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Objection 1. It would seem that there should not have been many
ceremonial precepts. For those things which conduce to an end should
be proportionate to that end. But the ceremonial precepts, as stated
above (1,2), are ordained to the worship of God, and to the
foreshadowing of Christ. Now "there is but one God, of Whom are
all things . . . and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all
things" (1 Cor. 8:6). Therefore there should not have been
many ceremonial precepts.
Objection 2. Further, the great number of the ceremonial precepts
was an occasion of transgression, according to the words of Peter
(Acts 15:10): "Why tempt you God, to put a yoke upon the
necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able
to bear?" Now the transgression of the Divine precepts is an
obstacle to man's salvation. Since, therefore, every law should
conduce to man's salvation, as Isidore says (Etym. v, 3), it
seems that the ceremonial precepts should not have been given in great
number.
Objection 3. Further, the ceremonial precepts referred to the
outward and bodily worship of God, as stated above (2). But the
Law should have lessened this bodily worship: since it directed men to
Christ, Who taught them to worship God "in spirit and in truth,"
as stated in Jn. 4:23. Therefore there should not have been many
ceremonial precepts.
On the contrary, (Osee 8:12): "I shall write to them
[Vulg.: 'him'] My manifold laws"; and (Job 11:6):
"That He might show thee the secrets of His wisdom, and that His
Law is manifold."
I answer that, As stated above (96, 1), every law is given to
a people. Now a people contains two kinds of men: some, prone to
evil, who have to be coerced by the precepts of the law, as stated
above (95, 1); some, inclined to good, either from nature or
from custom, or rather from grace; and the like have to be taught and
improved by means of the precepts of the law. Accordingly, with
regard to both kinds of the law. Accordingly, with regard to both
kinds of men it was expedient that the Old Law should contain many
ceremonial precepts. For in that people there were many prone to
idolatry; wherefore it was necessary to recall them by means of
ceremonial precepts from the worship of idols to the worship of God.
And since men served idols in many ways, it was necessary on the other
hand to devise many means of repressing every single one: and again,
to lay many obligations on such like men, in order that being
burdened, as it were, by their duties to the Divine worship, they
might have no time for the service of idols. As to those who were
inclined to good, it was again necessary that there should be many
ceremonial precepts; both because thus their mind turned to God in
many ways, and more continually; and because the mystery of Christ,
which was foreshadowed by these ceremonial precepts, brought many boons
to the world, and afforded men many considerations, which needed to be
signified by various ceremonies.
Reply to Objection 1. When that which conduces to an end is
sufficient to conduce thereto, then one such thing suffices for one
end: thus one remedy, if it be efficacious, suffices sometimes to
restore men to health, and then the remedy needs not to be repeated.
But when that which conduces to an end is weak and imperfect, it needs
to be multiplied: thus many remedies are given to a sick man, when one
is not enough to heal him. Now the ceremonies of the Old Law were
weak and imperfect, both for representing the mystery of Christ, on
account of its surpassing excellence; and for subjugating men's minds
to God. Hence the Apostle says (Heb. 7:18,19): "There
is a setting aside of the former commandment because of the weakness and
unprofitableness thereof, for the law brought nothing to perfection."
Consequently these ceremonies needed to be in great number.
Reply to Objection 2. A wise lawgiver should suffer lesser
transgressions, that the greater may be avoided. And therefore, in
order to avoid the sin of idolatry, and the pride which would arise in
the hearts of the Jews, were they to fulfil all the precepts of the
Law, the fact that they would in consequence find many occasions of
disobedience did not prevent God from giving them many ceremonial
precepts.
Reply to Objection 3. The Old Law lessened bodily worship in many
ways. Thus it forbade sacrifices to be offered in every place and by
any person. Many such like things did it enact for the lessening of
bodily worship; as Rabbi Moses, the Egyptian testifies (Doct.
Perplex. iii). Nevertheless it behooved not to attenuate the bodily
worship of God so much as to allow men to fall away into the worship of
idols.
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