The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-18
80 APOSTLE Paul maxi

portant statements here relati>~
civil government and Christian duty.
tPeing a Christian does not make one
a less worthy citizen, nor lessen ones
responsibility to support a worthy
civil government. Christianity stands
for the highest expression of civil
righteousness and moral excellence.
The apostle affirms that
is Of divine appointment. The powers
that be are ordained of God. Whosoever
therefore, resisteth the power resisteth
the ordinance Of Cod" That Is to say,
God has ordained that there shall be
"a wefl-estabiished wise and just ad-
n,fnfstration of civil affairs. not that
every individual ruler that may chance
to come into power by the fortunes of
birth is ordained of God and has divine
approval. That would make God re-
%sponsible for the tyranny and des-
potism of some of the vilest characters
that ever lived.
The principle that the apostle lays
down is tina God has ordained that
, there shall be governmental control
among men. It Ia of his appointment
that there shall be rulers. there shall
he those placed in positions of author
ity in the state.
Government In Necessary.
Government is absolutely necessary
for the well-being of the human race.
l mere must be projection VI ~ otb
property. There must be legal re-
straiuts to vice and the, repression OF
crime: Every human being deserves to
he secured In his rights and liberties
ami God has d-crsed that this world
shall be a safe place in which men MAY
live and go about their daily duties un-
oppressed and unafraid. and he has APP
pointed that there shall be legal enact
ncnts and rulers to enforce all just
and worthy laws that the good may be
shielded and protected and that the
evil may be restrained and punished.
And 80 the apostle affirms that rul-
ers ere Gods ministers. They are Cod
appointed servants to aid the good. and
TO strike terror into the hearts of the
! evil. AS he says, Rulers are not a
terror to good works. but to evil. fol-
ha ts-tha-minister-of God to thee for
good: but If thou do that which Is evil
he afraid. for he beareth not the sword
in vain. for he is the minister of God
a revenger to execute wrath upon him
that doeth evil"
Divine Appointment.
God who Is infinite in wisdom and
has at heart the welfare OF the human
race is governing and controlling ir
the affairs OF this world. He appoints
Itimcs and seasons. He raises up ma
tions to fulfil His purposes. or over
throws them on account of their wick
edness and evil designs. And he raises
up men to fill positions of leadership If
hours of great crises. AS it is written
The kingdom is the Lords. and he Il
the governor among the nations
l believe the great and good God ha'
raised up this strong, vigorous and re
sourceful nation of ours for just sucl
a time as this in which we are living
God, who looks down through the cen
turtles. who sees and knows all things
knew the deadly. vicious principles A
work in the minds and hearts of tn
rulers and peoples OF Middle Europe
knew what terrible deeds OF violence
injustice, tyranny and ppress o
would be the fruitage OF these debas
ing ideals and Ubiquitous principles an
he provided for their confusion an
overthrow.
He planted In the minds and heart
of other peoples worthy ideals, right
eous principles, "A owe for h right
a love for freedom SO intense, so con
Stunning. that there could be no peac
between these opposing classes o
principles and ideals until one or tn
other should prevail.
would not minimize the part tina
our allies took in the great world con
fiict. Belgium, France. Great Britain
Italy, ever Russia, and other land
across the sea bore the heaviest par
of the burden and suffered most IL
the great struggle, and they, too. wer'
inspired by worthy ideals and princi
pies, and were ready to die rattle
than permit might TO prevail owe
right. and ready TO sacrifice every
thing rather tina yield to the de
mands of oppression and tyranny.
But in their case, as not in ours
there was the necessity, the imme
date necessity. of representation
They had TO fight to save themselves
being subdued and conquered.
Fitting Application.
] believe that all the world viii
agree that here in our own land tn,
ideals that are highest and worthiest
the principles that are most righteou
and humane. the most fitting to b.
applied in individual and national re
lationships. have reached their ma
turest development and found thei
best expression. We hav been lover
of liberty. and the defenders Of in
+dipidaal rights .fA-prfvffeges iron
the beginning. Our nation had it
birth In the determination to- be free
and in the struggle for freedom, ant
since the days Of Washington. GU