Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-03

the Roman laws, hsTequirsd, nopnore thap he hads'
right to demand; and, as coming within the provIs-
ion of these laws, account of the safety OF the
State, he also possessed the power over tneu VI e
their conscences or affect to control their creed or
interfere to regulate their worship even. which was
a ceremonial one then he violated the subslstlng
constitution of the country and usurped the rights
of God 1t was the knowledge OF this great ruin
that enabled the prophet Daniel, although faithful
subject and wholly bameless in the discharge OF the
duties of his Office as prime minister Of Darius open
" to defy the decree of that prince which forbade
any of his subjects to prayeto God for the space OF
thirty DAYS. Here We have devoted servant and
prophet of the Most High, but who is at the same
time faithful subject of the king OF Babylon, d'sre
parfing, for conscience sake towards Zoo, the oeh
Of lions. and standing fast at the line OF separation
between the lawful and the unlawful requirements
of his temporal sovereign; retaining allegiance 10
the one as the proper exercise OF the supreme au'
thory of the land and resisting the other, as v'o
lation of the Divine Law. and direct usurpation OF
the rights of the King of kings.
Thus we see by how few words of plain truth,
our Lord was enabled to escape the snares which
had been set for him by the Pharsees and Herod'-
ans: and likewise how he condemned their errors,
and established rule Of action in regard to the o.
servance of temporal and spiritual laws that nom
its simplicity and truth is Of universal application
The Pharlsees commended that they should not ooey
1 LIPS
obedience to God the Herodians protested subn,s-
sion to the Roman Emperor but allowed OF the Vlo-
lation of the laws of God. All that was right IN
each opinion he sanctioned; what was wrong ne
condemned. To the Pharisees. he taught suomls-
sion to the law of Caesar, if it did not conflict with
the law of God because the wants and safety OF the
state made it necessary; to the Herodans unre-
served obedience to the law of God, notwithstand-
ing they were Justly submissive unto Caesar because
the things of Caesar and the things of God did not
conflict Such was the teaching OF
Jesus, and we shall presently see, when ne was on
trial for his life, before Pontius PLATE the represen-
tative of Caesar that he orcibly illustrated the WIS
dom of this precept by his own beautiful example
of quiet and accomplishing submission, even unto
death, to the temporal authority of the land.
Now let us examine the Gospel account of the
trial St. Luke says: "The whole multitude of
them arose and led him Gesus) to PLATE. And they
began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow
perverting the nation, and forbiddng to give tribute
to Caesar, saying, that he himself is Christ King
And Plate asked him, saying, Art thou the HING
of the Jews? And he answered him, and said
Thou sayest it. Then said PLATE to the chief priests
and to the people, l find no fault in him."
Here our Lord was charged by the whole mul,
therefore, as King, claiming also tribute from them,
and forbiddng that the Jews should pay tribute to
the Roman Emperor, Tiberius Caesar. So stood
according to ST. Luke, the for judgment before
Pontus PLATE, who, as governor, by the authority
of Caesar in the absence of countervaiing testmo-
ny, commenced an investigation into the matter by
asking Jesus whether the accusation was true, that
he did claim TO be King Of the Jews. Jesus &C
knowledged its truth, that he did claim to be King
of the Jews, and no one can deny that such Is not
the plain meaning of the text, Thou sayest it,;
and yet, PLATE. the governor and judge, must have
been forciby impressed with the peculiar character
of his claim-that it was not incompatible with the
ontbor IF no plSo he cOuld
not at all. much less emphatcay as he did, have
ta-.s--~l 4A.4-h. E,.,nd hin, esnilty of no crime
against the Roman laws. 1t appears then by this
account of St. Luke, first that Jesus did claim to be
King of the Jews, as charged by " the whole multi
tude' of his accuses and in the second place, that
he must have satisfied Plate that it was such
kingship as was perfectly compatible with the do
minon of Caesar. Now it must have been apparent
to PLATE it would be to any one that any secular
dominion would be Incompatible with the kingship
of Caesar, for the dominion OF the Emperor having
been obtained by conquest and consolidated by impe-
rial laws, supported by taxation, and rested ul-
timately upon the force Of arms This constituted
Caesars government, which secular one and if
Jesus had claimed to be king in this sense, or after
the manner in which Tiberius Caesar was king Of the
Jews, then his laws would have to be substituted
for those of Rome, and his right to tax the nation
for the support and maintenance of his govern
ment must destroy the Emperors right, and that
right must be enforced by his army. Under such
circumstances Plate must of necessity have pro-
nounced him the enemy Of Caesar; but when, in
stead of doing SO, the governor declared that ne
found in him fault at all, it is clear, that in his
opinion Jesus claimed no right, the head Of civil
government to enact code Of civil or criminal law
that he claimed no right to maintain his kingdom
by taxation, or by force Of arms-and in fact, that
he claimed nothing that belonged to Caesar. although
he acknowledged that he claimed to be King of the
Jews.
Now let examine the narrative Of St. John,
which l think places this matter in a still clearer
light. "Then PLATE entered into the judgment hall
again, and called Jesus, and said unto him. art thou
king of the Jews. Jesus answered him, Sayest
thou this thing Of myself did others tell it thee Of
mea Plate answered am I Jew Thine own
nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto
me: What hast thou done2 Jesus answered. Ny
kingdom is not of this world; if my Kingdom were
of this world, then would my sevants fight, that
l might not be delivered to the Jews: but now
is my kingdom no tfrom hence. PLATE there
fore said unto him, Art thou king then
Jesus answered, Thou sayest that am king To
this end was born and for this cause came ! into
the world that should bear Witness unto the truth
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
PLATE saith unto him, What is truth? And when
he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews,
and saith unto them, find in him no fault at ALL"
Here we have it again, as stated by St. Luke, that
Jesus was charged with claiming to be king of the
Jews Inc offence, or rather crIme is the same, ri
valry to Caesar PLATE therefore, having asked him
whether he was king Of the Jews, Jesus before an
swering that question, demanded whether he had
asked this from anything which he had himself OBJ
served, apparently for the purpose Of directing the
attention of Plate and Of others the fact that the
malice and hatred Of the priests and not any pub
lie misconduct or offence Of his, had occasioned his
arrest. PLATE answering that he was no Jew, but
that the priests had brought him before that tribu.
nal, asked him what his offence was Now, Jesus,
it will be observed, replied to the original question,
whether he was king of the jews thus: "My
kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were
of this world, then would my servants fight, that
kingdom not from hence" The object of this an.
swer was nnquestonaby, to clear himself of the
charge Of rebellion. But let me ask, why should
he wish to clear himself Of this charger He knew