rity. It is
_not_ a thing of mere human authority. Our _religion_, therefore,
our holiness and final salvation are concerned in our sentiments,
principles, and conduct in reference to human government. If God
_has_ left to men the choice of the _kind_ of government they will
have, he has _not_ left it to their choice whether they will _obey_
human government or not. He has commanded that obedience. Human
government and law are by the will of God. This is a religious
principle. And almost the entire sum of our second class of duties,
by the will of God, lies under the regulation of human government.
God has himself legislated in respect to the other class of duties.
Human government is founded on the revealed will of God.

The different expressions contained in the texts which we have just
read in your hearing, place this principle beyond all controversy.
Glance at them again. "Put them in mind to be subject to
principalities and powers, to obey magistrates." (I am doing so--I
am preaching gospel this morning.) "Let every soul be subject unto
the higher powers. For there is no power but _of God_. The powers
that be, are ordained _of God_. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the
power, resisteth the ordinance _of God_. Rulers are not a terror to
good works, but to the evil. Do that which is good, and thou shalt
have praise of the same, for he is a minister _of God_ to thee for
good." We are commanded to be "subject for conscience' sake."
Magistrates "are God's ministers."--What could be plainer?--This is
_religion_: not politics, but religion. Human government is
"ordained of God." Magistrates are "ministers of God," to whom men
are commanded to be "subject for conscience' sake."

This, therefore, settles the principle, on which obedience to human
government is the religious duty of men. There may be a point where
that obedience may justly stop, (a matter which we shall consider
soon;) but the great principle before us now is an important one,
namely, that human government and Law are things which exist by the
will of God, and men are bound to submit to them on that high
ground. This is the general rule. This is a _religious_ duty;
whatever exceptions we may be able to find sometimes, among the
diversities of human Law and human condition under it,--or when
human Law would interfere with the first class of our duties, which
God does not allow it to do. "The powers that be, are ordained of
God."

Let it, therefore, be car