Positive Law. About the jtistice and binding force of God's
positive enactments there can be no controversy. He is in-
finitely wise, infinitely just, and cannot, in virtue of these two
attributes, impose on men obligations lacking any essential
or necessary characteristic. His true Church, strengthened



CIVIL LAW 57

by reiterated promises of guidance and assistance, can make
no mistake in the field of legislation. But that branch of
human positive law denominated civil, because subject to the
immediate influence of men, swayed by prejudice and pas-
sion, open to moments of forgetfulness and ignorance, can
readily enough admit of blunders, and can carry on its rec-
ords rules and regulations decidedly wrong and opposed to
reason. Such laws, as we have already seen, are laws only
in appearance, and have in reality no binding force what-
ever* It may be well, then, to discuss what qualities are
needed to render any positive law, notably civil, worthy of
consideration, respect and obedience. A law, to be worthy
of the name, must, along with due and sufficient promulga-
tion, fulfil certain conditions classified under three heads.
