THE END OF THE LAW by F. Gould

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 20, 1859

THE END OF THE LAW.

By F. Gould

For generations in the past, the subject of the law has been but imperfectly understood, which has given rise to many erroneous opinions, relative to man's moral condition. But for a few years past light has been shed upon this subject which opens a sweet field of contemplation upon the holy character and justice of God. It gives us correct views of the conditions of salvation, the atonement, the resurrection, the judgment, man's condition in death, and his condition after the resurrection.

There are two great systems of law brought to view in the book of God. When taken together they are the embodiment of all law: The moral, and ceremonial. We have ample proof from holy writ that the moral law, the ten commandments, was instituted before the fall of man, and is perpetuated to the end of human probation.

But here we are met by a class of individuals with the following expressions, namely: "Christ is become the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." "Ye are not under the law, but under grace." "Whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace," &c. They evidently take the ground for two reasons: one is, because they do not understand the subject of the law; the other because they wish to get around or dodge the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.

Out of the two great systems of law above mentioned, proceed several other laws, which taken separately are a law by themselves; such as the law of love, faith, works, circumcision, mind, and law of sin. If there had been no other law given but the law of love, and faith, and all those that relate to the royal law, then we might conclude that it ended at the death of Christ. Under the typical system there was no other way provided for the punishment of individual transgression but temporal death, and that without mercy, as shown in Heb. x, 28: "He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses." Deut. xvii, 6: "In the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death."

But Christ steps in, takes the sins of the whole world upon him and dies, the just for the unjust, and brings life and immortality to light through the gospel; "who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness." 1 Pet. ii, 24. See also Heb. ix, 15, and Gal. iii, 13. Hence we see that it was the ministration of temporal death to the transgressor that Christ became the end of. And now "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." The great moral constitution still remains untouched. See Ps. iii, 7, 8. "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." Ps. cxix, 142. John says "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Then we understand that the moral law was instituted in the garden before the fall of man, was confirmed amid the thunder of Sinai, as shown in 1 Chron. xvi, 17, where the law was confirmed to Israel for an everlasting covenant, passed down through the Levitical priesthood into the hands of the great High Priest, where it was again confirmed as shown by Dan. ix, 27. And he shall confirm the covenant (see Deut. iv, 13) with many for one week. Here is a nail in a sure place. He who would undertake to remove it, undertakes to overthrow God's government, and destroy the plan of salvation.

With the wise man then "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. F. Gould. East Brookfield, Vt.