duties which the natural law imposes on man do not change substantially either. The natural law, then, in itself and objectively is universal and unchanging; it binds all men at all times. However, it does not follow that the natural law is always and everywhere equally well known. In its broad general principles, indeed, it has been known and taught at all times; it would be impossible for human society to continue unless the general principles of the natural law were known and acted on. Any serious departure from the law of nature soon brings with it its own remedy and correction by the stern elimination of the delinquent. Still there may be, and there is, ignorance of particular details and applications of the law of nature, even in matters of importance and of frequent occurrence. This is true not only of savage and untutored races, not only of primitive races, but even of civilized and Christian peoples. Theologians readily admit this. Many theologians of note allow that among such peoples there may exist ignorance of the malice of fornication; they warn us that other acts against the natural law are sometimes done in good faith, without any knowledge of their malice. The presumption, then, is that among Christians the general principles of the law of nature are known, but the confessor must be prepared to meet with cases of ignorance of the particular details and applications of it.
SECTION II
The Positive Divine Law
I. Besides the natural law, there are certain positive precepts which God has imposed on mankind. These are known to us from the manifestation of the divine will which we have in revelation, and especially in the Old and New Testament. Theologians divide the positive laws of the Old Testament into ceremonial, judicial, and moral precepts. The ceremonial precepts had reference to the system of religious worship established by God under the Old Law, the judicial regulated the civil polity of the chosen people of God, and when the old dispensation gave place to the new at the coming of our Lord both ceased to have binding force. Our Lord, however, by no means abolished the moral precepts contained in the Old Law; on the contrary, he promulgated them anew and perfected them.[1]
- ↑ Matt, v 17.
