PAGE Dr OWEN's opinion of dogmatism in religion, Dr BRIGHT on the importance of understanding a revelation, JEREMY TAYLOR on the υπακοη πιστεως, BURMANN on the "vectigalia templorum," The impious absurdity of the exercise of civil power in religion in its least objectionable form, toleration, The voluntary system competent to extend as well as to main- "We desire to give unto Christ that which is His, and unto all lawful authority what is THEIR, DUE; but if any man shall impose upon us any thing that we see not to be commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ, we should in his strength rather embrace all reproaches and tortures of men, to be stript of all outward comforts, and if it were possible die a thousand deaths, rather than to do any thing against the least tittle of the truth of God, or against the light of our own consciences."-CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES. 1643. "Government ought to be supported; no person who knows what the terms mean will deny it. Government may be rightly resisted; no friend to the revolution, or to the title by which the House of Hanover sits on the throne of the three kingdoms, will deny it."-BISHOP WATSON. "Cursed for ever be that doctrine which countenances disobedience to magistrates: Our dispute at this time is not about obedience, but the measure of obedience."-Jus POPULI. ON THE LAW OF CHRIST RESPECTING CIVIL OBEDIENCE. THE LAW. "LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS, THE POWER? DO THAT WHICH IS GOOD, AND THOU SHALT INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW. INTRODUCTION. the great bu Christian, IT has often been said, that Christian men have INTROD. but little to do with politics, and Christian mi- Politics not nisters still less; and, within certain limits, the siness of a observation is both true and important. A Christian, to whatever class of society he belongs, has little to do with politics, in comparison with reli * Romans xiii. 1-7. Ꭰ 66 INTROD. gion. He is a citizen of heaven-he is a pilgrim and a sojourner on the earth, and he is chargeable with inconsistency as well as folly and sin, when he gives that place in his regard to "things seen and temporal," which is due only to "things unseen and eternal." His primary employment, to which every thing else must be made subservient, is to "seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness." A Christian in the ordinary walks of life has little to do with politics, in comparison with his own business." To "provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house,”to" work with his hands that which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth," are his indispensable duties; and such a Christian man acts a very criminal and inconsistent part, if he wastes that time and thought and active energy which ought to be devoted to such purposes, in perusing political pamphlets, attending political meetings, and organizing plans for the better management of the State. nor of Christian ministers. If these remarks be just in reference to Christians in general, they apply with redoubled force to Christian ministers. When the sacred nature the wide extent and the transcendant importance of a minister's duty are taken into consideration, it must appear in the highest degree incongruous and improper in " the soldier of Christ Jesus" unnecessarily to " entangle himself - with the affairs of this life." It is not thus that he will please him who has chosen him to be a soldier." One of the most powerful objections to the civil establishment of Christianity, arises 66 66 |