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| Chapter LXXV
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Chapter
LXXV.
Celsus also urges us to “take office in the
government of the country, if that is required for the maintenance of
the laws and the support of religion.” But we recognise in
each state the existence of another national organization,4980
| 4980 σύστημα
πατρίδος. [A very
notable passage as to the autonomy of the primitive Churches in their
divers nations.] | founded by the Word of God, and we exhort
those who are mighty in word and of blameless life to rule over
Churches. Those who are ambitious of ruling we reject; but we
constrain those who, through excess of modesty, are not easily induced
to take a public charge in the Church of God. And those who rule
over us well are under the constraining influence of the great King,
whom we believe to be the Son of God, God the Word. And if those
who govern in the Church, and are called rulers of the divine
nation—that is, the Church—rule well, they rule in
accordance with the divine commands, and never suffer themselves to be
led astray by worldly policy. And it is not for the purpose of
escaping public duties that Christians decline public offices, but that
they may reserve themselves for a diviner and more necessary service in
the Church of God—for the salvation of men. And this
service is at once necessary and right. They take charge of
all—of those that are within, that they may day by day lead
better lives, and of those that are without, that they may come to
abound in holy words and in deeds of piety; and that, while thus
worshipping God truly, and training up as many as they can in the same
way, they may be filled with the word of God and the law of God, and
thus be united with the Supreme God through His Son the Word, Wisdom,
Truth, and Righteousness, who unites to God all who are resolved to
conform their lives in all things to the law of God.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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