The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-29

MADE the giving OF the Law memorable
were natural. That God appeared to
Moses in visible form, or that he spoke
literally in human speech, are propositions
irreconcilable with the real Mosaic teach
ing of Gods spirituality and omnipresence.
That the volcanic fire, the seismic trem-
bling, the mountain storm and the deton-
ating voice in the storm, should be to the
Children of Israel the evidence of Gods
presence is in accordance with the nature
of things.
Moses in the mountain was peculiarly
in prayer to God; and the Ten Words he
received and communicated were of Divine
inspiration, according to the universal law
of inspiration. The Ten Words are of
import to us, not chiefly because of the
impressive historic incidents attending
their publication, but because they are
Words of Truth,-because they are the
actual laws of nature and of man; hence
the laws of God.
1t is to be observed, first of all, that the
Goodness of God is made the primal APP
peal to the Children of Israel, as the rea-
son why they should render obedience.
I am the Loya lily God, aOlsfch brought
thee ont Of the land Of Egypt. God does
not here threaten the people with penalty.
He appeals to their experience, their loyal
ty, their gratitude. The One God, the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, re-
minds Lis people that he has been their
Deliverer and Shield. On their past he
would have them build their future.
Observe that at this initiatory stage Of
the Dispensation of Law, we find that God
offers, not threat of anger or after-death
doom, but a reason for trust and gratitude,
as the chief appeal for righteousness.
2. Mans Duty to GOd,--vs. 3-I2.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT: zHou
shalt haze no ether God bef0re me. This
prohibition grows out of Israels original
and central proposition, The L0yd 0nr
God is one Lord Deut. ga. The One
ness of God is Israel's ideal to this day.
Abraham's mission, from the time of his
call in Chaldea, was a protest against the
worlds idolatry. Everywhere in the earth,
save among the Israelites, polytheism at
this period prevailed. Among the Egyp-
tians the meanest and most contemplate
of objects, such as cats, bulls, dogs, wolves,
cows, storks, apes, vultures, were regarded
as objects of alteration in the imagination
of the more superstitious these creatures
were deifed. The moral effects of such
idolatry, and indeed of all idolatry in an
cient times, blacken the pages of history.
The most degrading vices universally
prevailed even among the politest nations
of antiquity; and some of their sacred
rites, solemnized in honor of their gods,
were so bestial and shocking as to excite
horror in every mind possessed of the least
sense of decency and virtue" From the
experience of the worlds past we may be
assured that if idolatry should again pre-
vail in the world there would be no crime,
no cruelty, no moral abomination, but
would be soon perpetrated in open day
without a blush.
The command to exclusively worship
the Holy One, is appropriately set at the
beginning of the Divine Ten Words.
SECOND COMMANDMENT: 7H0N shalt
not make unto thee a eyaOen image. The
first commandment prohibits worship Of
any created thing; the second prohibits
worship of all man-made images of the
to parents was delegated divine authority
for the governance of their children.
While this commandment is worldwide in
its application, the Hebrews had special
reason for honoring their ancestors. From
Abraham downward descended the en-
tailed blessing, in which all the families of
the earth were to share.
The commandment to honor parents is
''the first commandment with promise"
1t is only through obedience to parents
and the cherishing of their memory that.
any generation or race of men can have
firm grip on the future.
3. Mans Duty to Man,-vs. 1917.
SIXTH COMMANDMENT: Thou shat do
NO murder. This prohibition grows out
of the natural sacredness of human life.
1t meant for the Hebrew race rising out
of the barbaric condition.
In this negative commandment, as in
terpreted by the Master into positive
precept (Matt. S :zI-24), we find the germ
of the Christian doctrine of human child
hood to God. Because men are children
of God, and every one is eternally dear to
him, human life is to be esteemed as above
all things in the earth sacred and inviola-
Bile.
That this commandment prohibits CAPT
tai punishment is not quite plain. Because
of the very sacredness of human life it
may be right to kill mot murder) in defense
of country or home or person; and killing
as the penalty of murder, after due trial
and conviction, is surely in accordance
with the Mosaic law and practice. While
capital punishment appears to us not
Christian form of penalty, we cannot argue
against it on the basis of this command
ment.
The positive requirement of the law is
that every human life should be regarded
as having Divine value, and is therefore
to be held sacred.
SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: 7H0n shalt
not commit adultery. Here is the wall
which the Mosaic Law builds around the
family. The sublimest ethical quality of
the Hebrew religion is the sanctity with
l. Al L IL