and that those precepts which are not re-enacted in the New Testament, are not
binding on us. The force of this blow is aimed at the Sabbath, but if carried out,
its effect would be to overturn the whole law of God. "The law," say they, "was
abolished at Christ's death." We know that the New Testament dates from the
death of the testator, the precise point where the first covenant ceased. [Heb.ix,
16,17; x,9,10.] Now if God abolished his law at Christ's death, how could he
afterwards write it in the hearts and minds of his people according to the promise,
as given in Heb.viii,10? How could this be done unless he first re-enacted it? And
we challenge you to show that God has ever abolished a law, and then reenacted
it. The word of God is not yea and nay after this manner. Nay, further. As
the new covenant begins at the precise point where the first one ceased, your
position requires you to believe that God abolished the ten commandments, and
IN THE SAME MOMENT re-enacted
14
nine of them to write on the hearts of his people. Deny this if you can. Do you say
that it is the law of the New Testament, or law of grace, which God writes on the
hearts of his people?
We answer that you cannot show the existence of such a law, distinct from
the precepts of the decalogue. Besides, if the precepts of the Decalogue are
abolished, even its principles cannot now exist without a re-enactment. If you
could carry out this sentiment you would show that the ten commandments are
all abolished; hence the law of God is destroyed: hence also the moral
government of God is destroyed, and men are left without prohibition against any
species of wickedness. Do you say that God abolished his law, and then reenacted
all of its precepts save the Sabbath commandment? We answer that
such an unwillingness on your part to submit to the law of God, shows that you
possess "the carnal mind," which is "enmity against God," WHICH "IS NOT
SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, neither indeed can be." Jesus has said that
"NOT ONE JOT OR TITTLE SHALL PASS FROM THE LAW till all be fulfilled;"
but you, to avoid the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, teach us that that
commandment has been struck out of the law. Such then is your absurd and
dangerous position. Will you still cling to it?
We invite the attention of the candid reader to "a more excellent way." - We
have shown the existence of God's law from the beginning, and that its
observance constituted the conditions, or terms of agreement, on which the first
covenant was based. The first covenant ceased because its conditions were not
kept. Heb.viii,9. But the dissolution of this covenant could not abolish "the royal
law" which had existed from the beginning: hence we believe that the law of God
did not cease with the first covenant, but that it continued in full force, ready to be
written by the Spirit in the hearts of God's people. See the promise, Jer.xxxi,33;
Heb viii,10. There is therefore no such absurdity in our faith, as in that of our
opponents, who would have us believe that God abolished his law, and, at the
same moment re-enacted a part of its precepts. Our faith may be expressed in a
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
single sentence: GOD'S LAW COVERS ALL TIME, and under all