A SPIRITUAL LAW by F. S. Schenck

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 9, 1890

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 16, No. 22.

A SPIRITUAL LAW.

By F. S. Schenck

THE first commandment directs the spirit in its relation to God, without mentioning a single outward act. In the following commands the spirit is directed in its outward acts, of worship of God, reverence for his name, observance of his Sabbath, and honoring his representatives. With the fifth command duty to man begins. The spirit is still the subject of the law, and is directed in its outward manifestations of honoring superiors, giving due regard to the sacredness of human life, of the right of property, of the relationship between man and woman, of truth to and about our neighbor, until in this last commandment the spirit emerges from all outward actions, and, as in the first commandment, is itself purely and simply the subject of the law, only now specially in its duty to its neighbor. "Thou shalt not covet!" The positive command under the prohibitory form of the first precept, as our Saviour teaches, is, "Love God supremely." This love is required by all the commandments of outward duty to God and man, until in this last precept, as Christ again teaches, its positive form is like unto the first, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Thus the whole law is seen to be spiritual. If any have thought that I have made too much of some of these commandments, if they will reflect carefully upon the spiritual nature of the law, they will soon share with me the conviction that I have not made and cannot make one-half enough of a single one of them. There is a depth and comprehensiveness about the law that cannot be fully measured. There is no virtue within the range of human duty but is comprehended here. There is no vice within the reach of human action but is directly forbidden here.

—Rev. F. S. Schenck, on the Tenth Commandment.