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The principal and most accurate distinction admitted in the law of God, as noticed in the proceeding analysis, is that of moral and peculiar to be introduced as a distinct branch of positive laws. This last arrangement is adopted by some celebrated writers upon this subject.

The MORAL LAW is the eternal, unchangeable and authoritative rule which directs and binds all men in their whole duty towards God, their neighbours, and themselves. It is the infallible standard of what is right and wrong, in regard to their thoughts, affections, words, and actions. It is founded upon the infinite perfections of God, and his relation to is creatures as their maker and sovereign Lord. It is perfectly consistent with their essential nature and being; and forever binding upon all men in every situation, age or condition.

This law was manifest to Adam before his apostacy, when he was dignified with the image of his God, "when reason was clear and perfect, unruffled by passions, unclouded by prejudice, unimpaired by

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disease or intemperance;" and this law is still written, to a certain degree, upon the hearts of all his degenerate posterity. "For when the Gentiles which have not the (revealed) law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves; which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another," Rom. ii. 14, 15.

Those, who affect a distinction between moral laws, and what they call the LAWS OF NATURE, assert, that while moral laws comprise all the duties of a moral agent towards his God, society and himself; the laws of nature are restricted solely to what appertains to the individual, and find all their motives exclusively in the nature of man. But there is no necessity of drawing this line of distinction. The Law of nature as far as it extends, is the moral law. To give it another title is to destroy its very essence, or at best to suggest a consideration of the subject in a very restricted view.