THE MUTUAL DUTIES OF RULERS AND SUBJECTS. 253 * my return, to hear of your wel- Your affectionate father, "Bristol, Dec. 19. 1794." THE MUTUAL DUTIES OF RULERS AND SUBJECTS. To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine. THE high rank held by Dr. Doddridge among theological writers, will give weight to his political sentiments. And as these are precisely those which the body of Protestant Dissenters have always expressed, and which in circumstances of national difficulty have always regulated their conduct, it is presumed, that to give them more general publicity at this eventful period, when the most entire confidence should be expressed in each other, both by those who are governed, and those who govern, will not be unsuitable. The extract is made from the Family Expositor; and I most devoutly unite in the judicious remarks in * Mr. Dyer's daughters were on a visit at Broughton when this letter was written. the "Improvement" of the Doctor upon this section of his truly admirable work. "While subjects learn reve. rence and obedience to their magistrates, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake, may magistrates learn a correspondent care to answer that end of their office, which the apostle makes the foundation of such precepts as these, and to be indeed the ministers of God for good, a terror not to good but to evil works. "GREAT BRITAIN, while I' write this, (1749,) is happy in a government to which this character may be justly applied. While we are thus happy, we shall be doubly inexcusable, if we fail in rendering just honour, and tribute, when they are so justly due." A CONSTITUTIONAL LOYALIST. Paraphrase, and Notes, upon Romans, xiii. 1–7. "Among the many exhortations I am now giving you, my Christian brethren, to a life worthy of the gospel, that of obedience to magistrates must be acknowledged of distinguished importance. I know the Jews are strongly prejudiced against the thoughts of submitting to heathen governors; but let me strictly charge and enjoin it upon every soul among you, without exception, how holy soever his profession be, and however honourable his station in the church, that he be in all regular and orderly subjection to the superior civil authorities which divine Providence hath established in the places where you live. For there is no such legal authority but may, in one sense or another, be said to be from God. It is his will, that there should be societies; and the hand of his magistrates to guard the peace of * providence, in directing to the persons of particular governors, ought to be seriously considered and revered. The authorities that exist under one form or another, are in their different places ranged, disposed, and established by God, the original and universal governor. He, therefore, who, by an unjust resistance, endeavours to confound these ranks, and sets himself, as it were, in array against the authority of which magistrates are possessed, withstands the disposition of God for the public peace and order: and they who withstand so wise and beneficial an appointment, shall receive to themselves condemmation, not only from the civil powers they injure, but from the supreme Sovereign, whose laws they break, and whose order they endeavour to reverse. works, but to such as are evil,* being intended to encourage the former, by punishing the latter. Wouldst thou not, therefore, be afraid of the high authority with which they are invested? Do that which is good, and thou shalt, according to the general course of administration, have not only praise but respect from it. † 录 "Are not a terror to good works, &c.] If circumstances arise cable, it is reasonably to be taken in which this argument is not applifor granted, that the apostle did not intend here to pronounce concerning such cases. Nothing can be said for interpreting these passages in favour of unlimited passive obedience, which will not prove any resistance of a private injury unlawful, by the authority of our Lord's decision, Matt. v. 39, 40. And this would subvert the great foundation of magistracy itself, which is appointed, by pur-force, to ward off and prevent it, or avenge such injuries. But it was very prudent in the apostle not to enter into any question relating to the right of resistance in some extraordinary cases; as those cases are comparitively few, and as the just decisions which he could have given on that subject might, possibly, have been misrepresented, to his own detri “And indeed the good poses to which magistracy is subservient, make it very apparent, that God must be displeased when that is despised; for rulers, in their several offices, are not, on the whole, a terror to good general laws of benevolence to the whole, so strongly asserted in this contract,are in particular cases to determine; and all particular precepts, in whatever universal terms they are delivered, are always to give way to them." * 66 Disposed and established.] So I render the word Terayμɛval, think-ment, and that of the gospel. The ing the English word ordained rather too strong. Divine Providence ranges, and, in fact, establishes, the various governments of the world: they are, therefore, under the character of governments, in the general to be revered. But this cannot make what is wrong and pernicious "In the general course of adin any particular forms, sacred, di-ministration, &c.] As it is certain vine, and immutable, any more than the hand of God in a famine or pestilence, is an argument against seeking proper means to remove it.” 66 The natural and candid interpretation proposed above, frees us from the endless embarrassment of a king de jure [in right] and de facto [in fact]. I should think it unlawful to resist the most unjust power that can be imagined, if there was a probability only of doing mischief by it." the case is often otherwise, and was with respect to Nero, under whom this epistle was written, it is necessary to interpret the words with this latitude. And there is just reason to conclude, that magistrates, in general, are in fact much more beneficial than hurtful to society, which is a good argument for a general submission; and that was, as we observed above, all the apostle could intend to en force." proaches against you, if you disturb the public peace, resist the kind purposes of God, by opposing governors while they act under his commission. This is to own. As on this account you also pay tribute; which magistrates every where receive, and is levied for this apparent reason, that they are to be considered as the ministers of the good providence of God, who give to the public the whole of their care, time, and labour, and continually applying themselves to this one affair, the execution of their high office, have a right to be honourably maintained out of the public revenues, on the most obvious principles of equity and justice. This, I say, may reasonably be expected, and will be the case, when the magistrate understands himself and his office: for he is, according to the original appointment, to be considered as elevat-in effect, what all subjects profess ed above his fellow-men, not for his own indulgence, improvement, and advantage, but that he might be to thee, and to all the rest of his subjects, as the servant and instrument of God for thine and the public good. But if thou dost that which is evil, and so makest thyself the enemy of that society of which he is the guardian, thou hast indeed reason to be afraid, for he holdeth not the sword of justice, which God hath put into his hand, in vain. * It was given him for this very purpose, that he might smite malefactors, and thereby preserve peace and order in his dominions. And in doing it, he is to be regarded, not as acting a severe and oppressive part, but as the servant and substitute of God; an avenger appointed in his name, to execute not his own personal re-estates, render such tribute, or sentment, but the wrath of a righteous Providence, against him that doth evil, in instances wherein it would be highly improper to leave that avenging power in the hands of private injured persons. Therefore, when this is considered, piety, as well as prudence and human virtue, will teach them that it is necessary to be in a regular subjection, not only out of regard to the dread thou mayest reasonably have of that wrath and punishment which man can execute, but also for the sake of conscience, which will be violated, and armed with re "Holdeth not the sword in vain.] This strongly intimates the lawfulness of inflicting capital punish ment, which to deny, is subverting the chief use of magistracy." "On this principle, therefore, be careful that you render to all what is justly their due; even though you may have opportunities of defrauding them of it, to your own immediate and temporal advantage. To whom tribute is due, for your persons or taxes; and to whom custom is due for any commodity exported, or imported, render that custom; and seek not clandestinely to convey such commodities away without paying it. To whom reverence is due on account of their worth or character, render reverence; and to whom any external form of civil honour and respect is due, by virtue of their office and rank of life, though it should so happen that they have no peculiar merit to recommend them to your regard, scruple not to pay them all proper marks of honour; and guard against that stiffness, which, under pretence of Christian simplicity, by disputrather indulge pride, and occa ing such common forms, may sion reproach." Juvenile Department. HISTORICAL ESSAYS. No. IV. On the Corruption of Christianity in be directed to its nature, and this can hardly be more effectually done than by a reference to facts: our limits will not now allow us to proceed further than the Norman invasion, but we hope to resume the subject. Augustin, whose mission was noTHE adorable Redeemer, who ticed in our last paper, met with a best understood the nature of Chris- favourable reception; and he entertianity, said, "My kingdom is not of ed upon the duties of his journey this world ;" and his whole life was with all the zeal for which the misa beautiful exemplification of that sionaries of that faith are generally comprehensive declaration. His distinguished. He avoided all apimmediate disciples, inspired by the pearances of compulsion on the consame spirit, displayed its meaning sciences of his converts, declaring, in the sanctity, simplicity, and dis- by way of policy, a very important interestedness of their conduct; and truth, that the service of Christ must their example delightfully diffused be entirely voluntary. He allured itself in numberless instances around attention by his rigid manners, and them. But men, uninfluenced by the severe penances he inflicted on the sublime and heaven-born princi- himself; and thus prepared the way ples they taught, yet putting on the for the belief of those miracles he garb of religion, gradually departed daringly pretended to effect for their from its purity; and, as their in- conversion. Gregory, who had now terests or pleasures prompted them, reached the pontificate, seconded took step after step in the vain en- his representative's ardour; and, deavour of uniting such heteroge- more in the style of papal proceedneous things as the church and the ings, wrote to Ethelbert, the king of world. The consequence has been Kent, informing him the end of the as an intelligent and spiritual mind world was at hand, and exhorting would expect, that nothing of Chris- him to exert himself for the contianity has remained with such cha- version of his subjects, and rigoracters but the name; and the fruit-rously to discountenance the worful expedients and speculations of ship of idols; and, by every expeerror, have grown into systems of dient of kindness, terror, or corcorruption, delusion, and supersti-rection, to promote the work of hotion, the most flagrant, dangerous, liness. and ostentatious. Of this description, nothing is so prominent in our history as popery, the greatest delusion, perhaps, that ever disgraced the world; and, at a period when its awful policy and strenuous exertions are reviving, it is particularly desirable, that the attention of our young friends should The Inquisition was recently renewed in Spain. The order of the Jesuits has been re-established in Rome, and the Pope has issued several bulls against the benevolent and invaluable exertions of Bible Societies. Eadbald, who, at the death of his father Ethelbert, in 616, succeeded to the throne, being determined on a marriage very properly disallowed by the church of Rome, returned with his people to idolatry; and so discouraged were the bishops of London and Rochester, that they left the country hopeless. Laurentius, the successor of Augustin, before he followed their example, determined on one experiment for re-、 claiming the king. He appeared before that prince, and exposed his lacerated body. Eadbald surprised, inquired who could have treated him with such indignity and cruelty? Laurentius assured him he had been thus chastised by St. Peter, who, in a vision, had severely reproved him for his intention of deserting his charge. This ingenious, but base expedient, had the desired effect; Eadbald divorced his mother-inlaw, and both king and people recommenced their profession of such misnamed Christianity. Popery soon gained the ascendancy in all the kingdoms of the Heptarchy; intermarriages in the royal families favoured the exertion of female influence, to which, at this time, the Romish church was greatly indebted. It would be easy, from each of these kingdoms, to illustrate the anti-christian nature of this profession. The kingdom of Mercia affords a striking instance, in the conduct of the infamous Offa, who began his reign A. D. 755. Though the murderer of his daughter's friend, he found it easy to obtain the countenance of the pretended head of the church. He paid great attention to the clergy, gave a tenth of his goods to the church, and enriched the cathedral of Hereford; and thus secured to himself a favourable reeeption, and supreme absolution of his crimes, on his arrival at Rome, whither he went on pilgrimage. As worldly riches and power were the grand objects of the Popes' ambition, worldly policy was their guide, and religion, the garb under which their multiplied proceedings were concealed, was always fashioned as their present interests required. Arrogating to themselves temporal, as well as spiritual power, kings were necessarily their inferiors, and found it advantageous to obtain their good will. Offa offered a yearly donation for the support of an English college at Rome; and, to raise it, imposed a contribution of 1d. on each house possessed of 30d. a year. Thus was laid the foundation of the tax afterwards levied on the country at large, and known by the name of Peter's pence: for the Roman Pontiff, who knew how to convert a gift into a demand, subsequently claimed it as his due. Offa completed his career of hypocrisy, by representing himself as VOL. IX. guided by a vision from heaven, in the discovery of the relics of St. Alban the martyr, at Verulam, (now St. Alban's) where he founded a monastery. In the kingdom of Essex, we find a king of the same name, who made the same pious journey; and lost to the interests of his subjects, and the good of mankind, ingloriously terminated his life in a cloister: and also Sigeric, another royal pilgrim, who ended his useless days in the journey. In the annals of Wessex, we meet with Ceodwalla, who died in 689; and his successor Ina, both of whom travelled to Rome for the same delusive purpose. The latter, on his return, shut himself up in a cloister. Nor did this rage for pilgrimage expire with the Heptarchy; the great Alfred's father, Ethelwolf, the second on the throne after the kingdoms were united, notwithstanding the perilous state of his country in consequence of the hostile visits of the Danes, could not place the protection of his subjects, and the tranquillity of his kingdom, in competition with the superlative merit of the devo tional excursion, which he made about A. D. 853; nor had his Holiness, whose advice and reproof should certainly have extended as far as his authority, integrity enough to counsel his return. He trifled away a whole year in imaginary piety, and settled 300 mancuses * a year on the great see: 100 to light the lamps of St. Peter, 100 those of St. Paul, and 100 to the Pope himself. Had any fears concerning the safety of his kingdom crept into his mind in this year of absence, they were probably overcome by his faith in the importance of those ceremonies he had left it to perform; and those voluntary privations he had retired to undergo. He might naturally have supposed, that the blessing of heaven would be secured by him, who feigned to be God's representative, and whose favour he was so la boriously seeking. But, on his return, his son Ethelbald had assumed the government; and he was re *A mancus was about the weight of half a crown. |