The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-07-23

bination of effort. One man could not
secure the agricultural or mineral
wealth of a single island; he could not
navigate the rivers, nor cross the
ocean he needs the counsel, the inge-
nuity,-the help of his fellow men.
See examples in the combinations of
even savages for the chase and for war
So also among civilized people for the
promotion of trade and commercial re-
lations between men and nations; SO
for the education Of youth and the ad-
vance Of literature, and every interest
of the human family.
We know also that men are strong
ly inclined to crafty their own wish
es, even atthe expense of the happiness
of others. AS e. G. the desire for
property Or power. If therefore, there
be not an acknowledged power" to
protect mems rights, to redress their
wrongs, every man must either ex-
ercise this power himself or else suffer
whatever others may inflct. If he as
sumes the position of self-defense, then
if he be superior to his ncighbor, who
did the wrong, he will from the impulse
of inAamed passions and smarting un-
der the wrongs he has suffered, go be-
yond mere justice, and in turn he will
become the aggressor. If, on the 9th
er hand he submit tamcly to opprees-
sion, there will be on his part a loss of
the stimulus to industry and economy,
for there will be no assurance of his
preserving and enjoying what he accu-
mulates; and on the part of his ag-
gressor, there will be the cultivation of
principles and habits Of idleness and
violence, to the destruction of all re-
gard for the rights Of others.
2. No particular form Of govern
ment has been ordained Of God.
The true principle, is the govern
ment for the time being, is the power
to which we owe subjection. Govern
ment may be 4 democracy or Il mon
archy, an aristocracy or an oligarchy,
limited or absolute, elective or harAd-
tary, and still be that ''paccr" to which
the word of God demands our subjec-
ton.
Itmatters not how rulers came in
possession of the power" we must be
subject to it. When Christ said, rem
der unto Caesar the things that are CG-
sars," he demanded subsection to the
Roman government, for Judea was
Il province of that government. When
Paul wrote his epistle to the Church at
Rome, and for many years before the
Roman empire had been torn by con
tinual dissensions, "usurpation, blood
shed ruled the hour" OF what betell
three of the reigning emperors in the
order of their rule, this is the historic
picture: Caligula was murdered by a
band of conspirators in the fourth year
of his reign. Claudius was poisoned;
and Nero whose name is a synonym
for tyranny and cruelty, escaped
death by violent hands, by committing
suicide.
He was reigning when Paul wrote,
and vet he was to be recognized, by
the Christian church, as the power or
dained of God. "The powers that be
are ordained of God" And though
we cannot believe that it is the good
pleasure of God, that the wicked and
cruel should reign, yet as he permits
men to sin in every position of life,
everywhere recognizing their free
agency, so he permits the wicked to
rule, and permits those often to as
cend seats Of power, who have no just
right there. He permitted the enemies
Of his own people, in many instances
torule over them, designing thereby to
correct them, Hence God by the proph-
ct addresses the Assyrian as the "rod
of his anger by this he would hum
Bile a proud and idolatrous nation.
A Commentator upon this point says:
"Those who are in authority, are to be
obcycd within their sphere, no matter
how, or by whom appointed, They
are to be obeyed, as magistrates in the
exercise of their lawful authority. -
Another says "Christians must obey
their Magistrates, altho' they may be
wicked and eXtortioners but so that
the authority of God, may remain safe
to Him, and his honor not be dimin-
ished.' .......
The duty of obedience to civil gov
ernment has already been shown. 1t
follows necessarily from the fact OF the
divine origin of government. 1t was
for man that government was ordained
but it connot confer upon him bless
ings, if he refuse to obey it. Indeed
its very existence depends upon the
obedience of its subjects
This brings us to the consideration
of another point viz:
3. What are the limits under which
the ruler is to exercise authority, and
what arc the limits of subjection on the
part of society?
The object of government, is shown
in the context. OF the ruler, it is said:
"For he is the Minister Of God to othee
for gOod." Rulers are ordained for the
purpose of securing the welfare of So
ciety. 1t is not for the purposes of self
aggrandizement, that rulers exercise
authority, and occupy positions of
power, but for the good of the people
they are Ministers Of God for this pur-
pose.
But suppose they violate the con-
tract, or Constitution under which they
rule, and make unconstitutional de-
mands of the people. What then? |