they should indeed be found enemies to the govern- ment under which they lived, they would furnish the heathen with an unanswerable argument against them, and would, in fact, arm all the civil powers for their destruction. On the other hand, if the Christians at Rome should shew themselves peaceable and obedient subjects, they would conciliate the regard of their governors, and recommend a similar conduct in all other places.
In the passage before us, the Apostle shews us,
I. In what light civil magistrates should be viewed —
By whatever name the ruling powers are designated among men, they are to be regarded as,
1. Governors for God —
[God is the Governor of all the earth : and, as all power is derived from him, so all power is delegated by him ; the possessor of it being his representative and vicegerent. Even in heaven he has established different ranks and orders among the angelsc: and on earth also he has seen fit that a similar order should be maintained. Nay, when there were yet but two people upon the earth, he ordained that one should rule the other d. From that time the parents were the natural governors of their children : and, as successive families were formed, the rising generations continued under the same head, as branches from the same root. When these families became a tribe, the original parent was still the head of that tribe. Thus as mankind were multiplied upon the face of the earth, the different nations, too numerous and widely spread to be governed by one man, had their respective governors, some in one way, and some in another. Whatever shape the different governments assumed, monarchical, aris- tocratical, or democratical, still the power was Gods, in whomsoever it was vested : and, as his representatives, they possessed and exercised a portion of his authority : " There is no power, but of God: the powers that be are ordained of ffiod :" " the pillars of the earth are the Lord's ; and he hath set the world upon theme."J
2. Benefactors from God —
[The office of magistrates is to do all in their power for the suppression of iniquity, and for the promotion of uni- versal happiness. It is for these ends alone that power is put
c Eph. i. 21. Judc, ver. 9. d Gen. iii. 1G. e 1 Sam. ii. 8.