Their severity is in a great measure based on the presupposi-
tion of the weakness and spiritual lifelessriess of the Old Cove-
nant. But since Christ appeared in the flesh, and chiefly
since He accomplished eternal redemption, since He poured
out His Spirit upon flesh, the church is released from the
necessity of dealing so roughly with the sinner — a necessity
imposed upon it by sin. (4.) Nor can the details of the legal
determination respecting the observance itself be transmitted
unconditionally to the Christian church. This is evident from
the command to kindle no fire, which had its foundation in the
climatic relations peculiar to that nation to whom it was first of
all given. Briefly, to sura up the matter, the law concerning



THE MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. 307

the Sabbath was expressly given to Israel alone, and hence in
the letter it is binding upon them only; but, because it was
given by God, it must contain a germ which forms the founda-
tion of a law binding upon us also. Of the spirit of the com-
mand respecting the Sabbath, not a jot or a tittle can perish.
What belongs to the kernel and what to the shell must be
determined from the general relations which the Old and the
New Testament bear to one another. That which cannot be
reduced to anything peculiar to the Old Testament must retain
its authority for us also.
A new temptation followed in the lack of water. The people
had by their own fault neglected to drink of the spiritual rock
which followed them, 1 Oor. x. 4 ; therefore they were unable
to rise to the belief that God would assuage their bodily thirst.
