THE PERFECT LAW by Rev. Geo. S. Mott

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 25, 1880

THE PERFECT LAW.

By Rev. Geo. S. Mott

The decalogue, or "ten words" of Jehovah, contains not merely practical rules of life, it speaks of the nature of God, and of man's relation to him. Hence these words are a reflex of the Being who spake them. Gregory says of the Holy Scriptures, they are "the heart and soul of God; for in the Scriptures, as in a glass, we may see how the heart and soul of God stand toward his poor creatures." So these utterances from Sinai are God's thoughts of what things are right, and what are wrong; they are his fatherly counsels to guide man in "ways of pleasantness and paths of peace." Thus they become a rule of obedience, with which He, as sovereign of the human race, requires his subjects to comply.

These precepts are a manual containing the principles of God's requirements. The decalogue does not stand by itself, it is to be connected with the entire system of divine truth which is illustrated, applied, and enforced on the pages of Holy Writ. We look at the starry heavens and admire those gems of light, but by the aid of the telescope we discover that they are worlds and systems of worlds. And these terse precepts of the moral law, these points of divine truth, when amplified by the teachings of the Bible, disclose much more in social life, in relative obligations, and in religious services, than the unaided understanding can apprehend. The mariner at each noon takes his observation of the sun, to know how correctly he is keeping his course; and we should constantly compare our deeds and thoughts with this testimony of the Lord, which is "sure, making wise the simple." If we neglect this, we shall be in great danger of drifting into folly and sin.

The ten commandments were given originally to the Jews; but their requirements are for all time, and bind every man, woman, and child. The principles they embody, existed from the beginning, and among all nations; for the Gentiles "show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another." They are based upon man's moral nature, and find a response in every human soul. Hence they are of universal application, and will continue to be of perpetual obligation. Their character shows that they are to be binding so long as generations of men inhabit the earth. From the very nature of things they cannot be repealed. While the human family continues, while men have property, life, and character to be protected, while weal or woe results from man's conduct, just so long must these laws control us. Only when God consents that we shall not love him, reverence his name, keep his day holy, will the moral law become null and void. Obedience is required not alone to one precept, but to all. "He that offendeth in one point is guilty of all." These precepts are like ten links of a single chain; the violation of one breaks a link and severs the chain.

The decalogue is not like the laws on a statute-book, with which we come in contact occasionally; we encounter its regulations each day, and in every deed and word; yea, in all our thoughts and passions. As the atmosphere goes into every crevice on the earth's surface, and presses on all men at all times and in all places, so the moral law in its practical issues touches not now and then, but always the wants and waywardness of sinful men. "The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul." Ps. 19 : 7.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt. 22 : 37-40.—Rev. Geo. S. Mott.