The moral law
But the moral law, contained in the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and enforced by the prophets, he did not take away. It was not the design of his coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which can never be broken, which stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven (Psalm 89:37). The moral law stands on an entirely different foundation from the ceremonial or ritual law, which was only designed as a temporary restraint on a disobedient and stiff-necked people (Exodus 32:9). This moral law was from the beginning of the world, written not on tablets of stone but on the hearts of all the children of men when they came out of the hands of the Creator. And however the letters once written by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18) are now in great measure defaced by sin, they cannot wholly be blotted out while we have any consciousness of good and evil. Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind and in all ages, as not depending on time or place or any other circumstance liable to change, but on the nature of God and the nature of man and their unchangeable relation to each other.
1771 text
2. But the moral law, contained in the ten commandments, and inforced by the prophets, he did not take away. It was not the design of his coming, to revoke any part of this. This is a law which never can be broken, which stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven. The moral stands on an entirely different foundation, from the ceremonial or ritual law; which was only designed for a temporary restraint upon a disobedient and stiff-necked people: whereas this was from the beginning of the world; being written not on tables of stone, but on the hearts of all the children of men, when they came out of the hands of the Creator. And however the letters once wrote by the finger of God, are now in a great measure defaced by sin, yet can they not wholly be blotted out, while we have any consciousness of good and evil. Every part of this law must remain in force, upon all mankind, and in all ages: as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change; but on the nature of God, and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 25 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:17-20.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.