patriarchs and prophets-第61部分

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that　their　hearts　might　be　cleansed　from　iniquity。

The　preparations　were　made；　according　to　the　command；　and　in　obedience　to　a
further　injunction；　Moses　directed　that　a　barrier　be　placed　about　the　mount；
that　neither　man　nor　beast　might　intrude　upon　the　sacred　precinct。　If　any
ventured　so　much　as　to　touch　it；　the　penalty　was　instant　death。

On　the　morning　of　the　third　day；　as　the　eyes　of　all　the　people　were　turned
toward　the　mount；　its　summit　was　covered　with　a　thick　cloud；　which　grew　more
black　and　dense；　sweeping　downward　until　the　entire　mountain　was　wrapped　in
darkness　and　awful　mystery。　Then　a　sound　as　of　a　trumpet　was　heard；
summoning　the　people　to　meet　with　God；　and　Moses　led　them　forth　to　the　base
of　the　mountain。　From　the　thick　darkness　flashed　vivid　lightnings；　while
peals　of　thunder　echoed　and　re…echoed　among　the　surrounding　heights。　〃And
Mount　Sinai　was　altogether　on　a　smoke；　because　the　Lord　descended　upon　it　in
fire：　and　the　smoke　thereof　ascended　as　the　smoke　of　a　furnace；　and　the
whole　mount　quaked　greatly。〃　〃The　glory　of　the　Lord　was　like　devouring　fire
on　the　top　of　the　mount〃　in　the　sight　of　the　assembled　multitude。　And　〃the
voice　of　the　trumpet　sounded　long；　and　waxed　louder　and　louder。〃　So　terrible
were　the　tokens　of　Jehovah's　presence　that　the　hosts　of　Israel　shook　with
fear；　and　fell　upon　their　faces　before　the　Lord。　Even　Moses　exclaimed；　〃I
exceedingly　fear　and　quake。〃　Hebrews　12：21。

And　now　the　thunders　ceased；　the　trumpet　was　no　longer　heard；　the　earth　was
still。　There　was　a　period　of　solemn　silence；　and　then　the　voice　of　God　was
heard。　Speaking　out　of　the　thick　darkness　that　enshrouded　Him；　as　He　stood
upon　the　mount；　surrounded　by　a　retinue　of　angels；　the　Lord　made　known　His
law。　Moses；　describing　the　scene；　says：　〃The　Lord

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came　from　Sinai；　and　rose　up　from　Seir　unto　them；　He　shined　forth　from　Mount
Paran；　and　He　came　with　ten　thousands　of　saints：　from　His　right　hand　went　a
fiery　law　for　them。　Yea；　He　loved　the　people；　all　His　saints　are　in　Thy
hand：　and　they　sat　down　at　Thy　feet；　every　one　shall　receive　of　Thy　words。〃
Deuteronomy　33：2；　3。

Jehovah　revealed　Himself；　not　alone　in　the　awful　majesty　of　the　judge　and
lawgiver；　but　as　the　compassionate　guardian　of　His　people：　〃I　am　the　Lord
thy　God；　which　have　brought　thee　out　of　the　land　of　Egypt；　out　of　the　house
of　bondage。〃　He　whom　they　had　already　known　as　their　Guide　and　Deliverer；
who　had　brought　them　forth　from　Egypt；　making　a　way　for　them　through　the
sea；　and　overthrowing　Pharaoh　and　his　hosts；　who　had　thus　shown　Himself　to
be　above　all　the　gods　of　EgyptHe　it　was　who　now　spoke　His　law。

The　law　was　not　spoken　at　this　time　exclusively　for　the　benefit　of　the
Hebrews。　God　honored　them　by　making　them　the　guardians　and　keepers　of　His
law；　but　it　was　to　be　held　as　a　sacred　trust　for　the　whole　world。　The
precepts　of　the　Decalogue　are　adapted　to　all　mankind；　and　they　were　given
for　the　instruction　and　government　of　all。　Ten　precepts；　brief；
comprehensive；　and　authoritative；　cover　the　duty　of　man　to　God　and　to　his
fellow　man；　and　all　based　upon　the　great　fundamental　principle　of　love。
〃Thou　shalt　love　the　Lord　thy　God　with　all　thy　heart；　and　with　all　thy　soul；
and　with　all　thy　strength；　and　with　all　thy　mind；　and　thy　neighbor　as
thyself。〃　Luke　10：27。　See　also　Deuteronomy　6：4；　5；　Leviticus　19：18。　In　the
Ten　Commandments　these　principles　are　carried　out　in　detail；　and　made
applicable　to　the　condition　and　circumstances　of　man。

〃Thou　shalt　have　no　other　gods　before　Me。〃

Jehovah；　the　eternal；　self…existent；　uncreated　One；　Himself　the　Source　and
Sustainer　of　all；　is　alone　entitled　to　supreme　reverence　and　worship。　Man　is
forbidden　to　give　to　any　other　object　the　first　place　in　his　affections　or
his　service。　Whatever　we　cherish　that　tends　to　lessen　our　love　for　God　or　to
interfere　with　the　service　due　Him；　of　that　do　we　make　a　god。

〃Thou　shalt　not　make　unto　thee　any　graven　image；　or　any　likeness　of　anything
that　is　in　heaven　above；　or　that　is　in　the　earth　beneath；　or　that　is　in　the
water　under　the　earth：　thou　shalt　not　bow　down　thyself　to　them；　nor　serve
them。〃

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The　second　commandment　forbids　the　worship　of　the　true　God　by　images　or
similitudes。　Many　heathen　nations　claimed　that　their　images　were　mere
figures　or　symbols　by　which　the　Deity　was　worshiped；　but　God　has　declared
such　worship　to　be　sin。　The　attempt　to　represent　the　Eternal　One　by　material
objects　would　lower　man's　conception　of　God。　The　mind；　turned　away　from　the
infinite　perfection　of　Jehovah；　would　be　attracted　to　the　creature　rather
than　to　the　Creator。　And　as　his　conceptions　of　God　were　lowered；　so　would
man　become　degraded。

〃I　the　Lord　thy　God　am　a　jealous　God。〃　The　close　and　sacred　relation　of　God
to　His　people　is　represented　under　the　figure　of　marriage。　Idolatry　being
spiritual　adultery；　the　displeasure　of　God　against　it　is　fitly　called
jealousy。

〃Visiting　the　iniquity　of　the　fathers　upon　the　children　unto　the　third　and
fourth　generation　of　them　that　hate　Me。〃　It　is　inevitable　that　children
should　suffer　from　the　consequences　of　parental　wrongdoing；　but　they　are　not
punished　for　the　parents'　guilt；　except　as　they　participate　in　their　sins。
It　is　usually　the　case；　however；　that　children　walk　in　the　steps　of　their
parents。　By　inheritance　and　example　the　sons　become　partakers　of　the
father's　sin。　Wrong　tendencies；　perverted　appetites；　and　debased　morals；　as
well　as　physical　disease　and　degeneracy；　are　transmitted　as　a　legacy　from
father　to　son；　to　the　third　and　fourth　generation。　This　fearful　truth　should
have　a　solemn　power　to　restrain　men　from　following　a　course　of　sin。

〃Showing　mercy　unto　thousands　of　them　that　love　Me；　and　keep　My
commandments。〃　In　prohibiting　the　worship　of　false　gods；　the　second
commandment　by　implication　enjoins　the　worship　of　the　true　God。　And　to　those
who　are　faithful　in　His　service；　mercy　is　promised；　not　merely　to　the　third
and　fourth　generation　as　is　the　wrath　threatened　against　those　who　hate　Him；
but　to　thousands　of　generations。

〃Thou　shalt　not　take　the　name　of　the　Lord　thy　God　in　vain：　for　the　Lord　will
not　hold　him　guiltless　that　taketh　His　name　in　vain。〃

This　commandment　not　only　prohibits　false　oaths　and　common　swearing；　but　it
forbids　us　to　use　the　name　of　God　in　a　light　or　careless　manner；　without
regard　to　its　awful　significance。　By　the　thoughtless　mention　of　God　in
common　conversation；　by　appeals　to　Him　in　trivial　matters；　and　by　the
frequent　and

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thoughtless　repetition　of　His　name；　we　dishonor　Him。　〃Holy　and　reverend　is
His　name。〃　Psalm　111：9。　All　should　meditate　upon　His　majesty；　His　purity　and
holiness；　that　the　heart　may　be　impressed　with　a　sense　of　His　exalted
character；　and　His　holy　name　should　be　uttered　with　reverence　and　solemnity。

〃Remember　the　Sabbath　day；　to　keep　it　holy。　Six　days　shalt　thou　labor；　and
do　all　thy　work：　but　the　seventh　day　is　the　Sabbath　of　the　Lord　thy　God：　in
it　thou　shalt　not　do　any　work；　thou；　nor　thy　son；　nor　thy　daughter；　thy
manservant；　nor　thy　maidservant；　nor　thy　cattle；　nor　thy　stranger　that　is
within　thy　gates：　for　in　six　days　the　Lord　made　heaven　and　earth；　the　sea；
and　all　that　in　them　is；　and　rested　the　seventh　day：　wherefore　the　Lord
blessed　the　Sabbath　day；　and　hallowed　it。〃

The　Sabbath　is　not　introduced　as　a　new　institution　but　as　having　been
founded　at　creation。　It　is　to　be　remembered　and　observed　as　the　memorial　of
the　Creator's　work。　Pointing　to　God　as　the　Maker　of　the　heavens　and　the
earth；　it　distinguishes　the　true　God　from　all　false　gods。　All　who　keep　the
seventh　day　signify　by　this　act　that　they　are　worshipers　of　Jehovah。　Thus
the　Sabbath　is　the　sign　of　man's　allegiance　to　God　as　long　as　there　are　any
upon　the　earth　to　serve　Him。　The　fourth　commandment　is　the　only　one　of　all
the　ten　in　which　are　found　both　the　name　and　the　title　of　the　Lawgiver。　It
is　the　only　one　that　shows　by　whose　authority　the　law　is　given。　Thus　it
contains　the　seal　of　God；　affixed　to　His　law　as　evidence　of　its　authenticity
and　binding　force。

God　has　given　me　six　days　wherein　to　labor；　and　He　requires　that　their　own
work　be　done　in　the　six　working　days。　Acts　of　necessity　and　mercy　are
permitted　on　the　Sabbath；　the　sick　and　suffering　are　at　all　times　to　be
cared　for；　but　unnecessary　labor　is　to　be　strictly　avoided。　〃Turn　away　thy
foot　from　the　Sabbath；　from　doing　thy　pleasure　on　My　holy　day；　and　call　the
Sabbath　a　delight；　the　holy　of　the　Lord；　honorable；　and　。　。　。　honor　Him；　not
doing　thine　own　ways；　nor　finding　thine　own　pleasure。〃　Isaiah　58：13。　Nor
does　the　prohibition　end　here。　〃Nor　speaking　thine　own　words；〃　says　the
prophet。　Those　who　discuss　business　matters　or　lay　plans　on　the　Sabbath　are
regarded　by　God　as　though　engaged　in　the　actual　transaction　of　business。　To
keep　the　Sabbath　holy；　we　should　not　even　allow　our　minds　to　dwell　upon
things　of　a　worldly　character。　And　the　commandment　includes　all　within　our
gates。　The　inmates　of　the

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house　are　to　lay　aside　their　worldly　business　during　the　sacred　hours。　All
should　unite　to　honor　God　by　willing　service　upon　His　holy　day。

〃Honor　thy　father　and　thy　mother：　that　thy　days　may　be　long　upon　the　land
which　the　Lord　thy　God　giveth　thee。〃

Parents　are　entitled　to　a　degree　of　love　and　respect　which　is　due　to　no
other　person。　God　Himself；　who　has　placed　upon　them　a　responsibility　for　the
souls　committed　to　their　charge；　has　ordained　that　during　the　earlier　years
of　life；　parents　shall　stand　in　the　place　of　God　to　their　children。　And　he
who　rejects　the　rightful　authority　of　his　parents　is　rejecting　the　authority
of　God。　The　fifth　commandment　requires　children　not　only　to　yield　respect；
submission；　and　obedience　to　their　parents；　but　also　to　give　them　love　and
tenderness；　to　lighten　their　cares；　to　guard　their　reputation；　and　to　succor
and　comfort　them　in　old　age。　It　also　enjoins　respect　for　ministers　and
rulers　and　for　all　others　to　whom　God　has　delegated　authority。

This；　says　the　apostle；　〃is　the　first　commandment　with　promise。〃　Ephesians
6：2。　To　Israel；　expec