79 / 652
SER3s . V.1
OR
THE
MORAL
LAW,
ANT?,
TH8
EVIL. OF,
SrN.,
G.
through
all
the writings
of
the
OId
and
New
Testament;
and
it
may be
found
out
in
the plainest and
most neces-
sary
parts
of
it,
by
the
sincere
arid
diligent exercise
of our
own
reasoning powers.
It
was
written
by
the finger
of
God
in
tables
of
stone
,
it
is
written
by
the
inspiration
of
God
in
the
holy bible
;
and
it
is
written
in
the
hearts and
consciences
of
mankind
by the
God of
nature..
The
voice
of
God
from heaven
proclaimed this
law,
the
voice
of
the
prophets
and apostles confirm
it,
and
the voice
of
conscience, which
is
the
vicegerent
of
God
in
the
heart of
man, speaks the same thing
*.
See
Roca. ii.
1,4,
15.
which
must
be
thus explained.
"
When
the gentiles,
who
have
not
the written
law,
are admonished
by
nature,
and their
own consciences, to do
things
contained
in
the
written
law,
their hearts and reasoning
powers
are
a
natural
law
to themselves,
which spews
or discovers
the
work
of
the
written
law
or ten commands impressed on
their
hearts;
their
very consciences
bearing
witness
for or against
themselves, and accusing,
or
excusing them,
according
as
they have obeyed or broke
that natural
law within
them.
.
The
second general head
of
my
discourse leads
me
to
prove
that
this
moral
law is
of universal and
perpetual
obligation
to all mankind, even
through
all
nations
and
all
ages.
The
will
of God
their
Maker
concerning
their
conduct being revealed
to them,
ar
laid
within
the
reach
of
their
knowledge,
as
I
said before,
becomes
a
law
or
rule
of
life
to
men.
Now
this
moral
law
is
so
far disco-
vered to
all,
whether Jews,
gentiles,
or christians,
both
by
the
light
of
reason,
and
by
the
writings
of the
Old and
46
That
which
is
in
the heart of man,
is
called
the natural
law,
because
it
arises
from our
natural principles
of reason
;
that
which
was
given
at
Sinai
is
more
frequently termed the written
law
:
Both are
called the
mo-
ral
law,
yet
with these
few
differences. I.
The
written
law
is
more
dear
and express
in
ten particular
commands; the natural
law
is
more
secret
and
less
evident, especially among the greatest
part of
mankind.
2.
The
written law
was
a more
peculiar
favour
of God given
to
the
Jewish
nation; the
natural
law
lies
within
the
reach of all men
whose consci-
ences
are not
grossly
blinded
ór
hardened by
sin.
3.
The
natural
law
contains nothing
but
moral 'precepts or rules
of
life to men
as
intelligent,
sensible, and sociable
creatures
;
the
written
law includes in
it
something
ceremonial,
that
is,
the seventh day
sabbath, and other
modes
of expres-
sion
peculiar
to
the
Jewish
state and
people. But
the grand requirements
and the
design
of.
both these
are
the
same,
as
appears
in many.scripturess
especially
Rona.
u.
14,
15.
r3