The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-06

Brooklyn, N. Y.-Preachins at
the Irving Square Presbyterian
Church on the theme The Ten
Words" the Rev. Ira Wemmell Hen
derson, pastor, took as his text Exc
dus 20:1-17. He said:
Whatever may be u personal and
private convictions as to the manner
of Gods revelation of Himself to
Moses; however much W may differ
as to the exact form in which the
law-giver of Israel received the mes
sage Of Divinity; however much we
may be at variance as to the exact
ness Of the Bible story in it's por-
traiture of the scene when Moses met
Jehovah on Sinai; no matter what
may be our belief concerning the
date and the authorship of the book
Of the Exodus, the simple fact is
that the ten commandments are the
expression Of fundamental truths
that God has revealed to man. Be-
hind all human law and jurispru-
dence lies the code of Moses. These
ten stern, terse negative commands
that Moses got from God are at the
basis Of all legal theory and practice.
The decalog Is the codification Of
the divine will for the guidance and
control Of human action. The ten
words are the rules Of the Almighty
for the regulation of mans rela-
lions with humanity and his Maker.
Take them, merely, If you will, as
the human recognition Of mans OBJ
legations toward God and society and
| still the commandments are of God.
Whether we reach the conclusion by
the tiresome philosophy Of the Mid
die Ages, or by the simple reason
ing of the earliest minds Of Israel,
or by the scientific discriminative
processes of modern thought, the
fact Is that all truth is from God.
Thus saith the Lord" is the source
Of life's verities. 1t Is God who in
spires us, God who gives Us knowl-
edge and understanding and wis
dom; God it is who sends US onward
and upward. He 1t was who put
into the hearts of Moses and Of Is
rael the love Of His laws and the
desire to do His will. And to-day
He strives with US as really as He
ever endeavored with the generations
that are dead.
The question is not whether or no
God gave Moses tablets Of stone; the
Issue is not whether or no Moses
wrote the story Of the scene on the
mount, as it is preserved to us; the
point to be decided Is whether or nc
Moses spoke God-given truth. 1t all
hinges not on b manner of the
delivery Of the commandments but
upon the nature and d~ivineness Of
the matter revealed. Do Moses
words bear the marks of a heaven
born gift, are they fraught with the
power and the wisdom of Jehovah
Himself? Are they stamped with
4 celestial brand and do they eX-
press everlasting verities? Are
they just to men and are they
worthy of the King? Do they meet
the needs of men? Are they in
spirational? These are the tests of
the usefulness and the worthiness of
The commandments. These are the
qualities that must inhere in them
ere they can command the respect
Of humanity and evidence Gods orig
lnation.
By these standards the ten COM
mandments are divinely inspired. A
glance at them discovers to US the
seal of the Eternal. Experience Of
their value in the midst Of the &C
tivities of this worlds life proves
their worth to mankind. Analysis
IF their content and their aim leads
US to declare them worthy OF Je-
hovah. With all that inquiry asks
and criticism demands the ten words
are at one.
Consider the commandments sepa-
eately and you will grant I speak the
truth. The call Of God for undivided
loyalty to Himself is but the voice
If reason. No man can serve two
masters. And it is O. certainty that
least Of all can he serve two masters
whose interests r Numerically OPP
posed. We cannot serve righteous
ness and sin at the same time. God
deserves the full devotion of every
human heart. To worship an idol
Is to lose the consciousness Of the
spirituality of Divinity; to mistake
means for the end, material mani
festations for the unseen dynast. To
play fast and loose with Gods name
is an insult to the Father. The self
respect Of God requires human self
control. Profanity is indecent and
degrading to mind and soul. The
need and the preciousness of a Sab
baths rest is too apparent to war
rant comment. Common courtesy
accords respect to our earthly par
ents, especially when they are worthy
of respect. Strict obedience to the
command thou shalt not kill
would spoil the business of the exc
c%utioners; stop war at once.
The fruits of adultery are all toe
distressingly visible. The jails are
full of thieves and would be over.
crowded were the Mosaic code rigid.
ly applied and enforced. Lying is
mean, unmanly, d~espicable, disre'
putable, deyilish. Satisfaction with
a fair share Of this worlds goods
is better than ~covetousness.
The decalog meets humanity al
vital points and helps mankind
ahead. Although included in the
law Of love laid down. by Christ il
is by no means abrogated. The ter
commandments bind US as well as
Moses. The words of Christ empha.
size their demands. The laws Of
Moses are not defeasible or defunct
They will always be obligating. NJ
statement Of our Lord and no bit
of New Testament wisdom legislate:
them out of existence or counter
mands them. They still bind US
The eleventh command merely sup
ports, supplements and reinforce!
the other ten.
Love God and you won't serve
Mammon and the no-gods of the
aliens. Much less will you take Hi
name in vain. Love God and 20,
will treat His children we'll. Low
the brethren and you will labor t.
make their lives Joyous. The word