Article September 12, 1903 Issue

Obey the Statutes

SEPTIMUS J. HANNA.

IF the Bible makes anything within its lids emphatic it is obedience to the statutes and the commandments of God. Out from amidst the thunderings and lightnings of Sinai came the first and supreme commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." This commandment is emphatic, majestic, all-comprehensive. Its mood is at once indicative, potential, imperative; its tense, both present and future. Yet it was as true when uttered as it is to-day or ever will be. Nay, it was true before Moses was, and before the "morning stars sang together." The Bible says it, because it is true, but it would be true if the Bible had not said it. It embraces all the elements of authoritative and imperative command and infinitely more, for it is absolute truth.

This truth is declared throughout the Scriptures. In Deuteronomy, 6 : 17, we find it re-affirmed thus: "Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes."

Note the words "shall" and "diligently." No room for saying, "I may keep the commandments when I feel like it, or when it is convenient." No room for slothful or sleepy or indifferent keeping. No room for half-doing, to say nothing of no doing; but diligently shall the law of God be kept. Only thus can the practical and beneficial results follow. There is no compromise, no easy middle ground; there are no pleasant by-ways. The law is immutable, inflexible, inexorable. Why? Because it is founded in absolute justice. No other law would suffice the ends of absolute justice. This mighty universe could be conducted on no other basis. It could be controlled by no other form of government. Absolute justice is an attribute of infinite Love. That which is based in eternal good will work out the ends of universal right. This Love is tender, compassionate, kind, notwithstanding all human evidence to the contrary. But the requirements of that Love which is ever just must be met. Not otherwise can we become its beneficiaries. Herein divine Love differs from that human sentiment which is accounted human love.

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