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| Chapter XIV.
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Chapter XIV.
No doubt the apostle admonishes the
Romans8320
to be subject to
all power, because there is no power but of God, and because (the
ruler) does not carry the sword without reason, and is the servant of
God, nay also, says he, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth
evil. For he had also previously spoken thus: “For rulers are not
a terror to a good work, but to an evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid
of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of
it. Therefore he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if
thou do that which is evil, be afraid.” Thus he bids you be
subject to the powers, not on an opportunity occurring for his avoiding
martyrdom, but when he is making an appeal in behalf of a good life,
under the view also of their being as it were assistants bestowed upon
righteousness, as it were handmaids of the divine court of justice,
which even here pronounces sentence beforehand upon the guilty. Then he
goes on also to show how he wishes you to be subject to the powers,
bidding you pay “tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom
custom,”8321
that is, the things
which are Cæsar’s to Cæsar, and the things which are
God’s to God;8322
but man is the
property of God alone. Peter,8323
no doubt, had
likewise said that the king indeed must be honoured, yet so that the
king be honoured only when he keeps to his own sphere, when he
is far from assuming divine honours; because both father and mother
will be loved along with God, not put on an equality with Him. Besides,
one will not be permitted to love even life more than
God.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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