p. 99 | The Necessity of Law by E. Hilliard

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 14, 1884

The Necessity of Law.

By E. Hilliard

THE whole universe is governed by law. The planets that pace their rounds in their orbits are held in place by the fixed laws of nature. So exact are these laws in their operations that men have been enabled to tell for months in the future just when certain planets would make their appearance, and also when an eclipse would occur.

There are laws that govern us in our physical nature. A violation of these laws brings its sad result. No man can indulge in intoxicating drinks without injuring himself both physically and mentally. To the degree he indulges, just to that degree he must suffer. The partaker is not the only sufferer. Others often suffer from the inebriate's cruel blows, and from his neglect in procuring the necessaries of life for his family. No one can transgress the laws of his being without others feeling the effects more or less.

Man's interests are mutual. We are dependent one upon the other. Each has rights which the other is bound to respect. There must be law to define our rights and to point out the limits of our privileges, lest man in his selfish nature overreach and trample upon his neighbor's rights. No man has any legal right in a freak of passion to kill his neighbor; he has no right to steal from him, or even lie about him. Were there no law of punishment for these offenses, no community would be safe or have any degree of prosperity. Law is indispensable among us as citizens.

In order to have the highest degree of happiness in the home circle, there must be a standard of discipline and a willingness on the part of all to obey. The parents are the head of the family, and, consequently, the ones to make and adopt such rules as shall be for the good of all concerned. We often find upon the part of the children an unwillingness to submit to parental authority; then it becomes necessary to command. This command must be obeyed, or some penalty inflicted, otherwise the parent's word would become of little force. If the parents are disobeyed, not only must the disobedient one suffer, but the whole family must suffer in consequence. To illustrate. The father has a crop of wheat in fine condition to garner in, and business being very urgent in another direction, he commands his sons to secure the grain. The boys do not stop to consider that they are dependent upon that father for clothing and food, or the justice of the command, but follow their own inclinations in pleasure-seeking. The work is left undone. A heavy rain comes on, and the wheat is spoiled. All the labor in sowing and reaping the crop is lost, the father is crippled in his means to support his family, and they must all suffer in consequence of the disobedient ones.

There are rights between children that each are bound to respect. Because John is stronger than James, he has no right to maltreat and abuse him. If he does, it is the parent's duty to correct him. The parents brought the children into the world, and therefore are responsible for their behaviour toward them and toward one another. Just so with the great God. He brought man into the world, and on him devolves the responsibility of seeing that man obeys his law or suffers its penalty. He has a right to command his obedience, and so particular was he in giving commandments to men that he wrote them with his own finger on the most enduring tablets—stone. Ex. 31:18. The law of commandments we find recorded in the 20th chapter of Exodus. The first four of these commandments point out duty to God, and the last six our duty to our fellow-man.

The laws that govern the planets and the laws that govern us in our physical nature are immutable. Our moral nature stands pre-eminently above the physical nature. Our spiritual interests and duty to God are of the first importance. Shall we not expect then to find that the principles that govern us in these last-mentioned particulars are unchangeable? Let us see. We find David declaring: "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Ps. 111:7, 8. He also tells us, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul," &c., Ps. 19:7. Now that which is perfect certainly needs no remodeling. Christ himself bears the most positive testimony in respect to the enduring nature of this law. He says: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5:17, 18. Luke bears full as strong testimony relative to the Saviour's words. He says: "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16:17.

We need the law to point out our defects of character. If it were not for the law we would not know when we were sinning. "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. The disciple John tells us that sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4. Then if by the law is the knowledge of sin, and sin is the transgression of the law, we conclude that as long as it is necessary for man to know his sins, and as long as sin exists, there will be a necessity for God's law, and it will be in force.

Reader, a promise is offered to those who obey these divine precepts: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." E. HILLIARD.