XIX. OF THE DIVINE LAW -- THE DECALOGUE
What is meant by the divine law?
By the divine law is meant the law given to men by God who manifests Himself supernaturally
When did God give this law to men?
God gave this law to men in the first place in a very simple way before their fall in the Garden of Eden; but He also gave it in a much more elaborate way, later on, through the medium of Moses and the Prophets, and in a way much more perfect by Jesus Christ and the Apostles
What is the divine law given by God to men through Moses called?
It is called the Old Law
And what is the divine law called that was given by God to men through Jesus Christ and the Apostles?
It is called the New Law
Was the Old Law made for all men?
No, the Old Law was made for the Jewish people only
Why did God give a special law to the Jewish people?
Because this people was destined to prepare in the old world the coming of the Saviour of men who was to be born of the Jewish nation
What were the precepts called that were given to the Jewish people and that regarded them only?
They were called the "judiciary" precepts, and the "ceremonial precepts"
Are there not also in the Old Law certain precepts which have remained in the New Law?
Yes, and they are called the "moral" precepts
Why have these precepts of the Old Law been kept in the New Law?
Because they constitute what is essential and absolutely obligatory concerning the conduct of every man, from the very fact that he is man
These moral precepts then have always been and always will be the same for all men?
Yes, these moral precepts have always been and always will be the same for all men
Are they identified with the natural law?
Yes, these moral precepts are identified with the natural law.
How then are they part of the divine law?
They are part of the divine law because in order to give them more force and to hinder the human reason from forgetting or corrupting them, God Himself promulgated them solemnly when He manifested Himself to His chosen people at the time of Moses; and also because God promulgated them in view of the super-natural end to which every man is called by Him
What are these moral precepts thus solemnly promulgated by God at the time of Moses called?
They are called the "Decalogue"
What does the word Decalogue mean?
It is a Greek word which means the ten words, for the number of precepts given by God is ten.
What are the ten commandments of the Decalogue?
The ten commandments of the Decalogue are the following:
1. Thou shalt have no other God beside Me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3. Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honour thy father and thy mother.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods
Do these ten commandments suffice to guide the whole moral life of man in the way of virtue?
Yes, they suffice as regards the principal virtues which have reference to the essential duties of man towards God and his neighbour; but for the perfection of all the virtues it was necessary for them to be further explained and completed by the teaching of the prophets in the Old Law, and still further by the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Apostles in the New Law
What is the best way to understand these precepts fully and to understand that which explains or completes them for the perfection of the moral life?
It is to study them by help of each of the virtues considered in detail.
Will the study of them thus be made easy?
Yes, for the very nature of the virtue will explain the nature and the obligation of the precept.
Will this be at the same time a good way to understand the whole perfection of the New Law?
Yes; because the perfection of this law consists precisely in its relation with the excellence of all the virtues
Has this excellence of all the virtues any special character in the New Law?
Yes, it has a special character inasmuch as the counsels are added to the precepts
What is meant by the counsels being added to the precepts?
By this is meant certain invitations offered by Jesus Christ to all souls of good will, to detach themselves from earthly things for love of Him and in order to obtain a more perfect enjoyment of Him in heaven, things that they might indeed desire and possess without detriment to virtue, but which might prove an obstacle to the perfection of virtue
How many counsels are there?
There are three: poverty, chastity, and obedience
Is there any special state wherein one may practise these counsels in a very perfect way?
Yes, the religious state
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