The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 398

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. ' Vere. 1-7.-_77ie Christian as citizen. The duty of Christians as citizens is in our day not sufficiently recognized. Many Christians keep aloof from public life and the duties of citizenship because of the political corruption and party strife which are so common. Others, again, enter into public duties, but seem to le.ave their religion behind them. The result is a sad want of Christian statesmanship and of Christian legislation. • I. THE CHRISTIAN RECOGNIZES THE NECESSITY OF G0VERNME!,T. "There is no power but of God: the powers that be a.re ordained of God" (ver. 1). This is not to ho understood as meaning that every individual ruler is ordained of God. 'Ihat woulJ. make the Divine Being responsible for many acts of despotism and oppression. We might as well say that every minister of religion who had received the form of ordina- tion was therefore chosen of God, no matter what his personal character might be. The meaning rather is that government is an ordinance of God-that God has ord:1ined or appointed it, that there should be authority and rulers. Government is necessary : 1. For the protection of life and property. 2. For the repression of crime. " Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil" (ver. 3). Governors, says St. Peter, are appointed "for the punishment of evil-doers" (1 Pet. ii. H). 3. For the re·1rnrdillg and encouraging of virtue. "Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power'? do thac which is good, and thou sha.lt have praise of the same" (ver. 3). So St. Peter also speaks of governors as "e. praise to them that do well." Wise rulers will not only repress crime, but they will seek to encourage well-doing. They will show special fe.vour to those who, by their own character and efforts, promote morality and temperance and honesty, and thus help to make government easy. Hvw often do rulers forget this I How often the Christian people of o. nation are ignon.'<i or even d,isconraged, while the godless and the immoral are high in place e.nd favour! II. THE CHRISTIAN RECOGNIZES THE BESPONSIDILITIES OF RULERS. Rulers are here cnlled " ministers or God " (vers. 4, 6). Our sovereign entitles herself " Victoria, by the grace of God." All who are conoemed in government h:we e. solemn responsibility, whether they be kings or queens, ministers of state, members of tho l,igislature., judge>', magistrates, or jurymen. All must appear one day beforo I\ higllllr tribunnl. Ths'n tile judge will bo asked, "Have you done justice 1\:1 ootwoon nmn :u\\l m:m? D Tho  THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TH.E ROMANS. [ou. xm. 1-1'.