The Arkansas advocate., 1830-05-26
ful 5rajesty---tilis Iaw wasoontained in two

l ful ATajesty---tilis Iaw wasoontained in twd taoies--one declaratiYe of duty to God the other of duty to man,
 This is called the moral law, and Is still considered in fal! existence us a rule ot life, " large majority of the Christian world.
 ] lnaddition to this law, which is consid- cred to 5e obligatory upon the whole hii- man race, so far as revelation has extend ed the knowledge thereof, were given sun- dry other laws, exclusively applicable to the Jewish nation. Death was the penal U attendant on an iffraetion of these laws, not eternal death, but aes cutting offo from the congregation.
 Some of these laws may he found in Ie- lviticus, 7th oh. 20, g, 27 verses, in ch. lGth, '. l, 9, 10.-lsth chapter throughout. On. 9, '. %, 30, S1c. 1t will not be con- tended that eternal life would be conse- quent upon an observance of these laws. for they might be kept inviolable by those who lived in violation of the moral law nor can 1t with more propriety be contend ed that any other than temporal death was the penalty attached to their violation. With these views the language of the Propileti is peculiarly appropriate to the Jewish nation, and totally devoid of obscu- rity. The Jews had charged God with in- justice for having visited the iniquities of the fathers upon the children. God de- clares he will do So no more, but will mefs out to each according to his desert-to him that liyeth in obedience to the laws, life shati be continued to the period fixed upon by God, as the duration of existenee-to him that yiolateth those laws, death; that IS, he shall be C cut off from the congrega- tion ere he has attained his three score years and ten'--as God has elsewhere said. " the wicked shall not live out half their days,''
 The parent henceforth should live in his obedience, or die in his transgression, so iii like manner should 1t be with the child. God, by the Prophet, farther declares, that if he who y his transgression, has proyolz- God to cut him of in the midst of his years. will repent and forsake his evil ways, and obey bis laws and statutes, his former sins shall be forgiven, and his obedience and reformation shall procure prolongation of life; and on the other hand, he who for q season yields obedience to the laws, and then forsakes them, his former obedience shall be forgotten, and his sins shall short en his days.
 God delighteth not in inficting punish ment on his chosen nation for transeres- sion of his laws, but would rather see them living out ali their days iR obedience to his statutes.
 Prolopgation of days to the full period of existence, is the life, and shortening of days Is the death, spoken of in this chapter.
 God farther commands them, to make a new heart and new spirit-this new heart and neW spirit, cannot mean that change fheart and mind referred to bv our sa- viour, when preaching the doctrine of the new birth to NicodemGs, otherwise David would have produced them himself instead of praying to God to create a new heart and to renew right spirit within him. neither can the injunction to turn and live mean that spiritual turning consequent up- on the new heart, otherwise Ephraim would not have found it necessary to pray to God E' to turn him, that he might be turaed'' Those injunctions can only be supposed to mean those abandonments of sin and refor- nations which they had the power to &C., complish, in order to avoid being cut of7' from the congregation. In a subsequent chapter, God promises todo for them, what IS Tn this chapter enioined on them to do for themselves. s' new heart also will give you, and new spirit will put within JOus 52Ce CiiV 'lOs Es S0s IJcre tod Is speaking of the heart and spirit, as ehect- ed by the Holy Spirit in regeneration; an efectual change of heart and mind which requires omnipotent power to produce.
 If the views have taken of this chap ter are correct, 1 do not see the propriety of making this chapter an appendage to a gospel sermon-for ifsalvation is by grace, through faith, and that faith is the gift of God, then IS obedience to the ceremonial, Leyitieal or any other law of no effect in obtaining that salvation, and if everlasting salvation IS to be obtained, by our obsery- ance of these laws, then is grace out of the question-but all admit that salvation is by grace.
 From what has been said, let no one suppose that advocate disregard of c od s law. Far from it--I contend that even were it possible, by looking into futurity, to see our future existence to be in the re- gions of woe, 1t would still be our duty, as we'll as our interest, to love God supreme ly, and our neighbor as ourselves. Ii would be our duty, because God commands it. would De our interest, because 1t is writ ten 's He that knoweth his masters will and doeth 1t not, shall be beaten with ma- ny stripes"
 4 LAY PREACHER. sssz-szsss4ra
 TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS.