American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-08
VOLUME 2.
DUTY TO RULERS:


church, Butler, Pa, FEB. l9h, 1860.
M,px Ia,7.-aApd Jesu, answering said unto them:
Render to Cssor the things that are C@aars'
At the time when our Lord and Saviour
was upon the earth, and when the words
of our text were spoken, there were two
great political parties in Judea The
one party, to whom the Pharisees, as. a
class, belonged, were the followers OF Ju-
das of Galilee, who denied obedience and
national submission to any ruler who was
not of their own Jewish nation and relig-
ion. They avowed submission only to
God and the established hierarchy among
them. founded upon the law Of Moses and
the prophets. They especially denied
submission to the Roman emperor, the
Caesar who had conquered them and who
was a Gentle and an idolater. The
Pharsees endeavored by every possible
means to deny and throw off the Roman
woke, so CALLING to their proud necks.
They advocated Jewish political liberty,of
which the Jewish people were now de-
prived and unworthy, on account OF their
national sins. Therefore, also, their op.
position to the Saviour, the true Messiah,
the Redee ner of Israel. They did not
desire a sp ritual king TO save them from
their sins, aud give them the true Ii erty
of the children OF God, which to possess
is to possess all else desirable on earth;
but they d.sired great political prince,
A Messiah, who would come with great
pomp and power, with a mighty army
and great military glory-a David and
Solomon combined-who would be able
to throw off the Roman yoke, and raise
up the fallen fortunes of the Jewish ma
tion. In this national humiliation, they
Acknowledged their helplessncss, and
therefore this was the sort Of a Messiah
that they wanted; and because Jesus did
not suit their notions in this isrespect, they
rejected him They. therefore, cndeavor-
ed to ensnare him, laid olitical traps, as
in the question, to which our text is an
answer, in order tha; they. might take
away his life. In this they were not sue
cessru at this time; but finally did sue
ceed in having him accused AS Il political
king of the Jews, before Ponteus Piltte,
the Roman governor, who tried him on
political lies, and crucified him, as a NAL
efactor on the cross.
The other party were called llerodiaus,
the name no doubt derived from Herod
the great, and the three younger llerods,
and composed that class of people who
supported the interests of the Herod's
and the Roman power. Herod the great
aud the three younger Herods, had rul-
ed among them as kings or governors,
under the Roman power These kings
derived their positions trom the Roman
Caesars, and were tributary to them.
Hense the IIcrodans, as a party, advoca-
ted submission to the Roman government,
paving tribute or taxes it, aud proclaim
cd the duty of being loyal and obedicnt
subjects to Caesar. Some Of the jewish
people, and of the baser sort of this par
ty, even went so far, as to lay aside their
own enlightened worship and service OF
Jehovah and adopted the Roman my
thology, superstition, and idolatry, with
its lusts and vices
Under these circumstances of party
loyalty and disloyalty to the Roman
power, the question was proposed to the
Savior "Is it lawful to give tribute to
Caesar or not?' Before answering the
aue> ton, the Saviour asked to be shown
a Roman penny, Ga coin in our currency
of the value of about sixteen cents,) aud
after having seen it, the Saviour said
+" Whose is this image and Superscription!
They said: Caesars" Then said Jesus
unto them: Render unto Caesar, the
things that are Caesars, and unto God the
things that are Gods That is, that
the people should give unto God those
things that belong to Him, as the holy
ruler of heaven and earth; and give I'M
to his temporal rulers, sent to bear the
sword of justice, in the order OF His
wise providence, that honor and snbm's-
sion that is due unto them.
This subjects still applicable to our
own times. Many are still desirous of
knowing, "what is my duty to the gov
ernment, under which God in His provi-
dence, has placed me?" The answer of
Christ IS: Render unto Caesar, the
things that are Caesars" and the true
Christian must heed Another may also
enquire of the Lord: g For how long will
the Scriptures warrant the extension of
the sword of justice over the rebellious
spirits of our land!" The answer is {:
tstIra,l .bay slrandar unto Naas.r tho