LAW OF MOSES (Heb. rfP 71:11:71, to-raw' illo-sheh'), signifies the whole body of Mosaic leg islation.
The moral law was most solemnly proclaimed by God himself, after a terrible thunder, light ning, and earthquake, and from the midst of the flames of fire ; and was divided into ten precepts, written by God himself upon two tables of stone. Four of these respect our duty to God, and were written on the first, which, in sum require our loving him as the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; six were written on the second, which in sum require our loving our neighbor as ourselves (Exod. xix, xx, xxxii and xxxiv; Matt. xxii :37-39). ( t) More partic ularly, the first commandment requires that God alone should, both in heart and life, be acknowl edged, worshiped, and glorified, as the true God, and our God; and that all Atheism, profaneness, and idolatry, be abstained from. (2) The second requires that all the ordinances of worship insti tuted by God in his word, should be received. observed, and kept pure and entire ; and all car nal conceptions of God, all idolatry and super stition, and monuments, or occasions thereof be detested. (3) The third requires that God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and works should be, under the severest penalties, used only in a holy and reverent manner. (4) The fourth equires that whatever times God has appointed in his word, particularly one whole day in seven, be carefully observed in spiritual exer cises, as holy to the Lord. (5) The fifth requires the preservation of honor, and performance of relative duties between parents and children, hus bands and wives, masters and servants, magis trates and subjects, ministers and people ; and, in fine, between superiors and inferiors, in age, sta tion, gifts, or grace: and between equals, one to another. (6) The sixth requires that all lawful
endeavors shall be used to promote and preserve the life of ourselves and others, temporal, spirit ual, or eternal; and prohibits all malice, envy, murder, angry words,drunkenness,and every thing else tending to the hurt of soul or body. (7) The seventh prohibits all kinds of whoredom, forni cation, adultery, incest, bestiality, self-defilement, and other uncleanness, and every thing in heart speech, or behavior, tending thereto. (8) The eighth requires, that every thing lawful be done to promote our own and our neighbor's outward estate; and all dishonesty, stealing, robbery, ex tortion, oppression, sacrilege, etc., be detested. (9) The ninth requires that the utmost care be taken to maintain and preserve truth, and our own and our neighbor's good name ; and prohib its all falsehood, lying, dissimulation, flattery, railing, or reproachful language. ( to) The tenth prohibits (the very root of wickedness in the heart, and first motions thereof, and all discon tentment, envy, and inordinate affection towards our neighbor or anything that is his. (See DEC ALOGUE ; LAW.)