us respecting the whole decalogue, and so in like manner does
Jesus. Read the same question and answer recorded in Luke x: 25-28: "WHAT
SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?" Jesus asks him what is written in the
LAW. He repeats the words of Jesus recorded in Matt. xxii: 36-40, or, in
37-39th verses. "_And_ (Jesus) _said unto him, thou hast answered_ RIGHT
_this do and_ THOU SHALT LIVE." Now, if you want it still clearer, read
Matt v: 17-19. Law and commandments are here too, synonymous: "Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least [_laws_] commandments, and shall
teach men so, shall be in no esteem in the reign of heaven, but whosoever
shall _practice_ and teach them shall be highly esteemed in the reign of
heaven."--[_Campbell trans._] That he is speaking of the law of
commandments in the decalogue is positive and clear from the 21st, 27th
and 33d verses. That he means the whole, is also clear from this and the
above quotations in Matt. xxii. and Luke x. Now if the keeping of the
commandments will secure us eternal life, and the violation of them render
us of no esteem in the reign of heaven, how can those enter there who do
not keep them, and especially such ones as Joseph Marsh and his adherents,
who are teaching the world that there are no commandments, and are
endeavoring to dissuade and discourage and reproach all of God's honest
children, who are striving to be highly esteemed in the reign of heaven.
Does not the Saviour's language as clearly apply to them now as it did
when he was permanently establishing and confirming this covenant, the law
and commandments of God, "putting them into our minds and writing them on
our hearts." viz.: "Why do ye also transgress the commandments of God by
_your_ tradition? Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophecy of you saying,
this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with
their lips," [They are advocating his speedy coming to judge the world.]
"but their heart is far from me. But _in vain_ they do worship me
_teaching_ for _doctrines the commandments of men_." Oh, but say some, we
believe that the commandments are as valid now as they ever were. Why do
you then constantly and perseveringly reject, scoff at, and sneeringly
deride, and denounce, those that are as honest as you are, while they are
endeavoring to keep the fourth commandment just as God had directed them?
When you have been so repeatedly shown by their writings, drawn from the
clear word th