
12-16-2008, 12:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by larryjf Quote:
Originally Posted by Semper Fidelis He states that the Commandment is fulfilled and abrogated in both its ceremonial and moral elements... | I find this interesting...that the moral elements of a command can be abrogated. | I don't think Calvin says that in that sense, at least not in the snippet Rich posted.
Calvin seems to be characterizing the argument he disagrees with as saying that a ceremonial part is obsolete, but a moral element remains. I cannot imagine Calvin saying that we can discard any part of the moral Law of God. The whole may be thus
summed up: As the truth was delivered typically to the Jews, so it is
imparted to us without figure; first, that during our whole lives we
may aim at a constant rest from our own works, in order that the Lord
may work in us by his Spirit; secondly that every individual, as he has
opportunity, may diligently exercise himself in private, in pious
meditation on the works of God, and, at the same time, that all may
observe the legitimate order appointed by the Church, for the hearing
of the word, the administration of the sacraments, and public prayer:
And, thirdly, that we may avoid oppressing those who are subject to us.
In this way, we get quit of the trifling of the false prophets, who in
later times instilled Jewish ideas into the people, alleging that
nothing was abrogated but what was ceremonial in the commandment, [210]
(this they term in their language the taxation of the seventh day), while the moral part remains--viz. the observance of one day in seven.
[211] But this is nothing else than to insult the Jews, by changing the
day, and yet mentally attributing to it the same sanctity; thus
retaining the same typical distinction of days as had place among the
Jews. And of a truth, we see what profit they have made by such a
doctrine. Those who cling to their constitutions go thrice as far as
the Jews in the gross and carnal superstition of sabbatism; so that the
rebukes which we read in Isaiah (Isa. 1:13; 58:13) apply as much to
those of the present day, [212] as to those to whom the Prophet
addressed them. We must be careful, however, to observe the general
doctrine--viz. in order that religion may neither be lost nor languish
among us, we must diligently attend on our religious assemblies, and
duly avail ourselves of those external aids which tend to promote the
worship of God.
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