It is evident from this Holy Scripture, without need of argument, that Civil Government is a Divine institution over mankind ; that the magistrate is a minister of God ; and that submission to established governments, and obedience to magistrates, is a religious obligation. The duty of civil obedience is made to rest on conscience, because God personally rules over the nation, in the “ powers and principalities that is, in those abstract and fundamental principles which we call a Constitution, and in the Laws of the nation; and, by His ministers, the Magistrates of the nation. The word “ ordained " expresses a definite, specific appointment—- something deliberately planned and specially instituted Commentators do not differ in assigning this meaning to the term. “ The powers that be are ordained of God,” signifies that God governs the nation, in its Constitution and laws, and by its officers —not by his permissive will, by way of mere toleration, as He permits evil in the world ; nor in virtue of the will of the people ; nor by withholding His intervention: but by His positive ordinance, by His constant presence, and by His perpetual decree. Hence, the Apostle, in the text, commands a bishop in the church “to put men in mind to be subject to civil government;" because men are prone to forget their civil obligations; and because selfwill, or some transient grievance, or fancied hardship, prompts to sedition and rebellion. He distinguishes “powers and principalities ” from “ magistrates,” because those are the abstract principles embodied in the Constitution and Laws, and these are executors of the law. Hence to the Constitution and Laws of the State we must be “ subjectto the Magistrates we must be “ obedient." “ Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, and to obey magistrates.” In short, he inculcates allegiance and compliance. And he further bases these duties of loyalty on the ground of piety. “ He is the minister of God to thee "—not of thee, nor from thee, but “to thee, for good.” God gives authority to the civil magistrate, not man. He is “ God’s minister,” not “the servant of the people.” “ And, therefore, ye must needs be subject ”—necessity is laid upon you—“ not only for wrath ”—from fear of punishment from the sword of the magistrate—“ but for conscience sake,”—as a religious duty, as an obligation of piety.
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