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Show [323 f 33 3 mediately commiflioned from GOD to bear rifle over the people: The third {enfe then is the Only fenle, in which the apoille can be hippofed to affirm, that the magifi‘rate is the minilier Farts, that the authority of the magiflrate is 'o'rdained of GOD, viz. becaufe rulers are not a‘. terror to good works= but to the evil, there- of G01), and that magillracy is the ordinance fore we ought to dread offending them, for we cannot offend them but by doing evil, and of Gov, viz that the natiire and realbn of ‘ things, require fuch an inl‘tituti'oh for the pre- fervation and fafety of mankind. Now if this be the only fenfe in which the apoftle affirms, if we do evil, we have juft reafo‘n to fear their 'power; for they bear not the i‘word in vain, but in this cafe, the magifirate is a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil: But that magifirates are ordained of GOD as his if we are found doers of that which is good, we have no reafon to fear the authority of the niagiltrate, for in this cafe, inltead of being punilhed we {hall be protected and encoura- miniftcrs, refittance mult be criminal only It) far forth, as they are the minifiers of GOD, i. C. while they aft ‘up to the end of their infiitution, and ceafes being criminal, when they ceafe being the minifters of GOD, i. 6. when they a€t contrary to the general good, and feel; to deflroy the liberties of the people. THAT we have gotten the apofile's fenfe of magiitracy, being the ordinance of GOD, will plainly appear from the text itfelf : For after haying afierted, that to refifi the power is to relilt the ordinance of G01), and they that refifi, {hall receive to themfelves damnation ; he immediately adds, as the real'on of this affertion, For rulers are not a terror to good work, but to tbe evil. Wilt t/Jou then not be qfrm'd of [be fewer :' Do that ‘ZU/Jit/J 1': good, and may flwa/t barre prof/e of tbe [22/729 : For he i: the mini/fer of GOD to thee for good. But if [/1011 do that 'w/Jz'r/J is evil be afraid ; for be bear-em not t/Jefword in ged : The realon‘ why the magiltrate is called the miniller of Goo, is, becaule he is to protect, encourage and honor them that do well, and to punilh them that do evil ; therefore it is our duty to fubmit to them, not merely for fear of being punifhed by them, but out of regard to the divine authority, under which they are deputed to execute judgment, and to do jufiice. For this realon (according to the apoltle) tribute is‘to be paid them, became as the minilters of Goo their whole bulinefs is to protect every man in the enjoyment of liisjult rights and priv1leges, and to pnniih every eVil docr. IF the apofile then afferts, that rulers are or. dain'd of GOD, only becaule they area terror «min .- For he is 1/16 minyi'er of GOD, a revenge," to evil works, and a praile to them that do Well, ifthey are minilters of GoD only becaufe to exerule wrotb upon L‘im t/mt dot/J et'il. Hereis a plain declaration of the fenfe, in which he at: fem. they encourage virtue and punii'h vice ; it for this reafon only they are to be obcy'd for con». " {Icience' |