Law
the "law of works" which he contrasts with the "law of faith."
Therefore the Old Law ought not to have contained precepts of faith.
I answer that, A master does not impose laws on others than his
subjects; wherefore the precepts of a law presuppose that everyone who
receives the law is subject to the giver of the law. Now the primary
subjection of man to God is by faith, according to Heb. 11:6:
"He that cometh to God, must believe that He is." Hence faith is
presupposed to the precepts of the Law: for which reason (Ex.
20:2) that which is of faith, is set down before the legal
precepts, in the words, "I am the Lord thy God, Who brought thee
out of the land of Egypt," and, likewise (Dt. 6:4), the
words, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one," precede the
recording of the precepts.
Since, however, faith contains many things subordinate to the faith
whereby we believe that God is, which is the first and chief of all
articles of faith, as stated above (Question 1, Articles
1,7), it follows that, if we presuppose faith in God, whereby
man's mind is subjected to Him, it is possible for precepts to be
given about other articles of faith. Thus Augustine expounding the
words: "This is My commandment" (Jn. 15:12) says
(Tract. lxxxiii in Joan.) that we have received many precepts of
faith. In the Old Law, however, the secret things of faith were
not to be set before the people, wherefore, presupposing their faith
in one God, no other precepts of faith were given in the Old Law.
Reply to Objection 1: Faith is necessary as being the principle of
spiritual life, wherefore it is presupposed before the receiving of the
Law.
Reply to Objection 2: Even then Our Lord both presupposed
something of faith, namely belief in one God, when He said: "You
believe in God," and commanded something, namely, belief in the
Incarnation whereby one Person is God and man. This explanation of
faith belongs to the faith of the New Testament, wherefore He
added: "Believe also in Me."
Reply to Objection 3: The prohibitive precepts regard sins, which
corrupt virtue. Now virtue is corrupted by any particular defect, as
stated above (FS, Question 18, Article 4, ad 3; FS,
Question 19, Article 6, ad 1, Article 7, ad 3).
Therefore faith in one God being presupposed, prohibitive precepts
had to be given in the Old Law, so that men might be warned off those
particular defects whereby their faith might be corrupted.
Reply to Objection 4: Confession of faith and the teaching thereof
also presuppose man's submission to God by faith: so that the Old
Law could contain precepts relating to the confession and teaching of
faith, rather than to faith itself.
Reply to Objection 5: In this passage again that faith is
presupposed whereby we believe that God is; hence it begins, "Ye
that fear the Lord," which is not possible without faith. The words
which follow---"believe Him"---must be referred to certain
special articles of faith, chiefly to those things which God promises
to them that obey Him, wherefore the passage concludes---"and your
reward shall not be made void."
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