But if thou do that

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power,* resisteth the ordinance of God: And they that resist shall receive to themselves xpipa, condemnation. For rulers" (notwithstanding some exceptions) 66 are not a terror to good works, but to the evil: Wilt thou not then be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have " in general "praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. 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. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their due, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. I exhort," says the same Apostle, " that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for Kings and for all that

* In any other manner, than the laws of the community direct. See Mr. Wesley's Notes on the New Testament. The primitive Christians appealed to those laws that were in their favour. St. Paul showed them the example, Acts xvi. 35—39 ; xxii. 25-29. But when there was no law to protect them, they submitted to suffer; for their Master did not allow them to resist by force.

are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."

Hear also what St. Peter teaches: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the King as supreme; or unto Governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. As servants of God, honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the King."

The ancient Church, which learned of them, was conspicuous for treading in their steps. The Apologies for the Christian religion, published by the Fathers, abound with declarations of reverence for, and of their design cheerfully to support, the ruling powers. They challenged their enemies to prove that any Christian had opposed the magistrates, or had favoured sedition. They held all such proceedings in abhorrence, and regarded them as instances of rebellion against Christ, "the King of kings, and Lord of lords;" and they have herein left us an example to tread in their steps.

II. But while, according to their Divine Master's precept and example, "they rendered to Cæsar the things that were Cæsar's," did they render to any creature" the things which were

God's?" What these are, our Lord has told us: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Did they consent to worship and serve him according to the will of man? No: They were all aware of this idolatry. "They would have no other gods before him." They knew that "before him" all were alike. They knew that Kings, if they would worship God acceptably, must worship him with a pure conscience; and that to be governed therein by any hope or fear which has not Him for its object, must be an abomination to Him who has commanded all his creatures to "sanctify Him in their heart, and to make Him their fear and their dread ;" and that "in vain they worship, whose fear towards Him is taught by the precepts of men." He is equally the Lord of the king and of the peasant; and the word that He spake shall judge them both in that day. While therefore "they honoured all men," they "knew no man after the flesh; but, by manifestation of the truth, commended themselves to every man's conscience in the fear of God."

But it is a melancholy fact, that, from the earliest ages, there have been rulers of this world that have forgotten by whom they reigned, and have invaded the rights of Him who in his providence placed them upon their thrones. They have, in this respect, cherished an impious jealousy con

and the faithful city become an harlot! How soon did Papal Rome vie with Heathen Rome, and dare to dictate to the consciences of men both what they should believe and how they should worship! How soon was the word of God made void by the traditions of men, and a worldly religion established by the power of the sword! The Kings of the earth joined with " the man of sin," and raised a carnal system, opposite to the spirituality and heavenly nature of the kingdom of Christ, (and therefore called in Scripture "Antichrist,") while all who dared to "contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," were given up to torments and to death.

But it may be said, "Christianity is now reformed according to the oracles of God." It is so in many places. But have the sacred rights of conscience been always maintained in Protestant kingdoms? Have sovereigns and rulers, even in these, always taken care not to invade the prerogative of God? We cannot say this. It is a melancholy truth, that, even in our own land, since the Reformation, " despite" has "been done in this respect to the Spirit of grace." It may tend to increase our gratitude to the gracious Governor of the world, to take a short view of those melancholy times when Protestants revived the flames of persecution, and to contrast with them our present happy days of Christian liberty.

I would ask then, What freedom, with respect to the worship and service of God, did that zealous Protestant, Queen Elizabeth, allow? Burning, it is true, was out of fashion in her days. But how many did she hang, only for asserting their right to worship God according to their own conscience? King James, her successor, did not proceed to such lengths; but did he allow liberty of conscience? By no means. During his whole

reign, the Puritans were more or less persecuted. In the following reign, their sufferings were rather increased than diminished. Many of them died in prison, and many more were reduced to the deepest poverty by fines and prosecutions; till, wearied out with this oppression, many of them fled for refuge to the wilds of America.

To show the tyranny of the Second Charles, it will be only needful to give an extract from two public monuments, the Act of Uniformity, and the Act against Conventicles.* In the former it is enacted, "That every Parson, Vicar, or Minister whatever, who has any benefice within these realms, shall before the twenty-fourth of August next, openly and publicly declare his unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing contained in the Book of Common Prayer, or shall ipso facto be deprived of all his benefices! Like

*See Mr. WESLEY'S Thoughts on Liberty.