Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-01
Lesson 10.
THE COMMANDMENTS.
Ex. 20sI2-2l.

as ourselves is an inseparable part of all
true love to God.
Our present lesson is a continuation
of the last. In that we considered the
circumstances of the giving of the law,
and the meaning of the first table. In
this we take up the second table.
1t is commonly said that the first re
lates to our duty to God. and the sec.
ond to our duty TO men. This Ian
suage is not strictly correct. Ii 1t be
understood to mean that the duties are
distinct and separable, that we can
keep the first table and not the second,
or the second and not the first, 1t con
veys very great error. The duties are
not two, but at their basis one.
God only is our Sovereign and Lord.
All duty is to him. as all sin is against
him. We are required by our Saviour
to love God with all the heart and soul
and mind and strength. 1t follows
from this that every right moral attec
tion is included III such love. We are
therefore to honor and love our fellow.
men because God requires it, and they
and we are alike Gods offspring.
The notion that we can keep either
table, while disregarding the other, Is
the greatest of mistakes. OF this the
devotee is guilty when he multiples
prayers and religious observances, and
is meanwhile cold and harsh and selfish
toward men. OF this the moralIst is
guilty when he makes fair dealing and
kind offices to others substitutes for the
worship Of God and spiritual obedience
TO his will. Both are in fatal error.
Neither truly keeps any OF the law.
Gods law Is a unit. Love is its fulfill.
ing, and we are to honor and love 9th.
ers as part Of the homage and loving
service due to our common Father and
Lord.
4 more correct statement Of the diff
ference between the two tables makes
the first relate to our immediate duties
to God, and the second to those we are
to render to him through honor and
service to others.
Here we may note a progression in
the requirements of the second table.
The sixth. seventh and eighth apply
more to outward deeds the ninth to
speech the tenth to thought and cher.
ished desire, sounding the inmost
depths of our hearts"
Passing to specific commandments.
the fifth requires honor TO parents. This
includes affection and obedience accord.
ing 10 the changing relation OF parent
and child, as the latter progresses to.
ward maturity. In the language OF
Luther, parents are rs 1.-The Wears OF
God" 1t follows that the command
requires due respect to all Gods repre-
sentatives, az persons in authority over
US. II, as in rare instances be the case,
conscience or the direct requirements
Of God compel disobedience, even then
the debt of reverence will not be for.
gotten. This is "the commandment
with promise" And the tendency OF
the temper required by the word
"honor" can very plainly be seen TO be
to long life. It is a spirit which surely
permeates the entire character. II
tends to self control. 1t fits for all du.
ties toward God.
The next four commandments-the
sirth, serrnh, eighth and nintL-are de.
signed to protect the rights of person
and life, of chastity, of property, and
of reputation. Not only do they for.
bid murder, adultery, theft and false
ginnings. Allowed thoughts and in.
dulged feelings, which lead on TO the
open and gross offence, are included.
lie that hateth his brother is a murder.
er. In the unchaste desire there Is the
sin of adultery. God looketh at the
heart. The moral quality Of the act is
in what he sees there. He prohibits in
each one of these precepts the inner
passions which tend to the hagrant
deed or word. Then, these precepts
all have a positive side. They affirm
the duty of protecting life Of cherish
ing purity of guarding, If need be,
our neighbor's property of defending
another's good name. In spirit, though
not in letter, the ninth forbids every
kind of false statement. And on this
too much emphasis can hardly be laid
There are no virtues of which truthful.
ness Is not the basis or support. The
habit of speaking and acting the truth
IS among the most powerful Of all re.
straints from every form of sin. Few
characters are so hopeless "a the un.
truthful. The specious reasonings by
which falsehood is justified are 10 be
repeled. We need not speak at all,
"but II we speak, and speak not truth.
we serve the devil, who is the father Of
lies, and we shall, If we repent not in
Christ, have our portion with him in
the wrath of just God, who has made
truth a duty to himself, and lie sin
against himself.
The tenth forbids all wrong and inor.
dinate desire for anything that is our
neighbor's. II does not prohibit every
form aud degree of desire for what is
not our own, since in that case there
could be no traffic or transfer of proper.
ty, or improvement in outward condi.
ton. The reference is to discontent
with the lot God has appointed us, aud
envy of others seemingly more favored;
10 desire for that which cannot be
rightfully obtained to all merely sci.
fish or inordinate desire. IL empha.
sizes the inner state. II makes no ref.
erence to outward acts, but goes straight
10 the heart. IL prohibits the begin.
nings Of evil. IL is safeguard against