the Church. Hence gratuitous grace is nobler than sanctifying grace. On the contrary, The Apostle ( 1 Cor. 12:31 ), having enumerated the gratuitous graces adds: "And I shew unto you yet a more excellent way"; and as the sequel proves he is speaking of charity, which pertains to…

l further advance along the way would cease. Hence the Apostle calls charity the way, when he says ( 1 Cor. 12:31 ): "I show unto you yet a more excellent way." Reply to Objection 1: Charity is not subject to dimensive, but only to virtual quantity: and the latter depends not onl…

sary for salvation, but also whatever is a means of obtaining salvation more perfectly, according to 1 Cor. 12:31 : "Be zealous for the better gifts." Wherefore neither the counsels nor even the works of mercy are to be altogether omitted in order to avoid scandal; but sometimes…