law of nature

2013-07-09 Law and Liberty

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

July 9, 2013

This is a letter to our friends –

Law … a rule of action

“… And it is that rule of action, which is prescribed by some superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey.” [Sir William Blackstone, 1723 – 1780, “Commentaries”]

Blackstone is known as, “The father of the legal profession”. He speaks of “Natural Law” and “Revealed Law”.

Natural law is discovered by observation and reason. “Man, considered as a creature, must necessarily be subject to the laws of his Creator, for he is entirely a dependent being. … And consequently, as man depends absolutely upon his Maker for everything, it is necessary that he should in all points conform to his Maker’s will.”

Revealed law is given by direct revelation. “The doctrines thus discovered are to be found only in the Holy Scriptures. …

“These precepts, when revealed, are found upon comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature. … Yet undoubtedly the revealed law is of infinitely more authenticity than [natural law].” The one being direct divine revelation. The other being discovered by observation and human reason.

There is power in the simplicity and truth of these words.

For the one who is choosing to deny that, “man depends absolutely upon his Maker for everything,” – revealed law (the Holy Bible) says you are a fool.

Natural law, discovered by your own observation and reason, will lead you to the same conclusions – IF you will be honest with yourself. “Intelligent design” all around you shouts the existence of something greater than time and chance! Your dependence upon such a “First Cause” obliges you to submit. Likewise, your relationship with others, obliges you to treat them as you would be treated – IF you hope to enjoy peace and prosperity.

I know of nothing that does not have a set of laws (rules of action) to govern (i.e. direct, regulate, control, restrain). “The laws of nature and of nature’s God” will reveal them.

Just laws come with blessings and penalties. Live within them and prosper. Step outside them into chaos! “Even a dumb dog don’t kiss a hot stove twice!

American society has become so passive about their God endowed liberty that the great majority are unaware we are on the brink of chaos and totalitarianism. I will agree in advance to accept a better set of laws than those set forth in “Revealed Law”. Not to do so would be foolish.

Today we have set aside the Bible as a law standard. What have we to measure right and wrong, if it is not “the laws of nature and of nature’s God”? You, like everything that exists, will be governed by something.

Live under God’s law of liberty – or – You will be a slave under another man’s law.

CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE!

[Joshua 24:15]

2013-07-09 Law and Liberty Read More »

Liberty – More Than a Word

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Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.” [2 Corinthians 3:13b]

“Liberty”, “freedom”, and “rights” are words that are tossed around freely these days. But – words mean things! When we begin looking for definitions we are drawn deeper and deeper until we reach an original statement, or a first cause.

Often that is a Bible quote like St. Paul in Corinthians (above). St Paul was a “newcomer”!! Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, David, and Moses all used the word, “liberty”! Wait – We can go back further – to Adam, a creation of God!

It is absurd to believe creation around us did not require intelligent design. Thus – This First Cause is what we call God. We can discover things about God by studying what is created.

For instance – Everything needed for a human to live a long, happy, healthy life was on earth before man was placed upon earth. Thus – God is concerned with man’s long, happy, healthy life.

God gave humans the gift of observation and reason. For example – Were you the only human on earth, you would be in a “natural state of liberty”. Because you had life, you had the liberty to gather the things needed to sustain life. Further you had the freedom to enjoy the fruit of your efforts, your property. “Life, liberty, and property”, sound familiar? That was the original text in our Declaration of Independence – “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” – rights given by God to “all men”.

Now, suppose another human is placed on earth. Two of you enjoying the “natural state of liberty”. Both of you are constrained by the law of nature – (gravity, severe weather, need for food and water, …).

Observation and reason produce another law of nature – Each of you are constrained not to violate the other’s liberty. (i.e. My space ends at the tip of your nose J).

Next – A guy and a gal make a baby. Now we have a family. Several families join to make a tribe. They are free to join the tribe, or remain in their “natural state of liberty”.

The advantage of joining the tribe –

· Mutual protection from other tribes and animals.

· Shared burdens, farming, hunting, marketing, …

· Arbitration of disputes.

· Have a voice in the formation and execution of tribal rules.

The disadvantages of joining the tribe –

· Submit to a set of tribal rules (known in advance and documented).

· Submit to the system of just arbitration of disputes.

· Submit to specified penalties for violation of tribal rules.

We call this “voluntary union”. “Government by the consent of the governed”. In all of human history, every effort to form such a government had failed – until – September of 1787.

[T]he laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” were understood by the colonial Americans to mean “the will of God” discovered by observation and reason [“natural law”] as well as by Bible truth [“revealed law”], since both come from the same source.

Americans valued their understanding of individual God-given rights to “life, liberty, and property”, they were willing to risk their lives to throw off tyrannical government. No man may touch a farthing of my property without the consent of myself, or my representative.

Upon winning independence from England, American’s had no government. They chose to unite and create one for themselves with limited authority to protect their lives, liberty, and property.

Americans have never experienced harsh tyranny as have most others in the world. Rather, we have volunteered our precious God-given liberty a bit at a time, until we are so far removed from true liberty that we have forgotten its value.

Unless we renew our understanding of the source and reason of our “natural state of liberty” we may have to purchase it anew with our own blood and tears.

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Liberty – More Than a Word Read More »

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Ben Gilmore 1929-2023

On March 30, 2023 Ben Gilmore, the co-founder of ACHStudyGroups (co-founded with his wife Fran), went to be with the Lord in Glory.

A Memorial: https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/BenGilmore/