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as far as may be； like a horse with a curb； whence it follows that the word
law is chiefly applied to the modes of life enjoined on men by the sway of
others； hence those who obey the law are said to live under it and to be
under compulsion。 （17） In truth； a man who renders everyone their due
because he fears the gallows； acts under the sway and compulsion of
others； and cannot be called just。 （18） But a man who does the same from
a knowledge of the true reason for laws and their necessity； acts from a
firm purpose and of his own accord； and is therefore properly called just。
（19） This； I take it； is Paul's meaning when he says； that those who live
under the law cannot be justified through the law； for justice； as commonly
defined； is the constant and perpetual will to render every man his due。 （20）
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Thus Solomon says （Prov。 xxi：15）； 〃It is a joy to the just to do judgment；〃
but the wicked fear。
（21） Law； then； being a plan of living which men have for a certain
object laid down for themselves or others； may； as it seems； be divided
into human law and Divine law。 ｛But both are opposite sides of the same
coin｝
（22） By human law I mean a plan of living which serves only to render
life and the state secure。 （23） By Divine law I mean that which only
regards the highest good； in other words； the true knowledge of God and
love。
（24） I call this law Divine because of the nature of the highest good；
which I will here shortly explain as clearly as I can。
（25） Inasmuch as the intellect is the best part of our being； it is evident
that we should make every effort to perfect it as far as possible if we desire
to search for what is really profitable to us。 （26） For in intellectual
perfection the highest good should consist。 （27） Now； since all our
knowledge； and the certainty which removes every doubt； depend solely
on the knowledge of God；… firstly； because without God nothing can exist
or be conceived； secondly； because so long as we have no clear and
distinct idea of God we may remain in universal doubt … it follows that our
highest good and perfection also depend solely on the knowledge of God。
（28） Further； since without God nothing can exist or be conceived； it is
evident that all natural phenomena involve and express the conception of
God as far as their essence and perfection extend； so that we have greater
and more perfect knowledge of God in proportion to our knowledge of
natural phenomena： conversely （since the knowledge of an effect through
its cause is the same thing as the knowledge of a particular property of a
cause） the greater our knowledge of natural phenomena； the more perfect
is our knowledge of the essence of God （which is the cause of all things）。
（29） So； then； our highest good not only depends on the knowledge of God；
but wholly consists therein； and it further follows that man is perfect or the
reverse in proportion to the nature and perfection of the object of his
special desire； hence the most perfect and the chief sharer in the highest
blessedness is he who prizes above all else； and takes especial delight in；
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the intellectual knowledge of God； the most perfect Being。
（30） Hither； then； our highest good and our highest blessedness aim …
namely； to the knowledge and love of God； therefore the means demanded
by this aim of all human actions； that is； by God in so far as the idea of
him is in us； may be called the commands of God； because they proceed；
as it were； from God Himself； inasmuch as He exists in our minds； and the
plan of life which has regard to this aim may be fitly called the law of
God。
（31） The nature of the means； and the plan of life which this aim
demands； how the foundations of the best states follow its lines； and how
men's life is conducted； are questions pertaining to general ethics。 （32）
Here I only proceed to treat of the Divine law in a particular application。
（33） As the love of God is man's highest happiness and blessedness；
and the ultimate end and aim of all human actions； it follows that he alone
lives by the Divine law who loves God not from fear of punishment； or
from love of any other object； such as sensual pleasure； fame； or the like；
but solely because he has knowledge of God； or is convinced that the
knowledge and love of God is the highest good。 （34） The sum and chief
precept； then； of the Divine law is to love God as the highest good； namely；
as we have said； not from fear of any pains and penalties； or from the love
of any other object in which we desire to take pleasure。 （35） The idea of
God lays down the rule that God is our highest good … in other words； that
the knowledge and love of God is the ultimate aim to which all our actions
should be directed。 （36） The worldling cannot understand these things；
they appear foolishness to him。 because he has too meager a knowledge of
God； and also because in this highest good he can discover nothing which
he can handle or eat； or which affects the fleshly appetites wherein he
chiefly delights； for it consists solely in thought and the pure reason。 （37）
They； on the other hand； who know that they possess no greater gift than
intellect and sound reason； will doubtless accept what I have said without
question。
（38） We have now explained that wherein the Divine law chiefly
consists； and what are human laws； namely； all those which have a
different aim unless they have been ratified by revelation； for in this
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respect also things are referred to God （as we have shown above） and in
this sense the law of Moses； although it was not universal； but entirely
adapted to the disposition and particular preservation of a single people；
may yet be called a law of God or Divine law； inasmuch as we believe that
it was ratified by prophetic insight。 （39） If we consider the nature of
natural Divine law as we have just explained it； we shall see：
（40） I。… That it is universal or common to all men； for we have deduced