We hear much of the higher law; and the application of the phrase to
civil affairs has excited great prejudice and given great offense.
But, what is the higher law? It is said to be something higher than
the Constitution of the United States. Can there be a law, within
these United higher than the Constitution of the United States? If
there can be and is such a law--what is it? I need not and will not
recite inferior, questionable, and inappropriate answers here. But,
is there not one unquestionable answer? Suppose it be said, that,
in relation to all subjects to which it was designed to apply, and
properly does apply, the Bible is a higher Law than the Constitution
of the United States? Will any man, unless an utter infidel, deny
this? Surely not. Waiving its practical operations, certainly, as
an abstract proposition, this must be admitted as true. It may be
extended, so as to include all our State constitutions, and all our
Church constitutions, and all our more Social constitutions. Put them
all together, magnify and boast of them as we may, not only is the
Bible a higher law, but it is an infinitely higher law. For thus saith
the Lord: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Therefore,
also, the universal and perpetual prophetic challenge: "Oh, earth,
earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord!"
All human constitutions, social, ecclesiastical, and civil, are
changeable, and contain provisions for change; but, the Bible is
unchangeable. Instead of any provision for change, it is guarded,
at all points, against change. The writer of its first five books
declares in the last of the five: "Ye shall not _add_ unto the word
which I command you, neither shall ye _diminish_ from it, that ye may
keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you."
And, in like manner, the author of its last five books, declares in
the last of the five: "If any man shall _add_ unto these things, God
shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if
any man shall _take away_ from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the
holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." And
so Isaiah, standing midway between Moses and John, exclaims: "Lift up
your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the
heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old
like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner;
but My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness shall not be
abolished." Therefore, it is only in accordance with the testimony of
all His witnesses, that Christ Himself avers: "Think not that I am
come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not
pass away."