THE MORAL LOOKING-GLASS.
By Wm. COVERT
Is the law of liberty, James 2:12, the ten commandments? We answer, Yes; various other classes say, No. Ministers who oppose the Sabbath and law tell us that the apostle is showing the excellences of the gospel. We think, however, that we can satisfy the candid that the moral law of God is meant. It is clear that the same law is called the royal law. Verse 8. The gospel cannot be called the royal law, the adjective royal being applied to it shows that it is the law of the King. Being of the royal line, it is primary, and must continue in force as long as the authority of God endures. The gospel is a remedy used by the King’s Son to cure the maladies of those subjects whose systems have become impregnated with the malaria of sin, which was introduced into this realm by an enemy to God and his law, and all who will take the healing balm according to the directions given by the Great Physician may be healed. Those who will not employ this Physician must die. Again, this law requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is a quotation from Lev. 19:18. Paul gives a divine commentary on this law. Rom. 13:8-10. “He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this [love], Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet.” And he further says, “If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Notice: Any other commandment, whatever it may be, is included in this saying. Not that the saying is the commandment; but this comprehends all others; so that whosoever commits sin is convinced of the law that he is a transgressor; for all sin is selfishness; but the person that loves his neighbor as himself is not selfish. The apostle has given us a beautiful illustration of this subject in the figure of a man beholding his natural face in a glass. James 1:23-25. Hold up this law before the natural man, and he is enabled to see himself in all his deformity. Every defect can be discerned, and if he will continue to examine himself in the light of this divine reflector, he will become tired of his ugly appearance and seek for some way to remedy the defects he discovers in himself. But, on the other hand, if perchance he should look once and see his visage marred, yet his attention be called to something else before he has become impressed with his unsightly appearance, he goes away and forgets what kind of a man he is. This is a striking figure. The Christian is an invited guest to the marriage supper of the King’s Son. He must be robed in spotless purity. Every article of dress is fully described in the royal law. This law is held up before him as the mirror is placed before a man who is preparing for a reception at a royal wedding supper. He first sees that he must thoroughly cleanse himself from all physical impurities. Again he appears before the glass. This time he detects a scowl, and he is dissatisfied. Now he must get rid of this morose disposition. He must think upon soul-inspiring themes and be cheerful. Then comes the robing. When each article is arranged as best it may be, he again appears before the mirror. He immediately discerns spots of dust. Again he applies the remedy and removes the dust. Next, he perceives the wrinkles in his robe, and these must be smoothed away; and thus he goes on with the preparation until all is complete, and he has on the wedding garment without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Thus by the aid of the glass he is enabled to discern every defect in his appearance and dress. Yet the glass is not used as a remedy in a single instance. So it is with the law and the gospel. The law enables us to behold just what kind of creatures we are, and, beholding, we desire to improve until we are clothed with the mantle of purity. The gospel is the means of grace used in the cleansing process, and if we continue to examine ourselves in the light of God’s moral law, all our defects of character may be revealed. But the gospel does not reveal those sins to us. It hides them. See James 5:20. Our sins which are revealed by the law, are removed by the gospel. Our antinomian friends propose to complete their toilet without the aid of a looking-glass. According to their teaching, Christ broke the mirror, and the gospel has covered up the pieces. This does not accord with the expectations of the Father concerning his Son; for he said he should “magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Isa. 42:21. So instead of this moral looking-glass being shaded and dimmed by the shadow of the cross it becomes a magnifying mirror in the Christian dispensation, so that sin may appear exceeding sinful. Rom. 7:13.
Wm. COVERT.