Year: 1861

jectien of the immediate government Of God
Theirs was Theocrag. Ia their earnest
desire for a king, they manifested the basest
ingrattude 10 God, and want of appreciation
of the advantages under which they lived
Besides, the motive by which they were in-
fuenced, was in opposition to Gods design
in constituting them a stparate people. They
would be like the naiUns by which they
were surrounded. ltis worthy of special con-
sideraton, that in our ttxt, not the least ref
erence is had to any particular ruler or form
of government. 1t is imply the office that
is considered, the thing itself" the powers
that be-; without regard to the form, or
who may be the presentoccupant oe the pow
er in the providence Of God Let every
soul be subject unto thl higher powers. For
there is no power but of God the powers
that be are ordained ofGod."


Sd. The obligation, therefore, to obey civil
rulers does not depend on the form of the
Government, or the mhnner in viii h they
are brought into Office, provided it be the reg.
ular and established mode.


The ruler may be hereditary, or may be
Immediately chosen by the people. it matters
not which as to the obligation of the subject
to obey all lawful commands aud require
ments. He is Gods ruler, and God in his
providence ratJfes the descent or the choice
As to the usurpation of government, by the
setting aside of constitutional, or the estab-
Jished rules of investiture with Office, both
the word and providence of God have been
remarkably uniform in forbidding and dis
eountenancing such usurpation on the part
of violent and wicked men. The history of
Israel is full of the direct and providential
teachings of God on this point. Moses, and
after him, Joshua, were Immediately appoin-
ted of God to rule and lead his people; and
if you will carefully read the history of the
Judges, you will find that not SO much as
one Of them presumed TO lead or govern the
| people, until clearly designated and called TO
Office by the providence of God. And when
afterwards the kingly Office was established
at the request of the people, and the Office
became hereditary, no usurper ever obtained
the sanction of Gods providence. Well>
meaning and conscientious men may be mis-
taken on occasion in regard to the proper OBJ
Ject of their allegiance such for a season
may be the confused state of society; but we
may safely conclude, that under all constitu-
| tiOoa1 10.
Office, or clothed with power in the regular
conduct of the machinery Of government, is
the ruler who has received the ratification of
Gods providence, and to rebel, is to "resist
the ordinance of God"


4th. Further: as the authority % rule does
not depend on the form of induction SO
neither christians, nor any one else, may re-
fuse to obey, when the ruler is elective, on
the plea that he did not cote for the pa ticu-
lar ruler. This principle would be subver-
sve of all government. IF carried out into
the various parts of the practical administra-
toin of laws, the whole machinery of gov
ernment would be stopped, AS in our coun-
try almost all civil officers are elective, how
absurd and preposterous would it be in any
one to refuse to obey the Summons or precept
of magistrate, on the plea that he did net
vote for him, but preferred another? Per-
sonal prejudice and party excitement may
blind man s>conscience wonderfully; but
the case has only to be stated to command at
!


5th When we speak of the form Of govern
meut being inanaaterial, as it regards the OBJ
legation of the citizen to obey we do not
consider the question, which kind or mode OF
civil government is to be preferred. The
truth is, that the question as to which is the
best kind of civil government, depends much
upon the condition and circumstances of the
people to be governed. One form of govern
ment may be best adapted to the circumstan-
ces of one people and to another people in
different stages of progress, another form of
civil government may be preferable. A
may be the only form of government adapted
to secure a2y degree CT comfort and peace
among a certain class of nations While,
there fore, as to the ordinary rule, govern
ment is best as limited and restrained by
constitutional codes yet we may not abso-
lutely discard as iguominious and unauthor-
ized, all despotic governments. One thing
is certain, they were neither constitutional
nor democratic governments to whose right
fll commands and requirements the inspir>
ed writers enjoined subsection. AS to the
democratic form of government, it requires
much general intelligence, and good degree
of moral virtue in the people, to conduct it
successfully. To some nations, it would be
the greatest calamity to establish among
them pure Democratic form of government;
unless you could at the same time difuse in
telligence, and infuse a love of virtue Ig.
noronce, and its universal attendant cicked-
ness. can only by restrained and governed
by strong and prompt hand. Yet undoubt-
edly, pure democratic government is most
conducive to the liberties and happiness of
the people. and most to be preferred, if the
Condition ofthe people will permit of it.