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OUR RELATION TO OUR COUNTRY.

[Part II.

godliness and honesty. ” * This implies a cheerful and cordialsubmission to the government under which we live, as distinctfrom that of any other country. The truth is, Christianityadapts itself to human institutions and to the relations of humanlife as it finds them, and seeks to meliorate and improve all ofthem, f

Christianity has made obedience to civil government impera-tively binding on the conscience, and there is no duty in regardto which it speaks in more decisive terms. “ Submit yourselvesto every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake ; whether it be tothe king, as supreme ; or unto governors, as unto them that aresent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praiseof them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ; asfree and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, butas the servants of God.’’I In Romans xiii. 1-7, St. Paulenjoins obedience in terms yet more imperative. Still, au-thoritatively as these passages speak, they do not inculcate theunlimited obedience , much less the servile spirit, which hassometimes been ascribed to them. § They make civil obedi-ence a branch of Christian duty, instead of a mere submission tosuperior force. The doctrine contained in them is applicableboth to individuals and to associations of individuals, combinedto accomplish any particular object. Every individual owesprompt and cheerful obedience to the lawful authority of hiscountry. But he owes no obedience to civil government, inany instance in which the consequence must be a violation ofhis duty to God. Nor does he owe compliance in any instanceor degree, in which authority has not been given to the magis-trate, by the State, to require it. These limitations require noillustration.

But there is a great difference between an individual refusingto comply with an ordinance of government, and an associationof individuals united to overthrow the existing government of a

* 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. t See Gisborne’s Inquiry, Vol. I. p. 109-124.

t 1 Pet. ii. 13- 16.

§ See “ The American Review,” for 1811, Vol. I. p. 336.