iful condition into
which sin has brought him, according to Prov. 14:34: "Sin maketh
nations miserable"; wherefore it is written (Ecclus. 30:24): "Have
pity on thy own soul, pleasing God."

Reply Obj. 3: It was due to His power of _excellence,_ which He alone
had, as stated above (Q. 64, A. 3), that Christ bestowed on the
adulterous woman the effect of the sacrament of Penance, viz. the
forgiveness of sins, without the sacrament of Penance, although not
without internal repentance, which He operated in her by grace.
_______________________

SIXTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 84, Art. 6]

Whether Penance Is a Second Plank After Shipwreck?

Objection 1: It would seem that Penance is not a second plank after
shipwreck. Because on Isa. 3:9, "They have proclaimed abroad their
sin as Sodom," a gloss says: "The second plank after shipwreck is to
hide one's sins." Now Penance does not hide sins, but reveals them.
Therefore Penance is not a second plank.

Obj. 2: Further, in a building the foundation takes the first, not
the second place. Now in the spiritual edifice, Penance is the
foundation, according to Heb. 6:1: "Not laying again the foundation
of Penance from dead works"; wherefore it precedes even Baptism,
according to Acts 2:38: "Do penance, and be baptized every one of
you." Therefore Penance should not be called a second plank.

Obj. 3: Further, all the sacraments are planks, i.e. helps against
sin. Now Penance holds, not the second but the fourth, place among
the sacraments, as is clear from what has been said above (Q. 65, AA.
1, 2). Therefore Penance should not be called a second plank after
shipwreck.

_On the contrary,_ Jerome says (Ep. cxxx) that "Penance is a second
plank after shipwreck."

_I answer that,_ That which is of itself precedes naturally that
which is accidental, as substance precedes accident. Now some
sacraments are, of themselves, ordained to man's salvation, e.g.
Baptism, which is the spiritual birth, Confirmation which is the
spiritual growth, the Eucharist which is the spiritual food; whereas
Penance is ordained to man's salvation accidentally as it were, and
on something being supposed, viz. sin: for unless man were to sin
actually, he would not stand in need of Penance and yet he would need
Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist; even as in the life of the
body, man would need no medical treatment, unless he were ill, and
yet life, birth, growth, and food are, of themselves, necessary to
ma