A. CAMPBELL AND THE LAW.
By H. E. Carver
Bro. Smith : I have lately discovered something in the writings of Alexander Campbell that favors our views of the law of God so much, that I thought I would call your attention to it, as I do not remember ever to have heard it quoted, or seen it mentioned in the Review. I have quoted it to some of my Campbellite neighbors, or Disciples, as they wish to be called, and they do not know what to do with it. It is contained in the debate with Bishop Purcell, part of which debate I heard in Cincinnati twenty-one years ago. The debate was revised and published by joint action of both parties, and of course is correct. On page 182 Campbell commences the comparison of the Protestant rule of faith with the Roman Catholic, the latter of which he calls immoral and goes on to specify. On page 184 he uses this language: "But this immoral law presumes farther yet. It changes the laws of God," &c. Page 185. "But still worse, this immoral law or rule of faith repeals and annuls certain positive divine laws. I have here two catechisms published by authority of the (Catholic) church. They have both expunged the second commandment," &c. Page 193. "License is given to violate in some way or other every precept of the decalogue. The Sabbath as a divine institution is thus set aside," &c. Page 204. "Next to his remarks against marriage . . . I was sorry to hear the gentleman defending 'white lies,' and 'little sins.' When I think of the nature of sin, and the holy and immutable laws of God, against whom it is committed, I see no difference between one sin and another. There may be great and little sins as to their temporal relations and consequences; but when He against whom every sin is committed, and that divine and holy law, which is violated in the least offence, is considered, we must say with the apostle James, 'He that offendeth in one point is guilty of all.' It may be the veriest peccadillo on earth; but in heaven's account one sin would ruin a world, as it has done; for he that keeps the whole law and yet offends in the least point, is guilty of all. He that said, not a jot or tittle of his law should fall to the ground, he that magnified his law and made it honorable, will suffer no person to add to, to subtract from, to change or violate a single point with impunity." Page 214. "What is the second commandment? Answer. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Catholic catechism. Is this the second commandment? It is not. That child is taught falsehood, which is taught thus to learn the decalogue. If the Roman Bishops and Archbishops in Ireland and America, in this our day can thus impose on all the youth in the Roman communion, and thus pervert and annul one of God's commandments, to make way for the worshiping of images, what shall we say of the morality of her rule of faith in this and other matters? . . . What myriads then, through this fraud, must have lived and died in the belief that the second commandment was no part of God's law? It is clearly proved that the pastors have struck out one of God's ten words; which not only in the Old Testament, but in all revelation, are the most emphatically regarded as the synopsis of all religion and morality. They have also made a ninth commandment out of the tenth, and their ninth, in that independent position, becomes identical with the seventh commandment, and makes God use a tautology in the only instrument in the universe that he wrote with his own hand?" Now if any Seventh-day believer can find stronger language than this to express his belief in the immutability of God's holy law as spoken by his own mouth, and written with his own hand, I would like to see it. Our opponents themselves being judges, we are right; therefore let us hold fast to the truth and live up to it. Amen. May the Lord help us, and keep us in the faith of Jesus as well as enable us to be doers of his commandments. Yours for the truth. H. E. CARVER.