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Show E 39 J [33] Iris alfo worthy to be obferved, that the authority of the civil magillrate are from G015, apoflle prudently wav'd mentioning any parti ‘ light, and expoled the primitive chrifiians to the fevere ref'entznents of the men that were then in power. He only in general requires for the powers that be are n‘dain'd of GOD i. e. the authority of the magiftrate: that are now either at Rome, or elfew‘here, is ordained of the Deity ; wherever you find any .lawful magittrates, remember, they are of dwine ordlnation -, but that you may underl‘tand whati fubmilfion to the higher powers, becaufe the mean, when I fay, that magiftrates are of (h. powers that be are ordain'd of GOD ,now tho' the emperor might at that time be fuch a tyra nt, that he could with no propriety be laid to be ordain'd of GOD, yet it would befomewhat firan ge if there were no men in power among the Rommans, that 216th up to the charaficr of good ma» vine'ordination ; I will {how you how you may difeern, who are lawful magiltrates and ordained of GOD, from thofe who are not : Thole only Cular perfons that were then in power 5 as it inight have been confirued in an inviduou s gifirates, and that delerved to be efte emed as the minifiers of GOD for good unto the peop le : If there were any fuch, notwithltand ing the tyranny of Nero, the apoftle might with great propriety enjoin fubmiilion to thoie powe rs that were ordain'd of GOD, and by to particularly pomting‘ out the-end and defign of magiltrates, and giving his definition of a ruler, he might defig n to fhew, that neither Nero, nor an other tyrant, ought to be eiteemed as the mini. iter of GOD. are to be efteenied lawful Inagiltrates, and ordain'd of God, who purine the publicl: good by honouring and encouraging thofe that on well, and punilhing all that do evrl ; fuch and inch only, wherever they are to be found, are th ; minitters of Goo for good ; to refil‘t inch, IS‘I‘C~ fiiting the ordinance of GOD, and ex‘pohng yourfclves to the divine wrath and condemna. tion. IN either of thefe ferries, the text cannot make any thing in favour of arbitrary government, Nor could he with any propriety tell them, that they need not be afraid of the power, to long as they did that which was good, .if‘he OR, rather, which appears to me to be the true fenf e, the apoitle meant to {peak of magif- traey in general, without any particular reference to the emperor, or any other ptrfon in power, that was then at Rome ineamng of this palliage is, as ifh ; and the e had laid, it is the duty of every chriflian to he a good tub. left of civil government, for the priiver and authority meant to recommend an unlimited fuhnnlhon to a tyrannical cro ; for the belt c‘hzu‘aftcrs were the likeliel‘t to tall :1 Cleriflee t his malice. And befides, finch an injunflton would be direc't- ly contrary to his own praélice, and the prac- tice of the primitive chriz‘tians, who retitled to comply with the lintul commands of. men in power 5 their anfwer in fuch cafes being this, we |