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gates。 The inmates of the
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house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred hours。 All
should unite to honor God by willing service upon His holy day。
〃Honor thy father and thy mother： that thy days may be long upon the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee。〃
Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no
other person。 God Himself； who has placed upon them a responsibility for the
souls committed to their charge； has ordained that during the earlier years
of life； parents shall stand in the place of God to their children。 And he
who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority
of God。 The fifth commandment requires children not only to yield respect；
submission； and obedience to their parents； but also to give them love and
tenderness； to lighten their cares； to guard their reputation； and to succor
and comfort them in old age。 It also enjoins respect for ministers and
rulers and for all others to whom God has delegated authority。
This； says the apostle； 〃is the first commandment with promise。〃 Ephesians
6：2。 To Israel； expecting soon to enter Canaan； it was a pledge to the
obedient； of long life in that good； land； but it has a wider meaning；
including all the Israel of God； and promising eternal life upon the earth
when it shall be freed from the curse of sin。
〃Thou shalt not kill。〃
All acts of injustice that tend to shorten life； the spirit of hatred and
revenge； or the indulgence of any passion that leads to injurious acts
toward others； or causes us even to wish them harm （for 〃whosoever hateth
his brother is a murderer〃）； a selfish neglect of caring for the needy or
suffering； all self…indulgence or unnecessary deprivation or excessive labor
that tends to injure healthall these are； to a greater or less degree；
violations of the sixth commandment。
〃Thou shalt not commit adultery。〃
This commandment forbids not only acts of impurity； but sensual thoughts and
desires； or any practice that tends to excite them。 Purity is demanded not
only in the outward life but in the secret intents and emotions of the
heart。 Christ； who taught the far…reaching obligation of the law of God；
declared the evil thought or look to be as truly sin as is the unlawful
deed。
〃Thou shalt not steal。〃
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Both public and private sins are included in this prohibition。 The eighth
commandment condemns manstealing and slave dealing； and forbids wars of
conquest。 It condemns theft and robbery。 It demands strict integrity in the
minutest details of the affairs of life。 It forbids overreaching in trade；
and requires the payment of just debts or wages。 It declares that every
attempt to advantage oneself by the ignorance； weakness； or misfortune of
another is registered as fraud in the books of heaven。
〃Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor。〃
False speaking in any matter； every attempt or purpose to deceive our
neighbor； is here included。 An intention to deceive is what constitutes
falsehood。 By a glance of the eye； a motion of the hand； an expression of
the countenance； a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words。 All
intentional overstatement； every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an
erroneous or exaggerated impression； even the statement of facts in such a
manner as to mislead； is falsehood。 This precept forbids every effort to
injure our neighbor's reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising； by
slander or tale bearing。 Even the intentional suppression of truth； by which
injury may result to others； is a violation of the ninth commandment。
〃Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house； thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife； nor his manservant； nor his maidservant； nor his ox； nor
his ass； nor anything that is thy neighbor's。〃
The tenth commandment strikes at the very root of all sins； prohibiting the
selfish desire； from which springs the sinful act。 He who in obedience to
God's law refrains from indulging even a sinful desire for that which
belongs to another will not be guilty of an act of wrong toward his fellow
creatures。
Such were the sacred precepts of the Decalogue； spoken amid thunder and
flame； and with a wonderful display of the power and majesty of the great
Lawgiver。 God accompanied the proclamation of His law with exhibitions of
His power and glory； that His people might never forget the scene； and that
they might be impressed with profound veneration for the Author of the law；
the Creator of heaven and earth。 He would also show to all men the
sacredness； the importance； and the permanence of His law。
The people of Israel were overwhelmed with terror。 The awful power of God's
utterances seemed more than their trembling hearts could bear。 For as God's
great rule of right was
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presented before them； they realized as never before the offensive character
of sin； and their own guilt in the sight of a holy God。 They shrank away
from the mountain in fear and awe。 The multitude cried out to Moses； 〃Speak
thou with us； and we will hear： but let not God speak with us； lest we die。〃
The leader answered； 〃Fear not： for God is come to prove you； and that His
fear may be before your faces； that ye sin not。〃 The people； however；
remained at a distance； gazing in terror upon the scene； while Moses 〃drew
near unto the thick darkness where God was。〃
The minds of the people； blinded and debased by slavery and heathenism； were
not prepared to appreciate fully the far…reaching principles of God's ten
precepts。 That the obligations of the Decalogue might be more fully
understood and enforced； additional precepts were given； illustrating and
applying the principles of the Ten Commandments。 These laws were called
judgments； both because they were framed in infinite wisdom and equity and
because the magistrates were to give judgment according to them。 Unlike the
Ten Commandments； they were delivered privately to Moses； who was to
communicate them to the people。
The first of these laws related to servants。 In ancient times criminals were
sometimes sold into slavery by the judges； in some cases； debtors were sold
by their creditors； and poverty even led persons to sell themselves or their
children。 But a Hebrew could not be sold as a slave for life。 His term of
service was limited to six years； on the seventh he was to be set at
liberty。 Manstealing； deliberate murder； and rebellion against parental
authority were to be punished with death。 The holding of slaves not of
Israelitish birth was permitted； but their life and person were strictly
guarded。 The murderer of a slave was to be punished； an injury inflicted
upon one by his master； though no more than the loss of a tooth； entitled
him to his freedom。
The Israelites had lately been servants themselves； and now that they were
to have servants under them； they were to beware of indulging the spirit of
cruelty and exaction from which they had suffered under their Egyptian
taskmasters。 The memory of their own bitter servitude should enable them to
put themselves in the servant's place； leadi