Let us turn now to the 18th chapter of the book of Leviticus, and we shall find a collection of laws exactly to the point. "None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him," &c. v. 6. The degrees of kindred are then expressly marked. Will it be objected, that these laws were given particularly to the Jews, and to no other people? We admit they were given to the Jews, as indeed was the whole system of revelation in that age; but we cannot admit that they concerned no other class of people. For it is expressly shown in that chapter, that the matters of which they took cognizance, were regarded as abominations in the Gentiles. Because of such things, the fierce wrath of Jehovah came down upon the Canaanites, and they were cast out from the land as loathsomeness. v. 24, 30. If these things were viewed as abominable in the Canaanites, they surely were not _ceremonial_ pollutions. They were not mere _Jewish_ laws. The fallacy of the doctrine is therefore sufficiently exposed. We think you have fallen into error concerning the nature and design of that division of the Scriptures commonly called the New Testament. We regard it not as the _Law Book_ of mankind, in the strict and proper sense; but rather as a _Treatise on Justification_, or an _Expose of the Way of Salvation_, in which are contained such references to the law, and such quotations from it, as are necessary to the complete elucidation of the subject. The preparation of this treatise was of necessity delayed until the great Sacrifice for sin had been offered, and our High Priest had entered into the holy place. For, as the sacrifice and intercession of our High Priest constitute the sole foundation of our justification, so "the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was yet standing." Heb. 9:8. So much of the plan of salvation was illustrated to the people, as could be by means of the ritual service; and that, together with the prophecies, laid a foundation for them to _believe_ that, _in some way or other_, they would be just before God. So that by _faith_ the patriarchs were justified. Heb. 11. They knew it was to be _somehow_ through the work of Him who was typified and promised as the great Redeemer. But they could not understand the plan until the Redeemer came and died for them. _Because_ this expose of the way of salvation could not be made until after the death of the High Priest, _therefore_ it was not proper to organize gospel churches. The only church that was suitable for that age was found in the Jewish nation, and from its very nature was unfit for the world at large. It was, therefore, confined to that people. Moreover, because it was not proper to organize gospel churches until the way of salvation was fully laid open, it was also not proper to lay down the laws and ordinances of the church until that time. This accounts for the laws of the church being found only in the New Testament.