2. All virtue consists in the free-will, and hence virtue is called an
elective or voluntary habit. But _latria_ belongs to religion, and
_latria_ implies a certain servitude. Hence religion is not a virtue.
But even a servant can freely give to his master the service
that is his due and thus "make a virtue of necessity"[49] by
voluntarily paying his debt. And similarly the payment of due
service to God can be an act of virtue according as a man does
it voluntarily.
3. Lastly, as is said in Aristotle's _Ethics_,[50] the aptitude for the
virtues is implanted in us by nature; hence those things which come
under the virtues arise from the dictates of natural reason; but it
belongs to religion to offer external reverence to the Divine Nature.
Ceremonial, however, or external reverence, is not due to the dictates
of natural reason. Hence religion is not a virtue.
But it is due to the dictates of natural reason that a man does
certain things in order to show reverence to God. That he should
do precisely this or that, however, does not come from the
dictates of natural reason, but from Divine or human positive
law.
III
Is Religion One Virtue?
S. Paul says to the Ephesians[51]: _One God, one faith._ But true
religion maintains faith in one God. Consequently religion is one
virtue.
Habits are distinguished according to the divers objects with which they
are concerned. But it belongs to religion to show reverence for the One
God for one particular reason, inasmuch, namely, as He is the First
Principle, the Creator and Governor of all things; hence we read in
Malachi[52]: _If I am a Father, where is my honour?_ for it is the
father that produces and governs. Hence it is clear that religion is but
one virtue.
But some maintain that religion is not one virtue, thus:
1. By religion we are ordained[53] to God. But in God there are Three
Persons, and, moreover, divers attributes which are at least
distinguishable from one another by reason. But the diverse character of
the objects on which they fall suffices to differentiate the virtues.
Hence religion is not one virtue.
But the Three Divine Persons are but One Principle as concerns
the creation and the government of things. And consequently They
are to be served by one religion. And the divers attributes all
concur in the First Principle, for God produces all and governs
all by His Wisdom, His Will, and the power of His Goodness.
Hence religion is but one virtue.
2. One virtue can have but one act; for habits are differentiated
according to their acts. But religion has many acts, _e.g._, to worship,
to serve, to make vows, to pray, to make sacrifices, and many other
similar things. Consequently religion is not one virtue.
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