Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-01
&eadinq fpr tile Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
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LAW.

LAW.
Many individuals have given definitions of
the word law. That given by the celebrated
English jurist, Blackstone, is, if not the best,
clear and easily understood by all classes of
men. The definition of this illustrious author
is as follows: claw, in its general and most
comprehensive sense, signifies a rule OF &C.
tion" If we take this, as in the main, cor
rect definition Of what is meant by the word
law, it will be evident that there must Of ne
cessity be some one, whose prerogatve it is to
prescribe the rule by which we are to be gov
erned in our actions. In other words, there
must be law-giver. Where there is no law
giver, there can be no law, and where no law
or rule Of action exists, there can be no trans
erosion. This is q conclusion to which we
are warranted in coming, both by the dictates
of reason and the plain teachings of the Scrip
lures. So much being promised, the inquiry
thrusts itself upon us: "Who is the law-giver
whose prerogative it is to prescribe rule Of
action which we are bound to obey?" From
the nature of things, the inferior must obey
the superior. The inferior cannot prescribe
what the superior must do or what he must
not do; neither can the equal prescribe to his
peer or equal. A little reflection will con-
vince any one that the only being in.the
universe who has the right to prescribe rule
of action to any creature, is God and the only
rule of action by which mans action is to be
governed, is the Bible. 1t may sound orlgi-
nal and strange, that the very fact that men
attempt to make laws by which they are to
be governed is prina tacie evidence that the
original and natural order of things is changed.
In other words, the simple fact that men at
tempt to frame code of laws which is to be
to them rule of action, is proof positive that
man is sinner. There may be gradations
amongst creatures, and no doubt are but not
that degree of inferiority or superiority which
entities one creature to the high and exalted
position of prescribing either mode of exis-
tence or rule Of action to another creature.
Amongst the countless tribes Of creatures
which people the earth, air and waters, there
is great diversity in their mode of existence,
and the rule of action differs so as to cores
pond with the nature of the creature for whom
it is prescribed. God exclusively and abso-
lutely, in the beginning, assigned to each and
every creature its mode of existence, and the
laws by which all were to be governed. He
made the air for the bird and the bird for the
air the water for the fish and the fish for the
water This law or mode of existence no
creature can reverse. The bird cannot make
its home in the great deep; neither can the
fish float in the air. An angel cannot repeal
or abrogate this law. The same is true
with regard, both to the higher and the lower
order of creatures. With regard to angels,
the highest order Of creatures, we know but
very little; but we may safely say that they
cannot change their mode of existence, nor
violate with impunity the law of action which
the Author of their being prescribed to them
when they were created. No one Of ordinary
intelligence, will deny that the same is true
respecting man.
A certain law or mode Of existence has
been prescribed to man which he dare not on
pain of death, violate We see this demon
strated daily respecting mans physical being.
He cannot, as the mole, burrow under the
ground, nor as the eagle, fly through the air;
neither can he, as the fish, sleep below the
waves of the ocean. The bounds of his habi'
tation, and the mode Of his existence, are pre-
scribed to him; not by himself, nor by any
other creature, but by God, the author of all
things. When God created man, he wrote
the mode of his existence, and the law by
which he was to be governed in his actions
upon his heart, and clearly revealed it to his
intellect Man sinned and the law became
eAaced from his heart, and his intellect be-
came dark and benghted. In mercy God
gave man revelation from heaven This
revelation we call the Bible. In this book
are written all the laws that are necessary to
govern man in every department of his being.
1t is law emanating from the only proper
source, and sanctioned by the only proper au'
thority. 1t is perfect Every other code of
law is imperfect. 1t is light to our feet
and lamp to our path. Every other law
springs from darkness and produces darkness
and confusion. The sun which illuminates
our world, and the harmony which attends
the machinery of the universe, family resem-
BILE the light and harmony which is contained
in the word of God. The sum of Bible law
is contained in the ten commandments. The
grand principle which underlies the whole, is
love to God and love to man.
1t may be said that human codes have ex-
listed for thousands of generations and still
exist All this, and even more, is admitted.
But the existence of a thing does not prove
that it is right or that it could exist in a per-
feet state of things. If this were the case, sin
would be right, because it is universally ad-
mitted to exist. Under the present sinful
condition of things, God permits some things
to exist that do not receive, in any degree, his
appreciation. This has ever been the case,
and will no doubt continue to be the case,
until our world is completely redeemed from
the physical and social curse which rests upon
it at present. God suffered Abraham to live
in state of polygamy; he suffered the Jews
to practice divorce, and even to enact statutes
concerning it; but our Saviour, who knew the
designs Of his Father, says it was not so from
the beginning. God permitted the children
of Israel to establish regal government, and
to select king; but the whole thing, from be-
ginning to end, was in direct opposition to the
will of God. Just so it is with respect to all