05-31-2008, 02:03 PM
|
 | Puritanboard Doctor | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 6,230
Thanks: 2,313
Thanked 936 Times in 650 Posts
| |
Quote:
Originally Posted by timmopussycat  Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Ritchie There is a difference between moral law=Decalogue, and moral law=Decalogue alone; the latter is ridiculous and unworthy of reply. | As the evidence cited in post 85 shows, Calvin, Perkins, Gouge, Burgess, the WLC, Witsius and Brown of Haddington all took the position that the moral law=the decalogue alone. Whether they were right or wrong in doing so may be debated; that they held that view is a certainty. That it was these individuals who held this view puts the idea that the moral law=decalogue alone squarely in the mainstream of Reformed Confessionalism.
Attempts to dismiss it without refutation by calling it "ridiculous and unworthy of reply" will prove counter-productive for Theonomy's advocates, since all a critic then will then have to do is point inquirers to the primary sources, which will quite nicely demonstrate to the inquirer that any Theonomist who belittles the view that the moral law=decalogue alone in the Westminster Standards or other key figures in the Reformed tradition simply does not know what he is talking about. When fighting for a cause, one is well advised to use a gun that shoots the enemy not oneself. | I must disagree about Witsius and Calvin thinking the Decalogue alone = the Moral Law, take a look at Benjamin Farley's on Calvin's Sermons on the Ten Commandments. Moreover, Jesus' own teaching in the Gospels does not say that. Look at Mark 7:1-13 where Jesus in speaking of the 5th commandment verifies Moses teaching in Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9.
Look at what Matthew Henry has to say concerning Exodus 21:17: Quote: |
II. Concerning rebellious children. It is here made a capital crime, to be punished with death, for children either, 1. To strike their parents (v. 15) so as either to draw blood or to make the place struck black and blue. Or, 2. To curse their parents (v. 17), if they profaned any name of God in doing it, as the rabbies say. Note, The undutiful behaviour of children towards their parents is a very great provocation to God our common Father; and, if men do not punish it, he will. Those are perfectly lost to all virtue, and abandoned to all wickedness, that have broken through the bonds of filial reverence and duty to such a degree as in word or action to abuse their own parents. What yoke will those bear that have shaken off this? Let children take heed of entertaining in their minds any such thought or passions towards their parents as savour of undutifulness and contempt; for the righteous God searches the heart.
| |