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 The Ten  Commandments  and  the  Natural  Law.  The  Ten  Commandments were  but  the  expression  of  that  natural  law,  which  God has written  in  every  man’s  heart,  and  which  every  man  can  know  if he  listens  to  the  voice  of  reason  and  conscience. Therefore the  Ten Commandments apply  to  all  men  and  all  times:  and,  for  this  reason, God wrote  them  on  stone  to  signify  that  they  are  as  durable  as  stone, and are  to  last  for  all  ages. We Christians  ought  to  observe  the  Commandments even  more  perfectly  than  was  expected  of  the  Israelites; for our  Lord  has  said:  “Think  not  that  I am  come  to  destroy  the law or  the  prophets. I am not  come  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil”  (New Test.  XXI).

The contents  of  the  Ten  Commandments  are  fully  explained  in  the catechism, so  I will  only  draw  your  attention  here  to  their  connexion with each  other,  and  to  their  general  tenor. The first  three  say  to  us: “Thou shalt  worship  God;  thou  shalt  honour  and  keep  holy  His  name; thou shalt  respect  and  keep  holy  His  day.”  The  fourth  Commandment is a transition  from  one  division  to  the  other. The next  four  protect our most  valuable  possessions,  and  forbid  any  injury  to  life,  innocence, property and  honour. The last  two  forbid  evil  desires,  because  they corrupt the  heart  and  lead  to  evil  deeds.

The Ten  Commandments  are  a benefit  to  mankind. God  gave  them to us  out  of  love  and  for  our  good,  or,  in  other  words,  for  our  temporal welfare and  our  eternal  salvation. How would  the  world  fare,  if  murder, rapine, robbery  and  defamation  of  character  were  not  forbidden! Nobody would be  sure  of  either  life  or  property. There would  be  an  end to all  order  and  obedience  in  family  life;  evil  and  lawlessness  would reign triumphantly; men  would  live  like  wild  beasts  in  accordance  with their savage  lusts,  and  hunt  down  and  devour  each  other. The Ten Commandments were,  therefore,  given  to  us  for  our  good;  that  peace and order  might  reign  among  men,  in  family,  society  and  state,  and that we  might  attain  to  everlasting  happiness. For this  reason,  he  who does not  observe  the  Ten  Commandments  is  not  only  an  enemy  to God,  but  an  enemy  to  mankind  and  to  his  own  self.

The Old  Covenant  and  the  New.  The  Old  Covenant  was  made through Moses,  the  New  through  Jesus  Christ. The Old  Covenant  was made with  only  one  nation;  the  New  with  all  mankind. The Old Covenant was  made  to  last  for  a limited  time;  the  New  will  last  to the  end  of  time. The Old  Covenant  was  sealed  with  the  blood  of victims;  the  New  with  the  Blood  of  God  made  Man  (“This  is  My Blood  of  the  New  Testament”;  New  Test.  LXV). In the  Old  Testament, severe  laws  were  made,  but  the  power  of  observing  them  was not given. The New  Testament  has  not  only  its  own  holy  laws,  but abundant grace  is  given  by  which  to  observe  them;  and  the  New Covenant is  therefore  called  the  Covenant  of  grace.