§ 101. THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT. -461
§ 101. The Civil Government.
On civil government see Institutes, IV. oh. XX., De politica administratione (in Tholuck's ed. II. 475-496).
Calvin discusses the nature and function of Civil Government at length, and with the ability and wisdom of a statesman, in the last chapter of his Institutes.
He holds that the Church is consistent with all forms of government and social conditions, even with civil servitude (1 Cor, 7 : 21). But some kind of government is as necessary to mankind in this world as bread and water, light and air; and it is far more excellent, since it protects life and property, maintains law and order, and enables men to live peaceably together, and to pursue their several avocations.
As to the different forms of government, Calvin discusses the merits of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. All are compatible with Christianity and command our obedience. All have their advantages and dangers. Monarchy easily degenerates into despotism, aristocracy into oligarchy or the faction of a few, democracy into mobocracy and sedition. He gives the preference to a mixture of aristocracy and democracy. He infused a more aristocratic spirit into the democratic Republic of Geneva, and saw a precedent in the government of Moses with seventy elders elected from the wisest and best of the people. It is safer, he thinks, for the government to be in the hands of many than of one, for they may afford each other assistance, and restrain arrogance and ambition.
Civil government is of divine origin. " All power is ordained of God" (Rom. 13 : 1). "By me kings reign, and Ijrinces decree justice" (Prov. 8:15). The magistrates are called " gods " (Ps. 82 : 1, 6 ; a passage indorsed by Christ, John 10 : 35), because they are invested with God's authority and act as his vicegerents. "Civil magistracy is not only holy and legitimate, but far the most sacred and honorable
462 THE llEFOKMATION IN FEENCH SWITZERLAND.
ill human life." Submission to lawful government is the duty of every citizen. To resist it, is to set at naught the ordinance of God (Rom. 13 : 3, 4 ; comp. Tit. 3 : 1 ; 1 Pet. 2:13, 14). Paul admonishes Timothy that in the public congregation " supplication, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made for kings and for all that are in high places ; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity" (1 Tim. 2:1, 2). We must obey and pray even for bad rulers, and endure in patience and humility till God exercises his judgment. The punishment of evildoers belongs only to God and to the magistrates. Sometimes God punishes the people by wicked rulers, and punishes these by other bad rulers. We, as individuals, must suffer rather than rebel. Only in one case are we required to disobey, — when the civil ruler commands us to do anything against the will of God and against our conscience. Then " we must obey God rather than men " (Acts 5 : 29) .^
Calvin was thus a strong upholder of authority in the State. He did not advise or encourage the active resistance of the Huguenots at the beginning of the civil wars in France, although he gave a tacit consent.
Calvin extended the authority and duty of civil government to both Tables of the Law. He assigns to it, in Christian society, the office, — "to cherish and support the external worship of God, to preserve the true doctrine of religion, to defend the constitution of the Church, and to regulate our lives in a manner requisite for the social welfare." He proves this view from the Old Testament, and quotes the passage in Isaiah 49 : 23, that " kings shall be nursing-fathers
1 He concludes his Institutes with this sentence : " Since this edict has been proclaimed by that celestial herald, Peter, ' we must obey God rather than men,' let us console ourselves with this thought, that we truly perform the obedience which God requires of us, when we suffer anything rather than deviate from piety. And that our hearts may not fail us, Paul stimulates us with another consideration : that Christ has redeemed us at the immense price which our redemptioti cost him, that we may not be submissive to the corrupt desires of men, much less be slaves to their impiety " (1 Cor. 7 : 23).