The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-04-27

unud alton ai Inc EpFefnfnoht4 whose
wills we deploTe whose prosperity wc
rejoice IN IL the iastitusion Of God --
With al respect to thr fathers. who
ahored to secure tie blessings Of
liberty for their posteriiy as well as
-hsmsclses. fully recognising TIE hu-
nan elemcat ia the Development oi|
.h,s Abd Of every government. we
musi yet say thai II IL 10 God that il ls
due that wc are under good govern
meat or indeed under any AZ al To
Hin tie dee. for We know that civil
government ]. ordained Of God
The New Testameut tells Us this 10
90 reand about bhraso, ID 20 doubtful
way hard to be understood, but clear
ly. definitely and positively. Hear
what Peter says "snbmit yourselves
70 every ordinance u man for the
Lords sake, whether il be unto ihe
hing. as supreme, or unto governors,
AZ unto them that are sent by Him for
the punishment Of evil doors. aud for
the praise Of them that DO we'll. Hear
as well what Paul told the Romans /;
Let every soul BE- subject unto the
higher powers. For there is no power
but Of God. The powers that be are
ordained Of God. Whosoeyer therefore
resisteth the power. resistcth the or
dinance Of God. and they that resist
shall receive 10 themselves damnation.
for rulers are not terror 10 good
works but to evil. Wilt thou then be
afraid of the powerl Do that which
10 good and thou shalt have praise of
the same. For he is the minister Of
God 70 thee for God But If thou do
that which is evil, be afraid for he
beareth not the sword in vain. for be
is the minister Of God, revenge to
execute wrath upon him that doeth
evil. Wherefore ye must needs be
subject, not only tor wrath but also for
conscience sake. For this cause pay
We tribute also, for they are Gods
ministers, attending continually upon
this very thing" ..
More unmistakable, definite and
conclusive statements could hardly be
framed than these. And that the
Apostles spoke on general principles
of universal application can scarcely
/ be doubted when we remember thai
the government, which they thus De
clared 10 be ordained Of God was tn,
terribly oppressive and tyrannical EN-
pire Of Rome, and the officials, wh'
are said to be ministers of God, wer
the corrupt minions Of her despoti,
power.
We find also that God instituted
civil government among the Jews
Here in theory at least He bad ful
scope 10 do as he would. Nor was !
for the Jews alone that He acted, bu
il was within the scope Of his plan
that his commands should be Tecorde,
and that all lnations should look to tn
I history Of the Hebrew nation, as a
authoritative exponent of his wish an
sentiment. Now while according t
the primitive polity given by Moses
| Jehovah was the head Of the natio
aud supreme ruler, yet all the macbiI
cry OF civil government was establish
ed aud set in motion Laws were en-
acted with the consent OF the governed
officers were appointed, courts estat
Ilished, punishments iorewarned, i
short we fiad the whole apparatus {
civil government directly and definit,
lily ordained Of God. in the only il
stance when lie has chosen to declar
1 His will. And when later the peopl
murmured with pertinacious restless
ness at the form OF government the
were living under, aud demanded
king like the nations about them, tn
only protest Of the inspired propht
was against the folly Of this chang
and the individuality Of royal rule.
| With such an Endorsement, loude
than words because in acts, we ma
rest with even greater assurance on on
proposition that civil government is
Divine institution.
! Again. n we read Alright the natur
OF nam we shall have the same trut
d todd to az again. Nor is this metho
so liable TO error, so ENTHUSIASTICALLY 4
perhIps we might think. Let natr
rAtist. trained 70 observation and use
10 weigh what be sees. lei such ma
have bat siugle bone u AN animu
placed belore him. and be will, from i
form and structure, tell. and tell truly
the habits and ap,itndes Of the ANNA
announce as II &c had seen il an hi
dave, wha, were the intentions Of il
Maker in ito creation. II now he ha
the opportunity q verify i jadgmer
! by observation 70 see tac animal d,
/ Jog invariably what he bad thought
was made 10 90, there would be b
doubt Ia his mind as to what war II
Divine plan concerning IT, Now Il
, broader and more certain basis tha