Nevada County picayune., 1889-12-11
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
Edited by =. GEO. 4. GARDNER.
FALSEHOOD.

The law is divided into two tables, the first of which embraces our duties to God, and the second our duties to each other. The first four com mandments belong to the first table. and the remaining six to the second. These ten commandments form the basis of all law. The numerous pre- cepts scattered through the book of revelation, the design of which is to furnish specific rules for our govern ment iu all the relations of life, all grow out of this fundamental law, which was first promulgated to the world from the flaming summit of Mount Sinai.
 It is very remarkable that while this brief code can be applied into thousand precepts, at the same tune it can be reduced and condensed to two broad comprehensive command ments. briefly summed up in love to God and to our neighbor. In fact, the whole law may be concentrated into one word, namely, love. One of the inspired writers tells us that love is the fulfilling of the law. The germinal principle of all evil resides in hatred.
 We are now prepared to under stand the reasonableness and wisdom of the ninth commandment, "Thon shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.' While this com mand is specifically leveled against all malicious falsehoods against our neighbor, it also forbids all manner of lying, under whatever pretense 1t may be done. In considering the scope of any passage of Scripture, it is necessary to study its spirit, and conform our interpretation Of its meaning to the spiritual design there of. It is evident that the animus or inspiration of false witness against our neighbor is hatred or malice in greater or less degree. Love work eth no ill to his neighbor. The peace and harmony of society are depen- dent largely on the proper obsery- ance of this law. Its violation pro- duces strife and discord in communl- ties, and is frequently the cause of war between nations.
 l Doubtless the design of this com mand was to prohibit all kinds and degrees of false speaking. The spirit of the command, therefore, is viola ted in numerous ways. The habit ot congregation, so common in human society, is manifest violation of the spirit of truth. All of those eXpedi- ents to which people resort in order to cvade the truth, such as using equivocal language, subterfuges Of all kinds. quibbling and preyaricat- i ing, as well as tattling and gOssiping come under the same head, and are equally forbidden by the law of love. Love at last is the great interpreter of the moral law, under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. ] Hence he who has love in his heart will not be apt to err in the interpre- tation and observance of this command.
 In buying and selling this law is often violated, as for instance when the buyer appreciates an article, or the seller overrates it's value. Talk ing advantage of the ignorance of others. as is often done, in order to drive a good bargain, or making a false impression for the purpose of overreachiug or adding to one $ gains, are all on the same line. and necessarily involve a violation of the general principle of veracity. The opposite of lying is candor, frankness, sincerity, truth. Perhaps the best illustration of a true man. or of verac- ity, is an Israeite indeed, in whom there is no guile. This is the Bible picture of Nathaniel, and it k worthy of our admiration and imitation.
 All men should endeayor to be true in words, as well as in actions. Whenever we seek to appear to oth- CTS as better than we really are, or whenever by word or action we en- deavor to make false impression as to our true character and merits. we are guilty of breach of this com prehensive law. Shakespeare has to q large extent truly said, all the world is stage, and men and women are actors. Kind reader, let Us cease merely to act a part, to pre- tend to be what we are not Let Us be in reality what we appear te be, and then we will receive the appro- bation of our own conscience, and the approval of our Heavenly Father. Then will our peace flow as a river, and our righteousness as wares of the sea.