1. Of the law of nature and the law of Scripture; and also of the differ- ence between the law of Moses and On the Ten Commandments of the Law. St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelic Doctor, PRAY FOR US WHO LOVE TO LEARN ABOUT THE LAW OF GOD FROM THEE. CHAPTER I. OF THE LAW OF NATURE AND THE LAW OF SCRIPTURE; AND ALSO OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE LAW OF CHRIST. THREE things are necessary to man for salvation, that is to say, 1. a knowledge of what he must believe; 2. a knowledge of what he must desire; 3. a knowledge of what he must do. The first is taught in the Creed, where there is handed down a knowledge of the articles of faith; the second is taught in the Lord's Prayer; the third is taught in the law. I. Our purpose now is to speak of the things that we must do; and for the treat B ment of this question we find that there is a fourfold law. 1. The law of nature. That is nothing else than the light of understanding implanted in us by God, by which we know what to do and what to avoid. God gave man this light and this law in creation. Yet many think that ignorance excuses them from keeping this law. Against them the Prophet says (Ps. iv. 6), Many say, Who showeth us good things? They speak thus, as if they did not know what to do. But he answers them in the same place (ver. 7), 'The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us.' This is the light of the understanding by which we know what to do. No one, for instance, is ignorant that he ought not to do to others what he is unwilling to have done. to himself. Other like things are known in the same way. 2. The law of concupiscence. God having given man the law of nature in his creation, the devil planted in him another or reason. law, that is, the law of concupiscence. So long as the soul of the first man was subject to God by keeping His commands, his flesh was in all things subject to his soul But, when the devil by his wiles drew man away from keeping God's commandments, then his flesh rebelled against his reason. Thus, then, it comes about that man, in his reason wishing what is good, yet by concupiscence inclines to what is evil. St. Paul says (Rom. vii. 23), 'I see another law in my members fighting against the law of my mind.' Hence it often happens that the law of concupiscence corrupts the law of nature and the right order of reason. Therefore the Apostle adds, 'Bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that is in my members.' The law of Scripture. When the law of nature was corrupted by the law of concupiscence, it became necessary that man should first be brought back again from sin; and then be led on to works of holi |