Statements Concerning the Law of God
“The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for in both the Old and New Testaments everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only mediator between God and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof, of necessity, to be received in any commonwealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.” —Protestant Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, Art. 7. “We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfil its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church.” —Baptist Church Manual, Art. 12, page 55. “Beware of antinomianism, making void the law, or any part of it, through faith. . . . Let this be your voice, ‘I prize Thy commandments above gold or precious stone. O, what love have I unto Thy law! All the day long is my study of it.’ Beware of antinomian books. They contain many excellent things, and this makes them the more dangerous. O, be warned in time! Do not play with fire; do not put your hand upon the hole of a cockatrice’s den.” —John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in “Christian Perfection,” pages 44, 45.