The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-10

to comply with it.
IT, from the example of the great Master, we pass
the practice and the precepts OF the apostles,
we shall find proper discrimination observed on
the subject OF civil duties and obligations. Their
example is the more applicable and Instructive be-
cause they came into more direct and frequentco
tact with the laws and magisracy Our Sayiorcon-
fined his labors mostly to Judea a centre extend
ing them not beyond what might strictly be called
the Jewish territory But the apostles went every
where, even to Rome and Corinth, preaching the
Word What, therefore, they did and said on this
subject, and the principles which they laid down
to Christian churches established throughout the
Roman Empire, must afford US light in relation to
our own civil obligations. They certainly seemed
to have very great respect, II not absolute rever
ence, for the civil jurisdiction. They placed it
among the ordinances Of God, and regarded even
the heather magistrate, in the exercise Of his Off
cial duties, as g the minister of God" They de-
clared that resistance TO him was resistance TO God
So explicit and unreserved are they on this point,
that some might--ndeed, know not but some even
dO-charge them with a species of ultraism.
In writing TO Rome, the very seat OF power
where tyrant the most cruel and capricious sat
enthroned, st. Paul thus says to the church there
established: "Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers; for there Is no power but OF God.
The powers that be ordained of God. Who
ever, therefore, ressteth the power, resiseth the
ordinance of G od; and tn that resist shall receive
to themselves danlnation. For rulers are not
terror to good works, but to evil. Wilt thou not
be afraid Of the power, do that which is good, and
thou shalt have praise of the same. For he il the
Oh 1Ou 10 tuce IOT RoOu. nut III tHOu
do that which is evil be afraid; for he beareth not
the sword in vain. For he is the minister of Cod
avenger TO executewrath upon him that doeth evil
Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for
wrath, Gearing the penaty) but for conscience
sake, is from a sense of christian duty. Render,
therefore. to all their dues tribute to whom tribute
is due-custom to whom cusom-honor to whom
honor"
This is from man, in whose breast the fear of
tyrants had no place and who understood his civil
rights, and could vindcate them, as he once did,
when he refused to leave the prison at Phillipp,
where he had been unlawfuly inCarcerated.
The apostle Peter is no less explicit: g Submit
yourselves to every ordinance ofInan for the Lords
sake--whether it be to the King, supreme, or
unto Governors, as unto them that are sent by
Him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the
praise of them that do well; for 30 is the will OF
God, that with well doing yemay put to silence the
ignorance of foolishness; as free, and not using
your liberty for cloak Of malicousness but as the
servants Of GOD. Honor all men, love the brother
hood fear God, honor the King
This too, is from a man who, when the rulers,
instgated by the Pharisees would have stopped him
from preaching the Gospel-a matter in which the
existing laws were not comprornitted-could and
did say. 4" whether it be right to obey God rather
than man, judge ye." Now, be it remembered,
that these principles not laid down for a par
ticular age. The very terms in which they are
couched arc general, and apply TO all time. They
did not have reference to Nero's reign alone but to
government in general. The apostles well knew
that tyrant might upon the throne one day, and
his opposite the next. Their principles regarded
the paramount mpor lance of obedience to the exist
ing government, and the perpetuity OF law and
order. The Roman code was with some exceptions
a compilation, having regard theoretically at least,
to human rights; and the subordinate magistracy
were bound to carry out its provisions and enact
ments. In SO doing, the apostles, 1t seems exhort-
ed all Christians to sustain them.
But there arises a question whether, IN all cases,
and under all circumstances. the imperial laws
were to be obeyed' Did the apostles enjoin !?
Suppose that Christians had been called upon to
limit IF fbeo OIL nf
or Rome, we know they were under some OF the
emperors. How, then, should they act2 In answer
to this, Is enough to say that for the maintenance
of his faith, Paul was thrown to the lions OF the
ampithcatre, and that for the same reason Peter
crucihed with his head downwards.
To the law of obedience, then, there were some
exceptions; but it " be that these exceptions
were very clear exceptions There could not be
the least question to the obligation OF worship
ping God instead of idols The moment that law
authority interposed on that point, the apostles
ready to die. Had the enactment touched
any relation which man sustains to society, even
though it might involve temporary suffering, or
peradventure an amount of personal injustice. such
was their reverence for human government, and 50
deep their of the importance Of sustaining IT,
that, in my opinion, they would have yielded, and
have exhorted their Christian brethren TO yield,
even to its unjust claims But when an authority
is put forth which compels the practice Of dolatry,
they calmly prefer the martyrs death TO ODE
dience.
But where the case is not so clear, as where civil
rights invaded, but the salvation of the soul Is
not compounded, how then is the obligation to
government to be regarded! ii may be said, j am
aware that conscience acts with some force, though
conesscdly not so great, on points involving less
guilt than idoatry. And the question is put, shall
a Christian violate the least scruples This, ac-
knowledge,hs nice point and To satisfy the querist
is not perhaps very easy matter. have great
respect for the power OF conscience. am disposed
10 look chariably on even perverted conscience.
But every man is bound 10 take every means within
his reach 10 enligbten his judgment in regard TO
duty, that, in given crisis, he may know how TO
act not only conscien'iousy but. rightly. This
cannot be done by giving TO this and that de-
claimer on human rights but by careful study OF
the word OF God.
Not many days since was called upon by re.
spectacle individual, W no put this question 10
a minister of the Gospel and casuist "Would
il be right for me, said he, "havng the offer OF an
office under Government TO accept 1t, and take the
oath, when my conscience will not allow me TO car
ry out a certain provision in the Constitution i
unhesitatngly said, 'No; you would perjuro your
self by taking that oath, il you did not intend to
fulfil all that the oath implies "But will vary
the question:" says he; suppose that, as private
citizen am called upon To aid the magistrate in
enforcing law which, as view it, is unjust; how
then would you advise me to actP' My reply was
substantially follows: elf the enactmentin quos-
ton does not compromise your salvation, you are
bouad to sustain the laws as they exist The pre-
cepts of the New Testament and the practice Of the
apostles seem TO me TO settle this point The evil OF
resistance would, in my view, far outweigh that OF
particular PROVISION is unjust. In this case the re-
sistance, if actips, however conscientious would be
rebellion, and If organized, where many con
| cerned, il would be rsuoiufien.
| But | cannot conceive that under an organized
government man becomes Of course approver
OF injustice, that he makes himself individually
responsible for that injustice, when on the broad
| ground of unfolding the Government he sustains
| certain iags which seem to him to involve it.
cannot so view II.
| Suppose the law existed once II did, that the
insolvent debtor, though reduced to poverty by
misfortune and not by crime, must, nevertheless,
| refusing to meet his liabilities, he thrown into
| prison
Here, il must be admitted, is a hard, and even an
| unjust law. But the Ascending debtor, under
! these circumstances, IL found your premises;
and the law requires that you should give him up.
| Now, whatever your feelings and conscience might
prompt, having respect TO the treatment Of this in
| dividual, whatever might be your views of the law
under which he is punished could you, in surrcn-
dering him, be SAID TO be implicated in the injus-
| tice which he might experience No more, in my
view, than any other citizen Of the Commonwealth.
The biliy is divided among all the citizens
and If the law is unjust, there il legal way oi ts
repesl but ,ohiie il exists no single Individual has
| NJ n ri IN In cos