DR. PORTER ON THE LAW by Elder George B. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1892

DR. PORTER ON THE LAW.

By Elder George B. Thompson

BY ELDER GEORGE B. THOMPSON.

DR. PORTER, of the M. E. Church, in his work entitled "Hints to Self-educated Ministers," among other good practical suggestions to the shepherds of his denomination, speaks as follows concerning the Decalogue:—

Suppose they come to a congregation that is dead in trespasses and sins, it is easy to see that they must awaken them to thought and feeling. The natural way of doing this is to present the law, showing what God requires, and what will be the result of persistent rebellion. By holding up this glass before them, they will be likely to see their defects and dangers, and become interested in knowing how they may be saved. . . . And here is one point where we think modern preaching is defective. It leaves the law of God, with its terrible penalties, largely out of sight, and offers the benefits of the gospel on inadequate terms, amounting often to little more than an intellectual acceptance of the atonement, without proper repentance or reformation. Jesus and his apostles preached the terrors of the law, and so do all successful ministers.—Pp. 79, 80.

These are truthful words, and we commend them to the prayerful consideration of our Methodist brethren, and ask them to remember the fact that it is impossible to proclaim the law fully without teaching that the seventh day is the Sabbath, for it plainly declares that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:8-11. It is true, as the doctor says, that "Jesus and his apostles preached the terror of the law." It was written in their hearts; they kept it (John 15:10; Rom. 7:7; Heb. 8:8-12); and the keeping of the law led them to keep the Sabbath (Luke 4:16; Acts 16:1-3). It will lead us the same. This fact has led many professed ministers of Christ to fight the law, or to leave it, "with its terrible penalties, largely out of sight."

James represents the law as a mirror (James 1:23-25), in which all may look and see what manner of person they are. The fourth precept is as much of a mirror as either of the other nine. It reveals the fact that those who do work on the seventh day, when God has commanded us to "do no work," are violating one precept, and are condemned as law breakers. James 2:8-11. When Jesus comes in all his glory, he will find a people who are keeping all the law of God. Rev. 12:17. Reader, will you be one of the number? In keeping the commandments there is great reward. Ps. 19:11.

Springfield, Ill.