night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy
way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have I not
commanded thee?"[267] And lawful civil rulers are represented as the
ministers of God, and consequently as acting in the capacity of
servants, voluntarily devoted to His service, not merely in their
personal, but also in their public character. "For rulers are not a
terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of
the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the
same: for he is the _minister_ of God to thee for good. But if thou do
that which is evil, be 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."[268]

It is the duty of the civil magistrate to legislate against all evil
denounced in the Scriptures. He may not assume to himself the authority
of sitting lord over the consciences of men, nor legislate where no
human law ought to extend; but he ought to forbid all vice and impiety,
and encourage every excellence. He should not consider himself to be
called upon to prohibit only some practices clearly evinced to be
sinful. He is called to interpose his authority, on behalf of civil
society, against those who invade its just rights; but is not at at
liberty to disregard, in his administration, what man owes to God. While
he should enforce the observation of the duties of the second table of
the law, he ought to inculcate the observance of those of the first. For
the suppression of evil human laws requires penal sanctions; these
penalties also must be regulated by the word of God; and, in inflicting
them, the Divine will be consulted in opposition to the vague or biassed
judgment of man. Nor must the supposed comparatively innoxious effect of
any evil upon civil society ever lead to wink at or slightly punish it,
if branded with the mark of Divine displeasure, and threatened with
awful vengeance. The protection due by a civil government to the people
under it is extensive and varied. To its care natural, and civil, and
religious rights all belong. Besides preserving external peace and
concord, administering justice, defending and encouraging such as are
and do good, the civil magistrate should be found promoting the
interests of true religion; not by dictating to the Church of God, or
legislating in it, but by countenancing wit