St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-16
Discusses Several Extremely
Grave Theological Dog
MATES.
The Galena Inspection OFF,
Gals to Be Changed to =
Dubuque.
An Important Move Afoot
Among the Improvement (.
Societies. "a
Two Horrible Deaths Yester-
day as the Result Of =
Accidents. ~ +,

At yesterday mornings session Of the
Lutheran synodical conference the seer
ond proposition was taken up. Thel
Office of civil government was defined
as extending over judicial processes,
the furnishing of offenders, the declar-
ing Of war: in short. over purely ex-
ternal secular matters. Inasmuch as
civil government is divine Institution,
the rights of government are also di-
vine. But these rights extend only to
those things which God has assigned to
civil magistracy. They are limited to
the sphere and province which God has
marked out for the powers in author
ity The Scriptures tell sus what
things fall under the cogniz--
ance of the civil powers. When
the Scriptures are silent, we may, IN
deed, gdess as to what the rights and
duties of civil magistrates are, but such
guesswork counts no more than our
sagaeity; that is to say, we are not war
ranted to declare that this or that is
right and duty of civil government in
the same sense in which civil govern
ment is said to be divine institution.
If, however, we should find Bible pas
sage which makes it binding upon gov
eminent to have regard to spiritual
matters, to regulate, to command OF for
bid, then, of course, it would be evil
dent that religious affairs belong in the
province OF civil government. Such a
passage cannot be found by the closest
and most Jealous readers. Onthe other
hand. if we meet passages that give
magistrates Jurisdiction andpower over
certain secular and temporal things, we
must cOncede such power, and we must
know that we withstand the ordin anee
of God and deserve punishment if we
resist the civil powers in those things
which God has allotted to them.
| In Romans xiii, 3, we read that rulers
are not a terror to good works, but to
the evil. This passage speaks Of works.
Now works are of various kinds.
Prayer is a work. Contributing toward
our colored mission and holding prayer
services in the morning and evening
are also works, but it is utterly impossi-
BILE for magistrates to exercise any au-
tnority in regard to same. For this
reason civil government is called all
ordinance of man. 1t is instituted for
the affairs of man, for the things of this
world. Of these magistrates are able
to Judge, for they understand them.s
Nero could not tell whether PauPs
prayers were acceptable in the sight OF
God, but he understood sufficiently we'll
what was murder, larceny. etc. u
Attention was called to a passage
from the appendix to the Smalcch Art
icles. which seemingly confeIS power
over ecclesiastical affairs OH kings and
princes, i. e., on the civil governments.
1t reads thus:
But especially should kings and princes, as
the principal members of the urchemploy
their influence in abolishing all errors, and
in having the conscience correctly instructed;
as God has admonshed kings and princes to
this duty particularly in the II. Psalm and
tenth verse: ''Be wise now therefore. Q We
kings; be instructed ye judges. OF the earth?
For this should be the chief concern among
kings and iilustrious rulers, diligently to adj
vance the glory of God
This was explained as follows: The
word respectfully" impliesathat notonIy
magistrates. but also citizens. not only
kings and princes, but also their sub
iects, should exert their influence in
behalf of the church and its affairs.
Kings and princes do not come into con-
sideratiOn i'll their capacity OF civil
powers, but as members, leading ones
indeed, of the kingdom of Christ. In
the afternoon the second proposition
was further discussed and finally agreed
upon. Then the third came up. This
proposition sets forth the rule and
standard by which civil government is
to be guided in its office. What the
rule is, we determine by the considera-
ton that the Scriptures call magistrates
ministers of God. The civil powers are
styled Gods ministers; first, because
their authority is derived from God,
and, then, because of their responsibility
office according to God holy will, which
is implanted in the heart of man.
Hence, it is the natural or moral law by
which civil government is to be admin.
lStered