Reply Obj. 3:  As Dionysius says (Coel.  Hier. i), the things of God cannot be manifested to men except by means of sensible similitudes.  Now these similitudes move the soul more when they are not only expressed in words, but also offered to the senses.  Wherefore the things of God are set forth in the Scriptures not only by similitudes expressed in words, as in the case of metaphorical expressions; but also by similitudes of things set before the eyes, which pertains to the ceremonial precepts. ________________________

FOURTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 99, Art. 4]

Whether, Besides the Moral and Ceremonial Precepts, There Are Also
Judicial Precepts?

Objection 1:  It would seem that there are no judicial precepts in addition to the moral and ceremonial precepts in the Old Law.  For Augustine says (Contra Faust. vi, 2) that in the Old Law there are “precepts concerning the life we have to lead, and precepts regarding the life that is foreshadowed.”  Now the precepts of the life we have to lead are moral precepts; and the precepts of the life that is foreshadowed are ceremonial.  Therefore besides these two kinds of precepts we should not put any judicial precepts in the Law.

Obj. 2:  Further, a gloss on Ps. 118:102, “I have not declined from Thy judgments,” says, i.e. “from the rule of life Thou hast set for me.”  But a rule of life belongs to the moral precepts.  Therefore the judicial precepts should not be considered as distinct from the moral precepts.

Obj. 3:  Further, judgment seems to be an act of justice, according to Ps. 93:15:  “Until justice be turned into judgment.”  But acts of justice, like the acts of other virtues, belong to the moral precepts.  Therefore the moral precepts include the judicial precepts, and consequently should not be held as distinct from them.

On the contrary, It is written (Deut. 6:1):  “These are the precepts and ceremonies, and judgments”:  where “precepts” stands for “moral precepts” antonomastically.  Therefore there are judicial precepts besides moral and ceremonial precepts.

I answer that, As stated above (AA. 2, 3), it belongs to the Divine law to direct men to one another and to God.  Now each of these belongs in the abstract to the dictates of the natural law, to which dictates the moral precepts are to be referred:  yet each of them has to be determined by Divine or human law, because naturally known principles are universal, both in speculative and in practical matters.  Accordingly just as the determination of the universal principle about Divine worship is effected by the ceremonial precepts, so the determination of the general precepts of that justice which is to be observed among men is effected by the judicial precepts.