Essays On the Most Important Subjects in Religion

ment on this subject. This was delivered to Israel by Jehovah himself, from mount Sinai, with most tremendous displays of his majesty, power, and holiness: and though other parts of Scripture must be adduced, as a divinely inspired comment; yet the decalogue may properly be taken for our text, in examining the demands of the moral law. It is evident, that there is a distinction between moral precepts and positive institutions. Some things are in themselves so indifferent, that the same authority, which commanded, might have forbidden them ; as the use of bread and wine in one ordinance, and that of water in another : but it is absurd to suppose, that God could have required his creatures to despise him, or to hate one another; or have forbidden them to speak truth and to do justice. Some tYaces of the moral law are discoverable by our natural reason, and the whole of it is highly reasonable : it has its foundation in the nature of God and man, in the relations which men bear to Him and to each other, and in the obligations that result from these relations ; on which account it is immutable in its requirements, and demandsobedience from all mankind, as tar as they have opportunity of becoming acquainted with it. Dif- fefent circumstances may indeed occasion a coincident variation ; as the entrance of sin has rendeied patience, and forgiveness of injuries, exercises of our love to God and our neighbour: but though there is no need of these in heaven, yet the g... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.