p. 117 | A Wonderful Work by J. MATTESON

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 26, 1871

A Wonderful Work.

By J. MATTESON

MANY authors have appeared in the world. Their various productions are innumerable, like the stars. And of making many books, there is no end. But it is a fact worthy of everlasting remembrance, that the great God himself has condescended to furnish us with a work of which he is the author, a work which he wrote with his own finger, “two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” Ex. 31: 18.

It is a very small book, and yet comprises more than all others. “I have seen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad.” Ps. 119: 96. It is so perfect a work that without the proper understanding and acceptance of it, all other books, the Bible not excepted, are of no real value to us. Without it, we would not inquire after the Saviour or the gospel, for “they that be whole need not a physician,” and “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Jesus has left us no such personal writing. How vastly important must these ten commandments be, which God thought best thus to execute with his own hand. It is his holy will that the same shall be written in living characters in the heart (mind or affections) of all those who belong to his kingdom. Jesus himself is thus distinguished: “I delight to do thy will, O my God! yea, thy law is within my heart.” Ps. 40: 8. So, likewise, the righteous, who shall inherit the new earth, will submit to this divine law, will obtain a live copy of it by the Spirit of God in their heart. “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Ps. 37: 30, 31. For this object, indeed, was the divine Teacher sent from Heaven: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom. 8: 4. Six hundred thousand men were witnesses when the divine Law-giver with his own voice publicly proclaimed this royal law. And after a space of more than three thousand years, their posterity is still preserved, scattered over the earth, and everywhere willing to testify to the divine origin of this holy work. And not only they, but also all those servants of God who “delight in the law of God after the inward man” have testified, and do testify, that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” And they know by experience whereof they affirm. Let us, then, “hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12: 13. J. MATTESON.