Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-08-01

GIVE government, as alreauy l1tiiDatou' 10 wv
necessary consequence of human depravity.
The co. ercive power Of government is plain
ly referred in the text, (F. ), Ralers are
not terror to good works, but to the evil.
Laws without penalties are nuliity. Fer
he beareth rot the sword in vain." IHe
s,cordn-the instrument of extreme punish-
ment; the power of life and death, There is
no maxim more false than the sole enc OF
punishment is the reformation of the criml'
nal. The Apostle teaches contrary s!ntl-
ment in the passage under consideration :
"a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil" The cry which has been raised
in some quarters against capital punishment,
as subversive of the ends OF punishment, Is
as unscriptural as it is senseless. No wars,
even those which are waged in self-defenee,
and to put down rebellion, can bejustifed,
if the principle be correct. What is war but
an execution on larger scale ? No no
there is a reoen9ing power in the law; and
there is no proper government where 1t Is
not faithfully and firmly executed. The the
ories of men would strike at the very foun-
dations OF government, were it not that hap
PLY men theory and practice are sometimes
Inconsistent! Some of the States that are
now pouring their erecutioners by thousands
into the rebellious communities; have G6oJ-
ished capital punishment! A sickly senti-
mentality may govern mems actions when
danger seems at distance but when liber-
ty and life are in imminent peril, reason
ana common sense resume their sway.
Sd. The rule of civil government.
We pass oyer this topic with very brief
consideration, If it be so that civil govern
ment is the ordinance of God, and he that
resisteh the power, resisteth the ordinance
Of God"; then the rule of Government is the
will of God. And Gods will is made known
in His word. 1t is not to be supposed that
God would enjoin submission, not only " for
wrath" but &C for conscience sake" to rulers,
and ther leave them irresponsible as to the
rule and manner of government. Wherever
the law making power resides, the laws must
BIZ in aceordahce with the law of God. Not
that every measure Of expediency and policy
must have an express sanction of scripture !;
but the governments must be founded upon
the broad principles of scripture truth, NOR
ality, and Justice. And SO must also be its
administration. The rights both of God and
man must be respected. Render therefore
unto Caesar the things which are Caesars !;
and unto God the thing which are God's."-
And SO in the text (V.7) "Render therefore
to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is
due; custom to whom custom to whom GUS
tom fear to whom fear honor to whom
honor"
Hence the scriptures are so particular
with regard to the qualifications of rulers !;
which required qualifications serve also as a
significant direction with regard to the char.
acter of the men whom they should select as
their rulers, where they have choice. ln
the passage before US, the kind OF admins
tration, with the implied character of the
administrators OF the laws, is presented in
both negative and positive statements. 1.)
"Not terror of good works, but to the evil"
(2.) "A praise to them that do WE'LL" (3.)
" Minister of God to thee for good" "A. J
" A revenger to execute wrath on him that
doeth evil"
With regard to the characters of rulers,
whether they be hereditory, or elevated to
place by the immediately chice of the people.
the qualifications which God requires are all
the same. The general requirements is,
that they shall rule in the fear of the Lord.
2 Sam, % 3. And the particular qualifca-
tions are. that they should be Just and moral,
and profused of ability for government. Ex.
1S: 81. Proo. %: Is. The qualifications
for government imply some rule by which
they are to be judged. Where shall we go
for rule If we have perfect test Of all
that is just, and true, and noble, why should
we look elsewhere for rule of choice And
to make the word of God tho rnle both eff the
government aad of the governed, does not
set aside human laws of expediency or Of
necessity. No law can in any case be of any
obligation upon the conscience, which is con-
tradictery of the law OF God ; or which en-
joins npon the subject that which is forbidden
of God. Acts 4: l9. whether it be right
in the sight of God, to harken unto you more
thar unto God, judge ye." All that is cons
tended for, is, that the just principles of
Scripture truth and morals control in all the
laws and administration of civil government.
4th. What is the duty of Christians in re-
lation to the government under which they
1--we?
The first duty is subjugation.
In speaking of the duty OF christians in
regard to the government under which they
live, while we regard not the form, we sup
pose il to be the regularly established, if not
the constitutional government of the country
To al upstart and usurped government no
hearty submission can be due, and none but
an involuntary submission can be expected.
But to actual civil government, the first duty
is subjection on the part of the people. "Let
every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
Here tits proper to distinguish between ooI-
antary and Involuntary subjection. If
christian live under an irresponsible governs
ment, of which he cannot remedy, it is his
duty to submit in all cases where the rights
of conscience are not absolutely invaded. If