Nor is this all: if the name of God is dishonoured by the Christian's refusing submission, it is honoured by his yielding it. When he "leads a virtuous and godly life in all quietness and honesty," the power of the principles he holds is seen. Men are constrained to admit, that the religion he professes is something more than an empty name. They cannot deny its efficacy in subduing the unruly will, and regulating the sinful affections of the heart. Religion then appears what it really is, "the power of God unto salvation:"[14] and thus honour is brought to God's name. Seeing their good works, men glorify God in his people. But this is the point at which all the wishes, and prayers, and endeavours of the real Christian are constantly aiming. This is the object of his most ardent desires; this is the end that he is continually proposing to himself in all his thoughts, and words, and actions, that God, both in him and by him may be glorified; that "His name" may be "great among the heathen," and hence, therefore, as the apostle well expresses it, "he must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake."[15] These then are the grounds on which the submission of the Christian is founded; this is the high motive from which it springs; he submits for the Lord's sake.
And now, brethren, have I made the duty enjoined in the text plain to you? have I shown you in a scriptural manner its nature and extent, and the motive which is to actuate the Christian in the discharge of it?
Suffer me then, in conclusion, to draw from what has been said, a few words of serious admonition and exhortation, suited to the present circumstances of our country. Let me admonish you to beware of those who, in these disturbed times, would induce you to think lightly of the duty we have been considering. Many such are abroad in our land. Many wicked and evil designing men would induce you to believe, that there is no connexion between religion and the submission due to the king and to the governors sent by him. But "to the law and to the testimony!" You will learn from them, that wherever there is true religion, there will of necessity be submission to civil authority. A man cannot be a faithful subject to his heavenly King, and at the same time a traitor to his earthly king. If a man "fears God," he will "honour the king;"[16] and if he fail to honour the king, it may be safely concluded, that he has not at heart "the fear of the Lord."
Are there then any here, who are dissatisfied with the government they live under? who are disposed to listen to those "that are given to change," and that would stir them up to acts of violence and outrage, not only in opposition to the authority of their governors; but to the disturbance of the public peace and tranquillity? The religion of such men, whatever be their pretensions to it, is false, and unscriptural, and vain. You have never yet been taught (if I speak to any such) "the truth as it is in Jesus." You have never been brought with the simplicity of children—to listen to the instructions of the word of God—you have never been enlightened by the influence of his Spirit, to "behold wondrous things out of his law"—you have never learnt, under the teaching of his Spirit, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ." If this had been the case with you, if you had been humbled, enlightened, and sanctified by his Spirit, his commandments would be no longer grievous to you; you would "esteem all his commandments concerning all things to be right."[17] And the precept of the text, therefore, would be as dear to you, and as respected by you, as any of the rest.
But, brethren, unhumbled, unenlightened, unsanctified by the Spirit of Christ, reflect upon your condition and prospects! You may resist the authority of man, and may escape for a season the penalties incurred by it; but can you resist with similar impunity the authority of God? Can your hands be strong, or your hearts endure in the day when he shall deal with you? No! "Be not deceived, God is not mocked."[18] If you are not now humbled under the sceptre of his grace, you will, ere long, be crushed by the rod of his power. If you are not now brought in the humility of faith to the cross of Jesus, and there taught by the renewing of your minds, that the yoke of his commandments is easy, and the burden of them light, when he comes, as he will quickly, "to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe;"[19] but "taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not his Gospel;"[19] you will be "punished with everlasting destruction from his presence, and from the glory of his power."[19]—"Turn ye, turn ye, then at his reproof, for why will ye die?" Rest not in an empty profession of the Gospel, that does not bring you into submission to its precepts. Get, while the means are afforded you, a practical knowledge of its truth. Receive Christ, as He is continually offered to you in the Gospel,—a Prophet to teach, a Priest to atone for you,—a King to reign over, and to govern you. And, oh! if you are once brought to such a reception of Christ as this; vain will be the efforts of evil designing men to seduce you from the submission due, either "to the King," whom God's providence has set over you as "supreme," or "to the governors" that are "sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and the praise of them that do well." If Christ rules "in your heart by faith," you will certainly be ready, for His sake, to tread the same path that Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs have trodden before you. You will feel with St. Paul, that "rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil"—that they "bear not the sword in vain"—that they are "the ministers of God to you for good"—"avengers to execute wrath upon every soul that doeth evil."[20] You will be ready, in a word, as well in civil, as in spiritual matters, "to obey them that have the rule over you, and to submit yourselves."[21]
And "should tribulation arise, because of the word;" should those days be at hand, which, we are told, will arrive, before the end cometh,—when "there shall be on earth distress of nations with perplexity," and "men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming upon the earth."[22] Should these days be at hand, look back for your direction and encouragement upon that cloud of witnesses, who through faith have obtained the promises. Recollect, how the Jewish youths walked unhurt, through the presence of the Saviour with them, amid the flames of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace—how "their faith quenched the violence of fire."[23] Recollect how the faith of Daniel "stopped the mouths of lions."[24] Recollect how the faith of the Apostle Paul enabled him to say, in the face of bonds, and imprisonment, and death, "none of these things move me;" neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of the grace of God."[25] Recollect how thousands of others, "of whom the world was not worthy," were enabled to go to the cross, to the rack, and to the stake—"rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."[26] And bear in mind, that the same faith in a crucified Saviour, which made them "more than conquerors," and secured to them, "through the blood of the Lamb," a crown of immortality and life,—if it produce in you similar effects, "working in you both to will and to do of God's good pleasure, whatsoever is well pleasing in his sight," and making you willing "to suffer the loss of all things," rather than rebel against any ordinance of man, or disobey any precepts of God, is still able to secure for you a similar victory. Never be induced, therefore, by any artifices, or any threatenings of the enemies of God's truth, to let go your dependance on the Saviour, or to renounce your allegiance to his laws; but, "building up yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life;"[27] and then will the promise at last be yours—"if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him."[28]
THE END.
J. Dennett, Printer, Leather Lane, London.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Jude, ver. 8 and 19.