The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 401

the ~ririt in which such obedient and loyal conduct should be exercised la the spirit of r<'_wrence 11nd honour._ For even in state duties the heart should be concerned equally w1!h thC' hfe.. 1. It 1s reasonable, then, that we: (1) Obey the laws in general well- d0mg.. For newed merely as a human institution of a utilitarian nature, the authority of law IS for our good, if we obey. "Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise frnm. the same." (2) And is it not equally reasonable that we pay tho duos to constituted authorities ?-tribute, custom. For here again we are only contributing toward~ the expenses of our own protection. 2. But our obedience and payment of dues v.-111 only be properly rendered by us, and will only tend to the prol?8r rendering of the S-'lmc by others, if our heart go with our deed. Let there then, as IS reasonable, be fear, let there be honour, towards those to whom fear, to whom honour is due. II. THE RIGHTNESS OF SUllMISSION. The natural man, on the grounds of mere rea.."On, then, should submit to authority, with deed and with heart. But surely the Christian man should submit on some higher ground than this? It is not only re.ai:onable, it is divinely right, that such submission be rendered to the powers, I. It is right that we: (1) Obey law. For the authority which gives the law is not arbitmrily instituted by man ; it is of God's appointment. Generally: for " there is no power but of God ; " i.e. whenever the exigencies of society demand that one shall exercise power o~er others, these very exigencies show that the exercise of some such power is dinnely purposed. Specially : for in bis providential governance of the world he bas fore&een and ordained the exercise of the power by these very individuals who for the time have authority committed to them. And can a Christian resist God's orciinance? In so doing he will not merely be punished by man, but judged by God. The sword is God's sword; the wrath, God's wrath. (2) Aud so of tribute and custom. Tnis is not merely a payment because of personal interest accruing, but in recognition of their high office as "ministers of God's service." They fulfil a. Divine vocation, and, like the priests in the temple, must be supported as servants of God. 2. So the spirit in which we obey and pay tribute is to be one of reverence and honour, not only on the lower ground of the reasonableness of the same, but because in these human powers we discern God. . . Here, then, as in the whole of life, the religious penetrates and sanctifies the natural. There is to be a perpetual transfiguration, in our eyes, of the human with the Divine. 'Ibis is but an application of the injunction, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."-T. F. L. Ve!'s. 8-10.-0kristian righi,eoo,sness. We here pass from public to private n:..tioIIJI. Still in the civic sphere, viewing men as men, not as Christian brethren . .And reminded by thought jDBt advanced., the thought of tribute, custom, etc., as being "due " to those in power, that there are dues also which we owe each one to his nei,clibour. And it is of the very essence of justice that we "render to all their dues; 1' or, in the words of the eighth verse, that we" owe no man anything." Here, then, we may consider the justice which binds together human society; and the love by which the jlllitice is fulfilled. L JmITICE. Justice is the bond of human society. 'Io do to others as we may reasonably expect them to do to 1lB is indeed the golden rule which conserves all eecurity and peace among men. To be just towards them is to respect their rights, And what are the rights of man? God has set them forth strongly, in their essential_s, in that Decalogue which was the Divine code of justice for a barbarous nation. Think of them-rights without which life amongst others would be intolerable. 1. The right of life. " Thou .shalt not kilL" Sacredness of existence; but frailty. Bo precious, and yet ao easily destroyed. And in wantonnau, or in malice, man may destroy his brother-man. But the "Thou shalt not kill " sounds in his ears, o. spoken law of God: the right of life mUBt be conserved: 2. The right of ,acred relation,hip, dearer than the right of life. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Organic union of men. Relation.ships interwoven into human nature-hUBband and wife, parent and child. brother a.nd brother. 'l'he conjugal relation the foundation of the rest. .Any tan,pering with this rela.tiun is, in it11 drgree, adultery, and loosens tho whole relational fabric; aay violation of the sa.craw01Jt of thiB relation, "'l'hey twain shall bo ono flesh," Ml ia the highe11t degree adultery, awl goe11 far to destroy the wlwle relational fubric.  011. xm.1-11.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS.