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104. Judicial Directives of the Old Law

1. Man has the moral obligation of loving God and neighbor. Theceremonial precepts of the Old Law regulated man's moralobligationto God. The judicial precepts or directivesregulated man's moral obligation towards his neighbor. Thusboth ceremonies and judicial precepts were rooted in the morallaw.

2. The judicial directives were to regulate the conduct ofthe people according to justice and equity. Yet even thesedirectives had a prophetic aspect inasmuch as they were to preparethe way for the coming of the sun of justice and the daylight ofhis divinely equitable dealings with mankind.

3. The judicial precepts had the character of the Old Lawitself as "our pedagogue in Christ," that is, a teacherleading men to Christ. When the teacher has led men to Christ, heretires; his work is finished. Hence the judicial precepts of theOld Law were no longer in force after Christ came and founded hisChurch. All that remains of the Old Law is what it had of theeternal law and the natural law.

4. Judicial precepts of the Old Law were of four classes:precepts for rulers; precepts for citizens with respect to othercitizens; precepts for the treatment of strangers and foreigners;precepts for home life.

"Obedience is a short cut to perfection."
St Philip Neri

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"Let persons in the world sanctify themselves in their own houses, for neither the court, professions, or labour, are any hindrance to the service of God."
St Philip Neri

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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God. "
Thomas á Kempis

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