Reply Obj. 2:  Even the punishment that is inflicted according to human laws, is not always intended as a medicine for the one who is punished, but sometimes only for others:  thus when a thief is hanged, this is not for his own amendment, but for the sake of others, that at least they may be deterred from crime through fear of the punishment, according to Prov. 19:25:  “The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser.”  Accordingly the eternal punishments inflicted by God on the reprobate, are medicinal punishments for those who refrain from sin through the thought of those punishments, according to Ps. 59:6:  “Thou hast given a warning to them that fear Thee, that they may flee from before the bow, that Thy beloved may be delivered.”

Reply Obj. 3:  God does not delight in punishments for their own sake; but He does delight in the order of His justice, which requires them.

Reply Obj. 4:  Although punishment is related indirectly to nature, nevertheless it is essentially related to the disturbance of the order, and to God’s justice.  Wherefore, so long as the disturbance lasts, the punishment endures. ________________________

FOURTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 87, Art. 4]

Whether Sin Incurs a Debt of Punishment Infinite in Quantity?

Objection 1:  It would seem that sin incurs a debt of punishment infinite in quantity.  For it is written (Jer. 10:24):  “Correct me, O Lord, but yet with judgment:  and not in Thy fury, lest Thou bring me to nothing.”  Now God’s anger or fury signifies metaphorically the vengeance of Divine justice:  and to be brought to nothing is an infinite punishment, even as to make a thing out of nothing denotes infinite power.  Therefore according to God’s vengeance, sin is awarded a punishment infinite in quantity.

Obj. 2:  Further, quantity of punishment corresponds to quantity of fault, according to Deut. 25:2:  “According to the measure of the sin shall the measure also of the stripes be.”  Now a sin which is committed against God, is infinite:  because the gravity of a sin increases according to the greatness of the person sinned against (thus it is a more grievous sin to strike the sovereign than a private individual), and God’s greatness is infinite.  Therefore an infinite punishment is due for a sin committed against God.

Obj. 3:  Further, a thing may be infinite in two ways, in duration, and in quantity.  Now the punishment is infinite in duration.  Therefore it is infinite in quantity also.

On the contrary, If this were the case, the punishments of all mortal sins would be equal; because one infinite is not greater than another.