fold subject to bear with a weight upon the mind of
Felix. We may reasonably conclude that his first point was the
righteousness of civil government; contrasting the corrupt and
perverted ideas of rulers as they then existed in their minds upon
this feature, with what they ought rightfully to be. In this
connection he did not fail to make occasional home thrusts similar to
the one made by Nathan when he said to David: "Thou art the man."

It is a newly-discovered truth that the Bible reveals the only true
basis of civil government. That basis, from its lowest bottom to its
highest level, is love, or "good will toward men." Government founded
upon any other basis is tyranny or despotism, the exact form being
determined by the depth of bondage and slavery into which the governed
are willing to be pressed down, and by the will of the rulers as to
how low they are inclined to press them. The Constitution of the Roman
government contained no trace of love. It was all force. History
abundantly shows this. Neither justice in the administration of its
laws, nor temperance in the demands and exaction of tributes, nor a
judgment to come when accounts would be settled, was once thought of.
Those in power knew nothing and thought nothing about any day of final
retribution.

It is not very probable that Felix was made to tremble by anything
Paul may have said concerning civil government. The mind of Felix was
too firmly fixed in his own ideas of civil righteousness to be deeply
moved or disturbed by anything a prisoner might say upon that point.
His execution of Roman law according to his views of righteousness in
their administration was satisfactory to his sovereign at Rome; and to
please him, and thereby secure perpetual tenure of office, was the
height of his ambition. The cause of his trembling must then be found
in another quarter, or the adversary may say that Felix, just at that
time, happened to be taken with an ague chill, which Paul mistook for
the nervous agitation which he supposed to have been induced by the
power of his discourse.

Felix was a pagan. His religion, if he had any belief at all in the
supernatural, was idolatry. Paul did not appeal to his affections, to
his emotional nature, but to his rational part. He _reasoned_ upon his
great subject. We may justly conclude that he proceeded in a way
similar to that which he took in addressing the Athenians on Mars'
Hill. "The God whom ye ignorantly worship, him de