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as many of God's laws, which are also commanded in Scripture, evidently are: and these are binding to men of all nations, and in every age. The ancient patriarchs, fo far as they were not taught by revelation, and other perfons before the law of Mofes was delivered, and the Rom. ii. Gentiles to whom it was not given, were a law unto themselves: the law was legible

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in their hearts; and according as they obferved or tranfgreffed it, their own confcience acquitted or condemned them.

Take for an example the first fin, of which we have any account, after the fall, committed by the very first man born into the world, and no less a fin than the murder of his brother. How quick is the progrefs man is able to make in evil! mature in the infancy of the world, and advanced to the utmost pitch of guilt in his very firft efforts! Not, however, without fome fentiments of fhame, and an inward natural fenfe of

the

the authority of the law, though it was not yet either pronounced, or written.

To Adam indeed it was faid, Of the tree Gen.ii.17. of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. The prohibition was plain', and if the criminals endeavoured to hide themselves among the trees, their ignorance may be wondered at, but their confufion was natural.

Murder was not forbidden, till after it had been committed. God had never faid to Cain, as far as we know, Thou fhalt not kill: Yet was he very fenfible, he had done wrong; and he prevaricates, differnbles, and denies it, with a mixture of meanness and infolence, the natural attendants of confcious guilt. Where is Gen.iv.9. Abel thy brother? I know not: am I my brother's keeper?

There feems to have been another murder committed, before there was a

law

Gen. iv.

23.

law against it. And in that inftance also, the criminal was fenfible he had done amifs; and appears to feel and suffer the very ftroke which he had given. Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my fpeech; for I have flain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

Immediately after the flood, the law against murder was delivered expressly, with the penalty of death annexed to it. And the fixth of the ten commandments is but a repetition, or rather an epitome of that original law, which was given to Noah and his fons; and in them to all the Gen.ix. 6. world. Whofo fheddeth man's blood, by man fhall his blood be fhed; for in the image God made he man.

John iv.

24.

Luke

God is a fpirit; and a spirit hath not fish and bones. So far we have the words of

xxiv. 39. our Lord for our guide. Hence we

learn, that this image of God which is in man, doth not confift in the form of his

body,

15, 16.

body, nor any property of bones and flesh. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves, Deut. iv. for ye faw no manner of fimilitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you; left ye. corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the fimilitude of any figure, the likenefs of male or female.

Neither can this image of God in man, confift in any original, but now no longer exifting qualities of mind, which Adam might poffefs before the fall, and lofe with his innocence; fince we find it is still, even after the flood, affigned as a reafon against murder, or an argument of the great guilt of it. Surely your Gen. ix.5, blood of your lives will I require: at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whofo fheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man. If this image, whatever it be, were extinct and loft, it could no longer be defaced; and confequently could not now be brought

in

6.

26.

in to conftitute, or aggravate the guilt of murder.

Yet it appears to be fomething, which is not in other creatures. Of all the animals upon earth, it is in man alone. This may be gathered from the manner in which this expreffion is introduced, both in the hiftory of the creation, and after Gen.i.25, the flood. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: And God faid, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth. Gen. ix.1, And God bleffed Noah and his fons, and faid;

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The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beaft of the earth, and fowl of the air; into your hand are they delivered: every moving thing that liveth, fhall be meat for you. And furely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will

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