Reply Obj. 2:  All men alike, both guilty and innocent, die the death of nature:  which death of nature is inflicted by the power of God on account of original sin, according to 1 Kings 2:6:  “The Lord killeth and maketh alive.”  Consequently, by the command of God, death can be inflicted on any man, guilty or innocent, without any injustice whatever.  In like manner adultery is intercourse with another’s wife; who is allotted to him by the law emanating from God.  Consequently intercourse with any woman, by the command of God, is neither adultery nor fornication.  The same applies to theft, which is the taking of another’s property.  For whatever is taken by the command of God, to Whom all things belong, is not taken against the will of its owner, whereas it is in this that theft consists.  Nor is it only in human things, that whatever is commanded by God is right; but also in natural things, whatever is done by God, is, in some way, natural, as stated in the First Part, Q. 105, A. 6, ad 1.

Reply Obj. 3:  A thing is said to belong to the natural law in two ways.  First, because nature inclines thereto:  e.g. that one should not do harm to another.  Secondly, because nature did not bring in the contrary:  thus we might say that for man to be naked is of the natural law, because nature did not give him clothes, but art invented them.  In this sense, “the possession of all things in common and universal freedom” are said to be of the natural law, because, to wit, the distinction of possessions and slavery were not brought in by nature, but devised by human reason for the benefit of human life.  Accordingly the law of nature was not changed in this respect, except by addition. ________________________

SIXTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 94, Art. 6]

Whether the Law of Nature Can Be Abolished from the Heart of Man?

Objection 1:  It would seem that the natural law can be abolished from the heart of man.  Because on Rom. 2:14, “When the Gentiles who have not the law,” etc. a gloss says that “the law of righteousness, which sin had blotted out, is graven on the heart of man when he is restored by grace.”  But the law of righteousness is the law of nature.  Therefore the law of nature can be blotted out.

Obj. 2:  Further, the law of grace is more efficacious than the law of nature.  But the law of grace is blotted out by sin.  Much more therefore can the law of nature be blotted out.

Obj. 3:  Further, that which is established by law is made just.  But many things are enacted by men, which are contrary to the law of nature.  Therefore the law of nature can be abolished from the heart of man.

On the contrary, Augustine says (Confess. ii):  “Thy law is written in the hearts of men, which iniquity itself effaces not.”  But the law which is written in men’s hearts is the natural law.  Therefore the natural law cannot be blotted out.