patriarchs and prophets-第92章
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your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you； which ye have of
God； and ye are not your own？ For ye are bought with a price： therefore
glorify God in your body； and in your spirit； which are Gods。〃 1 Corinthians
6：19； 20。 〃Whether therefore ye eat； or drink； or whatsoever ye do； do all
to the glory of God。〃
1 Corinthians 10：31。 To the church of Christ in all ages is
addressed the solemn and fearful warning； 〃If any man defile the temple of
God； him shall God destroy； for the temple of God is holy； which temple ye
are。〃 1 Corinthians 3：17。
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Chapter 32
The Law and the Covenants
Adam and Eve； at their creation； had a knowledge of the law of God； they
were acquainted with its claims upon them； its precepts were written upon
their hearts。 When man fell by transgression the law was not changed； but a
remedial system was established to bring him back to obedience。 The promise
of a Saviour was given； and sacrificial offerings pointing forward to the
death of Christ as the great sin offering were established。 But had the law
of God never been transgressed； there would have been no death； and no need
of a Saviour； consequently there would have been no need of sacrifices。
Adam taught his descendants the law of God； and it was handed down from
father to son through successive generations。 But notwithstanding the
gracious provision for man's redemption； there were few who accepted it and
rendered obedience。 By transgression the world became so vile that it was
necessary to cleanse it by the Flood from its corruption。 The law was
preserved by Noah and his family； and Noah taught his descendants the Ten
Commandments。 As men again departed from God； the Lord chose Abraham； of
whom He declared； 〃Abraham obeyed My voice； and kept My charge； My
commandments； My statutes； and My laws。〃 Genesis 26：5。 To him was given the
rite of circumcision； which was a sign that those who received it were
devoted to the service of Goda pledge that they would remain separate from
idolatry； and would obey the law of God。 The failure of Abraham's
descendants to keep this pledge； as shown in their disposition to form
alliances with the heathen and adopt their practices； was the cause of their
sojourn and bondage in Egypt。 But in their intercourse with idolaters； and
their forced submission to the Egyptians； the divine precepts became still
further corrupted with the vile and cruel teachings of heathenism。 Therefore
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when the Lord brought them forth from Egypt； He came down upon Sinai；
enshrouded in glory and surrounded by His angels； and in awful majesty spoke
His law in the hearing of all the people。
He did not even then trust His precepts to the memory of a people who were
prone to forget His requirements； but wrote them upon tables of stone。 He
would remove from Israel all possibility of mingling heathen traditions with
His holy precepts； or of confounding His requirements with human ordinances
or customs。 But He did not stop with giving them the precepts of the
Decalogue。 The people had shown themselves so easily led astray that He
would leave no door of temptation unguarded。 Moses was commanded to write；
as God should bid him； judgments and laws giving minute instruction as to
what was required。 These directions relating to the duty of the people to
God； to one another； and to the stranger were only the principles of the Ten
Commandments amplified and given in a specific manner； that none need err。
They were designed to guard the sacredness of the ten precepts engraved on
the tables of stone。
If man had kept the law of God； as given to Adam after his fall； preserved
by Noah； and observed by Abraham； there would have been no necessity for the
ordinance of circumcision。 And if the descendants of Abraham had kept the
covenant； of which circumcision was a sign； they would never have been
seduced into idolatry； nor would it have been necessary for them to suffer a
life of bondage in Egypt； they would have kept God's law in mind； and there
would have been no necessity for it to be proclaimed from Sinai or engraved
upon the tables of stone。 And had the people practiced the principles of the
Ten Commandments； there would have been no need of the additional directions
given to Moses。
The sacrificial system； committed to Adam； was also perverted by his
descendants。 Superstition； idolatry； cruelty； and licentiousness corrupted
the simple and significant service that God had appointed。 Through long
intercourse with idolaters the people of Israel had mingled many heathen
customs with their worship； therefore the Lord gave them at Sinai definite
instruction concerning the sacrificial service。 After the completion of the
tabernacle He communicated with Moses from the cloud of glory above the
mercy seat； and gave him full directions concerning the system of offerings
and the forms of worship to be
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maintained in the sanctuary。 The ceremonial law was thus given to Moses； and
by him written in a book。 But the law of Ten Commandments spoken from Sinai
had been written by God Himself on the tables of stone； and was sacredly
preserved in the ark。
There are many who try to blend these two systems； using the texts that
speak of the ceremonial law to prove that the moral law has been abolished；
but this is a perversion of the Scriptures。 The distinction between the two
systems is broad and clear。 The ceremonial system was made up of symbols
pointing to Christ； to His sacrifice and His priesthood。 This ritual law；
with its sacrifices and ordinances； was to be performed by the Hebrews until
type met antitype in the death of Christ； the Lamb of God that taketh away
the sin of the world。 Then all the sacrificial offerings were to cease。 It
is this law that Christ 〃took 。 。 。 out of the way； nailing it to His
cross。〃 Colossians 2：14。 But concerning the law of Ten Commandments the
psalmist declares； 〃Forever； O Lord； Thy word is settled in heaven。〃 Psalm
119：89。 And Christ Himself says； 〃Think not that I am come to destroy the
law。 。 。 。 Verily I say unto you〃making the assertion as emphatic as
possible〃Till heaven and earth pass； one jot or one tittle shall in no
wise pass from the law； till all be fulfilled。〃 Matthew 5：17； 18。 Here He
teaches； not merely what the claims of God's law had been； and were then；
but that these claims should hold as long as the heavens and the earth
remain。 The law of God is as immutable as His throne。 It will maintain its
claims upon mankind in all ages。
Concerning the law proclaimed from Sinai； Nehemiah says； 〃Thou camest down
also upon Mount Sinai； and spakest with them from heaven； and gavest them
right judgments； and true laws； good statutes and commandments。〃 Nehemiah
9：13。 And Paul； 〃the apostle to the Gentiles；〃 declares； 〃The law is holy；
and the commandment holy； and just； and good。〃 Romans 7：12。 This can be no
other than the Decalogue； for it is the law that says； 〃Thou shalt not
covet。〃 Verse 7。
While the Saviour's death brought to an end the law of types and shadows； it
did not in the least detract from the obligation of the moral law。 On the
contrary； the very fact that it was necessary for Christ to die in order to
atone for the transgression of that law； proves it to be immutable。
Those who claim that Christ came to abrogate the law of God
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and to do away with the Old Testament； speak of the Jewish age as one of
darkness； and represent the religion of the Hebrews as consisting of mere
forms and ceremonies。 But this is an error。 All through the pages of scared
history； where the dealings of God with His chosen people are recorded；
there are burning traces of the great I Am。 Never has He given to the sons
of men more open manifestations of His power and glory than when He alone
was acknowledged as Israel's ruler； and gave the law to His people。 Here was
a scepter swayed by no human hand； and the stately goings forth of Israel's
invisible King were unspeakably grand and awfu
