274 ABROGATION OF THE SABBATII. 



" The argument from Matt. v." — not to be set aside. 



argument ''set aside.'^ It is altogether too interesting and too 

 important to a full understanding of the Mosaic jurisdiction. 

 Let him who would see display ed the moral code of E van gel i c 

 C anti-nomian'') Anti-sabbatarianism read carefully and in- 

 wardly digest that ''sermon on the mount;'' let him see if 

 there is to be found in it a fragment of a platform for unspi- 

 ritual Sabbatarianism to stand upon. 



"Blessed are the humble, and the sorrowful, and the meek^ 

 and the righteous, and the merciful, and the pure, and the 

 peace-making, and the persecuted;'^ but never the ceremonial, 

 never the tithe-paying, never the Sahhath-heeping ! When the 

 Teacher procceded to a more particular notice of the Mosaic 

 laW; in no single instance did he rest a moral duty on the aii- 

 tlwrity of that law : in no single instance did he claim to be 

 the interpreter of that law !* So far the contrary, he followed 

 each quotation of a legal enactment with the disjunctive anti- 

 thesis : '^ But I say unto yoiC^ something different! ''He 

 taught them — not as the Scribes" — not as a subtle expounder 

 of a statute ; but "he taught them as one having authority" 

 himself to command : insomuch that "the people were as)'o?i- 

 isTied at his doctrine!" {3Iatt. vii. 28, 29.) 



* That Jesus was in no sense the administrator or expositor of the 

 Jewish code, is most decisively shown by the very text which has been 

 so currently (and I must add — so perversely) cited to favor an oppo- 

 site opinion. The explanation, " Think not that I am come to destroy 

 the Law," would be altogether uncalled for and unmeaning from the 

 lips of one who assmned the office of mere expounder. What would 

 be thought of the intelligence of the commentator who should gravely 

 assert that he did not design to '* destroif the text he was avowedly 

 attempting to unfold ? It was precisely because Jesus was not a com- 

 mentator; precisely because, "as one having authority," he did set 

 aside the olden law, that this memorable disclaimer was rendered ne- 

 cessary. Viewed in the light of that whole perspicuous and consistent 

 Sermon, ho w significant to the awakened reason — ho w important for 

 the stumbled faith — was the majestic annunciation : "In all this dis- 

 pensation, I am not destroying, but fulfilling!" 



