The Eternal Law

A governor has in mind the type of order he desires among his subjects. God is the infinite and all-perfect governor. God therefore has in himself the “type” of what creatures are to do to attain their end and purpose. This “type” is divine wisdom viewed as eternal law. Hence, we say, “The eternal law is the type of divine wisdom directing all acts and movements.”

Normal human beings, as they emerge from infancy into responsible life (the use of reason), begin to have a grasp of the requirements of eternal law. They are increasingly aware of the meaning of duty and obligation; that is, they recognize the requirement of doing good and avoiding evil. Thus does human reason reflect the eternal law. As wehave seen, this human awareness of the eternal law is called the natural law.

Since God is the first and perfect governor, the true plans and laws of lesser governors must be in line with God’s plan and law. Therefore, all right and true laws are, in last analysis, derived from the eternal law.

God is not subject to his own eternal law, for God himself is the eternal law.

All actions and movements in the universe are subject to the eternal law working through divine providence and divine government.

Therefore, all human affairs fall under the direction of eternal law. Good men are perfectly subject to the eternal law;bad men are imperfectly subject. Ultimately, order and triumphantjustice must prevail; good men and evil men will ultimately be in harmony with justice, whether in glory or in punishment.