J. F. Moor

“ Rest not in an empty profession of the Gospel, that does not bring you into submission to its precepts. Get, while the means are afforded you, a practical knowledge of its truth. Receive Christ, as He is continually offered to you in the Gospel,—a Prophet to teach, a Priest to atone for you,—a King to reign over, and to govern you. ”

“ A man cannot be a Christian indeed, who "despises dominion, and speaketh evil of dignities." [1] The Apostle Jude, speaking of such, classes them among those that are "sensual, not having the Spirit." But if this be the case, we seem to have fallen upon times wherein, whatever be the profession of religion that prevails, there is little of the reality of it left. How few are obedient to the "powers that be, as ordained of God!" How general is the indifference shewn to the office and authority of the magistrate! ”

“ The religion of such men, whatever be their pretensions to it, is false, and unscriptural, and vain. You have never yet been taught (if I speak to any such) "the truth as it is in Jesus." You have never been brought with the simplicity of children—to listen to the instructions of the word of God—you have never been enlightened by the influence of his Spirit, to "behold wondrous things out of his law"— [Pg 23] you have never learnt, under the teaching of his Spirit, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ." ”

“ How many seem to consider religion altogether a separate thing from the submission due to their rulers; whereas the one as necessarily grows out of the other, as the branches do out of the stock of the tree. And who, then, that has witnessed the riotous and tumultuous proceedings of our misguided people for the last few weeks, which has led to the issue of the King's Proclamation, now affixed to the door of our church, will not be ready to take up the complaint of the Psalmist, in saying, "The godly man ceaseth; the faithful fail from among the children of men." ”

“ And therefore, that he may never be instrumental to this, he submits himself to every ordinance of man.
Nor is this all: if the name of God is dishonoured by the Christian's refusing submission, it is honoured by his yielding it. When he "leads a virtuous and godly life in all quietness and honesty," the power of the principles he holds is seen. Men are constrained to admit, that the religion he professes is something more than an empty name. They cannot deny its efficacy in subduing the unruly will, and regulating the sinful affections of the heart. ”

“ But further, submitting to every ordinance includes, not only offering no resistance to the civil authority, but also giving it our assistance and support. Those cannot be said to submit to every ordinance of man, who, when a spirit of rebellion is abroad in a land, use no exertions [Pg 14] to suppress it. Many are apt to think that, if they sit quietly at home, and take no part in what is going on amiss, they are free from blame, and are fulfilling their duty; and certainly, as far as shewing no disposition to join in any acts of rebellion goes, they are right. ”

“ And bear in mind, that the same faith in a crucified Saviour, which made them "more than conquerors," and secured to them, "through the blood of the Lamb," a crown of immortality and life,—if it produce in you similar effects, "working in you both to will and to do of God's good pleasure, whatsoever is well pleasing in his sight," and making you willing "to suffer the loss of all things," rather than rebel against any ordinance of man, or disobey any precepts of God, is still able to secure for you a similar victory. ”

“ The Apostle, in the text, makes no difference whatever. It belongs to God to punish a wicked king, because it is from God the authority he abuses, by his wickedness, is derived: "By me," he says, "kings reign;" [3] and it belongs to the king, in a similar way, to punish unjust magistrates, because "by him they are sent for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well." Hence, then, whatever be the character of the king, and of the governors sent by him, the submission due to them from the people is the same. ”

“ And such, brethren, should be the conduct of the Christian in every age and country. Even suppose it possible, (which, thank God, under our just and mild government, we have no reason to apprehend, but even suppose it possible,) that we should have a wicked king, and unjust governors, who were to impose upon us, commands contrary to the laws of our God, still we must, with the Jewish youths, and with Daniel, and with "the noble army of martyrs," rather suffer, than resist. There appears to be no limitation to the command; "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man." ”

“ And the precept of the text, therefore, would be as dear to you, and as respected by you, as any of the rest.
But, brethren, unhumbled, unenlightened, unsanctified by the Spirit of Christ, reflect upon your condition and prospects! You may resist the authority of man, and may escape for a season the penalties incurred by it; but can you resist with similar impunity the authority of God? Can your hands be strong, or your hearts endure in the day when he shall deal with you? ”

“ Never be induced, therefore, by any artifices, or any threatenings of the enemies of God's truth, to let go your dependance on the Saviour, or to renounce your allegiance to his laws; but, "building up yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, [Pg 27] looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life;" ”

“ But these are not the grounds on which the submission of the Christian is founded—it is not from any consideration of mere worldly advantage that his motive to submission is drawn—the Christian has a higher and nobler motive to submission, and it is this which the apostle urges upon him in the text—"for the Lord's sake." It is the command of him whom the Christian loves—that he should submit. The Lord, to whom he owes his life with all its blessings, enjoins it ”

“ Whence it is evident, that the Lord requires of his people a decision of character and conduct suited to the circumstances in which he places them. It is not enough for them "to cease from doing evil," they must "learn to do well." ”

“ The Author deeply feels the awful responsibility which, in these turbulent times, more especially devolves upon every minister of the sanctuary—to withhold nothing from the public which may have a tendency, through the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit accompanying it, to strengthen the walls of our [Pg 4] spiritual Zion, and to preserve among us "that righteousness which" alone "exalteth a nation." ”

“ It is the same, then, with regard to the king, and the governors sent by him. Those that are not with them are against them; those that refuse to support their authority, that do not willingly come forward, at whatever risk to themselves, to assist them in enforcing the laws, are in reality giving countenance and strength to the rebellious. ”

“ There must be activity toward that which is right, as well as an abhorrence for that which is wrong. There must not be a sitting still, like the inhabitants of Meroz, but an avowing ourselves on the Lord's side. ”

“ True religion will ever make men the [Pg 6] best and most loyal subjects, as well as most faithful, and upright, and conscientious, in the discharge of all the other relative and social duties of life. ”

“ I purpose, therefore, for the conviction of those who may have partaken of the disorderly [Pg 7] spirit which has been abroad among us, as well as for the establishment and comfort of the truly pious and submissive Christian, to endeavour, in the present discourse, to explain and enforce, from the Apostle's words in the text, the duty of SUBMISSION TO CIVIL AUTHORITY ”