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92. The Effects of Law

1. The effect of law is to make men good. For law is anordinance of reason; it is the function of such ordinance to directmen, through virtue, to their true end. If, however, the intentionof the lawgiver is not to direct men to their true goal, the lawdoes not tend to make mengood simply; it tends tomake men good only in the sense that they conform well with theintention of the law. Hence, a tyrannous law that aims at herdingmen into servile obedience, tends to make men good slaves.But after all, a tyrannous law is not a true law, for it is not inline with reason; it is not truly an ordinance of reason.

2. Law seeks to obtain its effect by directing those bound byit, and its requirements are expressed in four ways: permission,command, prohibition, penalty.

"Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"God has no need of men."
St Philip Neri

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"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."
St Augustine

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