Paul, and then the law will not
interfere with you: "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but
to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that
which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the
minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil,
be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth
evil." And then he sums up what doing right is, in one short
sentence: "Love thy neighbour as thyself; for love is the fulfilling
of the law." All that the laws want to make you do, is to behave
like men who do love their neighbours as themselves, and therefore do
them no harm--to behave like men who are ready to give up their own
private wills and pleasures, and even their own private property, if
wanted, for the good of their neighbours and their country.
Therefore the law calls on you to pay rates and taxes, which are to
be spent for the good of the nation at large. And if you love your
neighbour as yourself, and have the good of everyone round you at
heart, you will no more grudge paying rates and taxes for their
benefit than you will grudge spending money to support and educate
your own children.
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