en are submitting to human
government, they are not to consider themselves as merely carrying
out the implied conditions of a "social compact;" but their duty is,
to consider themselves as submitting to an _ordinance_ of their God
and Maker. Human government is of a more high and sacred and solemn
character, than the mere idea of a "social compact" would make it.
God has something to do with it--much to do with it. His will is the
solid foundation on which it rests, (even though at first it may
have been established by force,) and every man is religiously bound
to regulate his obedience or disobedience to human government on
this divinely revealed principle. "The social compact" may be a very
good idea to employ for convincing an infidel in respect to the
right of Law; but it is too low and loose an idea for a Christian;
it falls far below the truth, and below the just solemnity of
obligation.

The _necessity_ of human Law results very much, if not entirely,
from the injustice of mankind. In no age since the fall of Adam, has
any considerable body of men been found so just and upright, that
civil Law could be dispensed with. The bad would do injustice to the
good, if it were not for Law, and those magistrates appointed by
Law, who are "a terror to evil doers." Conscience is not effective
in the breast of every sinner, and therefore Law must come in, to
hinder that injustice, which, without it, would not be hindered by
individual conscience, and to compel that righteousness which,
without it, individual conscience would fail to enforce. As
individual conscience becomes more stringent, civil Law may become
more lax. If men would be just towards one another of themselves,
there would be no necessity of human Law, to compel them to abstain
from injury and to perform their duties to one another.

Consequently, Law is a friend to the human race. It is the protector
of the good man; and it punishes the bad man, only for the purpose
of securing rights,--property, liberty and life. And even the bad
would be worse off a thousand fold than they are, if there were no
efficient Law to restrain them by its authority and sanctions.

The _importance_ of civil Law is vastly great. Its importance can
scarcely be exaggerated by any representation. The most of our
earthly happiness lies under the protection of human Law, and lies
there by the will of God. We have not an item of property, in land,
or houses, or goods, or chattels, or mo