Fiat And Law

At the Congregational church last Sunday evening I)r. J. W. Bradshaw areached a strong sermón on the sub eet of flat and law, what constitutes e ich, and the presence of the essential elements of trae law in the laws of God. He said in substance: The characteristic of law, is that it accordsjwith reality - it accords with the nature of things. Fiat is a mere decree, regardless of f acts and of the conditions whieh surround and govern. It must become in accord with the nature of things to have the force of law. For example, the Michigan legis lature may enact a statute unanimonsly, but if the supreme court decides it to be contrary to the constitution, it is not law. But even a constitution may not be ultímate law. Jf it is not in accord with that deeper law, that unknown but recognized force that speaks in every breast, then it is faulty, and ceases to be ultímate authority. There is in the United States constitution an inferred recognition of slavery, and Webster's argument for it and for the return of slaves from one state to another was perfect constitutionally; but the constitution itself was at fault, and the right prevailrd. Some persons have the idea that whatever a majority of the people vote is law. Such is not the case. The unanimous vote of the people cannot make to be, that which is not. It cannot make flfty cents equal a dollar; it cannot make eighteen inches equal thirty-six. They may cali flfty cents a dollar if they want to, and in a given amount they will have twice as many dollars, but no more money. "Vox populi, vox Dei" does not mean that the voice of the people is necessarily the voice of God. It does mean that the whole people are more apt to discern the voice of God, and to see what is true law. Acoording to the standing or faüing of that assumption popular institutions stand or f all. God's laws are not mere flats. They are the expresión uf the eternal nature of things. The ten commandments and the sermón on the mount are grounded in the constitution of the universo, and it is for us, as nations and individuals, to be very sure that no fiat can modify them. Christ said: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, that built his house upon a rock." Why was that so'? Be cause Christ's sayings have the quality of rock in them. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, I will liken him unto a foolish man, that built his house upon the sand." Why so? Because every departure from the prin iples and teachings of Jesus Chnst is saudy, and cannot stand.