Now, what is this wonderful charm which made the old Romans and we
English great, which is stronger than money, and armies, and trade,
and all the things which we can see and handle?
St. Paul tells us in the text: "Let every soul be subject to the
higher powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be
are ordained of God."
To respect the law; to believe that God wills men to live according
to law; and that He will teach men right and good laws; that
magistrates who enforce the laws are God's ministers, God's officers
and servants; that to break the laws is to sin against God;--that is
the charm which worked such wonders, and will work them to the end of
time.
So you see it was a very proper thing for St. Paul, when he wrote to
these Romans after they became Christians, to speak to them as he
does in this chapter. They might have fancied, and many did fancy,
that because they were Jesus Christ's servants now, they need not
obey their heathen rulers and laws any more. But St. Paul says:
"No; Jesus Christ's being King of Kings, is only the strongest
possible reason for your obeying these heathen rulers. For if He is
King of all the earth, He is King of Rome also, and of all her
colonies; and therefore you may be sure that He would not leave these
Roman rulers, and laws here if He did not think it right and fitting.
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