But what if the laws are unfair, and punish only some sorts of evil-
doers and not others? What if they are like spiders' webs, which
catch the little flies, and let the great wasps break through? What
if they punish poor and weak offenders, and let the rich and powerful
sinners escape? "Obey them still," says St. Paul. In his time and
country the laws were as unfair in that way as laws ever were, and
yet he tells Christians to obey them for conscience's sake. Thank
God that they do punish weak offenders. Pray God that the time may
come when they may be strong enough to punish great offenders also.
But, in the meantime, see that they have not to punish you. As far
as the laws go, they are right and good. As far as they keep down
any sort of wrong-doing whatsoever, they are God's ordinances, and
you must obey them for God's sake.
But what if the laws are not only unfair and partial, but also unjust
and wrong? Are we to obey them then? Obey them still, says St.
Paul. Of course, if they command you to do a clearly wrong thing;
if, for instance, the law commanded you to worship idols, or to
commit adultery, there is no question then; such laws cannot be God's
ordinance. The laws can only be God's ordinance as far as they agree
with what we know of God's will written in our hearts, and written in
His holy Bible.
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