Esoteric V10: July 1896 - Iapsop.com

THE EVERLASTING COVENANT.
BY H. E. BUTLER.
PREFACE.
This being the closing nnmber of Vol. X. of The Esoteric, we deem
it wise to avoid continuing into the next volume the series .of artides
on the covenant, aa they are of too great importance to be divided between
two volumes. The laat commandments inculcate the mo!lt vital
and practical morality, but we have not thought it best, in considering
them; to enter into details, aa it is our desire to suggest thought rather
than. to think for the people.
FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
•• Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be
long upon the land which Yahveh thy God giveth thee."
This comman.dment., like the one in relation to the sabbath
day, bad a special bearing upon the social and dome!ltic life of
the Israelites in their gtlnerations; and., also, its imporbtnc~e as
one of the essentials of our present gt>neration is recogni1.ecl h~·
all. But it has a meaning and Kignification beyoncl mere family
ties, and the observance of it which was neceMary dua-ing Gu(l's
care and leading of the honRe of Israel: it laid the foundation
for the accomplishment of the purpo11e which God purpt•seJ in
the seed of Abraham: for there ill no tloubt that God works by
the laws which he-has made. The farmer, in the raising of his
stock, taked advantage of the Jaw called evolution,-he always
chooses the highest and :finest specimens from which to obtain
his increase; and, when he said that he •• called Abt-abam alone
and blessed him," Gocl was nut le88 wise than man.
To honor the father and mother, is to obey their preeepts:
and among tbe precepts given by Abraham to hi11 ,,hildren was
the command that they should not intermarry with other
nationalities; that is, that his race should not degent.>rate
through being intermingled wit.h the lower races.
This command is paralleled by the word of God through Isaiah
(Lr. 1, 2): "Harken to rue, ye that follow after righteont·
Digitized by Coogle