God's Law a Law of Liberty.
By F. Gould
We often hear it remarked by individuals that the law of ten commandments is a law of bondage, and he who strives under the gospel dispensation to be governed by that law has fallen from grace; and further, in order to enjoy the freedom and liberty of the gospel, we are now to be under the law of Christ: God's law being abolished, or having ceased at the cross. That there have been two distinct laws given, one by God, and the other by his Son Jesus Christ, by which to govern the human family, yet remains to be proved. And to demonstrate the fact before us that God's law is the only one given as a rule of faith and practice, I will cite the reader to a few texts of Scripture; for says the Prophet, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The apostle James in speaking of the law, [chap. iv. 12,] says, "There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save, and to destroy." That God is this Lawgiver, is shown in Ps. xx; xxxi, 18; Deut. iv, 13; Deut. ix, 10; Gen. xxvi, 5. Again, the work of Christ is to "magnify the law and make it honorable." And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John ii, 1. Hence Christ steps in and establishes the law that man has broken, and carries it out in all its points. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Matt. v, 17. God instituted the great principle of love as the foundation of his moral government, an attribute of his own character, for "God is love." We find the same principle extending through the gospel dispensation. The Lord in speaking of the commandments, says, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deut. vi, 5; Lev. xix, 18. Here we find are the two great commandments, love to God, and man. Now let us look into the New Testament and see what great things Christ has revealed unto us out of God's law. The question being asked by a lawyer, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two hang all the law and the prophets. Matt. xxii, 36-40. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, (one of the ten which hang on love) and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The apostle Paul some thirty years this side of the cross taught that love was the fulfilling of the law, and then repeats part of the decalogue to explain what he meant. Rom. xiii, 8-10. He was well qualified to teach to others the law of God perfectly, being slain by it, and then brought to life; wherefore he says, The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Rom. vii, 12. John in his first epistle [chap. v, 3] seems to comprehend the whole subject, and throw light upon it. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. If then the ten commandments ceased at the cross, love ceased also, and we Gentiles are left without chart or compass, and without any hope of salvation. Again, if by keeping God's ten moral precepts we are brought into bondage, then the testimony of holy men of old, of Christ, and the apostles, and the experience of all commandment-keepers under the last message of mercy, is not valid. Says David, So shall I keep thy law forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts. Ps. cxix, 44, 45. Here David goes forth with perfect freedom and liberty while he sought to keep God's precepts. I will bring a simple illustration. Suppose a man should break some of the laws of the land, and by so doing in order to answer the demands of the law, he should be put in prison or close confinement. It shows conclusively that he is brought into bondage by being a law-breaker, until the demands of the law are satisfied. But when a man keeps the laws of the land in every respect, he then runs at large, "walks at liberty," and enjoys true freedom in all the departments of life where he is called to act. It is so with those who keep the commandments of God. The law has no claims against them, they walk forth with perfect freedom, enjoying the smiles of God's countenance continually, knowing that the faithful and true Witness has said, 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. Rev. xxii, 14. He that continues to break God's law is in bondage, and will ere long suffer its penalty, which is the second death. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Eccl. viii, 11. The law of liberty is brought to view in John viii, 32; James ii, 12. And I would say in the language of Paul, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Gal. v, 1. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James i, 25.