2. There is political or civil power, principally greatness and authority in the civil state. This is the Lord's ordinance, and must be submitted to for God's sake : 1 Peter ii. 13, 14, * Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake ; whether it be to the king as supreme ; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.' That is, there is an obligation of conscience upon us to submit, whether to the supreme or subordinate magistrate. And though all kind of honour is due to them, yet they also lie under a higher Lord, and nuist stoop to the duties required of God to those that are governed by tliem : Eom. xiii. 4, ' For he is the minister of God to thee for good.' They are servants to God, though not to their people ; as angels are ministering spirits, not only to us, but to God. Thus you see_ the scripture flattereth not superiors, but ranketh them among the subjects of the eternal God ; their creator is their judge ; and that great power which they have is a great servitude, and those who command are bound to obey ; God hath so tied us to one another, that every one is to do his part to promote the common good.
3. There is economical power ; that of the husband, parent, master. There are duties which belong to these relations. The wife is to be subject to the husband, but the husband is to love and cherish the wife as his own body. The parents are to govern their children, yet not to provoke them to wrath, but to educate them in the fear of the Lord, The master is to command his servants, but yet to remember they are the Lord's freemen : 1 Cor. vii. 22, ' For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman : likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.' Well, then, this submission is by dis- charging the duties we owe to each relation.
But why is this called submission ?
[1.] Because superiors have a debt of duty upon them, as well as inferiors, which in some cases is hard to perform. Magistrates are to defend and protect their people, and therein many times run great hazards, and are exposed to great cares and difficulties. Pastors are to guide and instruct the flock, to warn, reprove, exhort them, and know the state of the flock by frequent visiting of them. Parents are to educate their children, and bring them up in the nurture and admoni- tion of the Lord. Husbands (1 Peter iii. 7) are 'to dwell with the wife according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.' This submission on the superior's part lieth in the faith- ful and loving discharge of their duty to the meanest within their charge; as the magistrate to administer justice equally to all people, high and
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low ; the pastor to dispense his duty to rich and poor : James ii. 1, * My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons.' The husband is to cherish the wife in all conditions, sick and well ; masters to stoop to do good to the meanest of their servants, and not rule them according to passion and will ; they have souls to save or lose as well as the best of the family, and therefore they are to take care of all of them, that they may serve the Lord, they and all their household ; their outward condition doth no way hinder our duty to them. Here all are put upon the same level : James i. 9, 10, ' Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted ; but the rich in that he is made low.'
[2.] Because this duty calleth upon us for the meanest services for the common good ; as when a magistrate defendeth the poor against the mighty, and disdaineth not to appear for his meanest subjects : Job xxxi. 34, ' Did I fear a great multitude ? or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of door?' When the meanest had right on their side, he would own them in it, and had courage and fortitude to bear out their cause, though never so great multitudes opposed them ; neither did the fear of inconveniences, contempt, or calumnies, hinder him to appear for their right. So when ministers visit the meanest, and are ready to repair to them, and pray for them, and take all manner of pains to help them in their spiritual estate. So for masters, when they are careful to help their poor ser- vants in their sickness, and provide for them to the best of their power.
[3.] With all patience to bear their infirmities. It may be they are weak, froward, and know not their duty. The apostle telleth us, Kom. XV. 1, ' We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.' They that know the nature and extent of christian liberty ought to relieve others that do not so well understand it, and should not too rigorously stand on their own knowledge. So governors are to bear with the infirmities of those under their authority, yea, with their sinful weakness when overtaken in a fault ; not to be severe : Gal. vi. 1, ' Brethren, if a man be over- taken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.' Now this is a submitting, or a condescension.