THE TWO GOVERNMENTS AND THE LAW OF GOD.
By W. L. Iles
THE two governments referred to are the universal government of God and the theocracy of Israel. The law referred to is the Ten Commandments. Governments can not exist without law, and law can not exist without governments. We will first consider the universal government. The Universal Government.
First Proposition.—The eternal God, the great Jehovah, is the supreme Ruler of the universe, and his authority extends as far as his creation. “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” Ps. 103:19. God has therefore a “throne” and a “kingdom.” A kingdom must have a king. If this King “ruleth over all,” then he must have a law by which his subjects are governed. And here are other proofs: “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” Ps. 11:4. “The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty. . . . Thy throne is established of old; thou art from everlasting.” Ps. 93:1, 2. God has a temple in heaven, and in the temple is his throne. The Lord sits upon the throne and rules the universe. When Christ ascended on high, he sat down upon the throne of God, or the throne of universal dominion. “Her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” Rev. 12:5. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev. 3:21. “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens.” Heb. 8:1. This world has been out of harmony with God and his government. Christ will reign upon his Father’s throne until all power opposed to God is subdued. If we are brought in harmony with God’s government by conversion, through the wooings of God’s Spirit, the power of sin is subdued. Those who refuse to yield to the pleadings of the Spirit of God, never become subject to God and to his government, and will be destroyed from his kingdom. When all the universe is in harmony with God’s government, there will be no more sin, or transgression of his law. If we can determine what law is the foundation of God’s government, to which all must be subdued, before he leaves the throne, then we may know we have found the law to which our lives must be brought in harmony. In the government of Israel God was ruler. Israel was his chosen people. Second Proposition.—The government of Israel was a government within a government, and the Son of God was King. It was Christ that led the children of Israel8out of Egypt. “And did all drink of the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed [went with] them; and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:4. But the Jewish nation rejected their King, and chose a man to rule over them instead of God. “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” “And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations.” 1 Sam. 8:7; 10:19. “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help. I will be thy King; . . . I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.” Hosea 13:9-11. God was the “King of Israel,” and when they rejected him, and chose man to rule over them, the natural consequence of their course would be for them to cry, “We have no king but Cæsar.” We know God has a universal government. We know that Christ is now Priest-king in that government. We know that the theocracy of Israel was a government of God. Therefore the theocracy of Israel was a government within a government. The object of the work of Christ in the government of Israel was to bring them in harmony with God and his government. If they had obeyed God and his law, they would have been in harmony. Therefore the righteousness required by the law is the righteousness required in God’s universal government. The righteousness required by the law is the righteousness of God, and when we have the righteousness of God we are in harmony with his government. The State of California is a government within a government. The man who obeys the laws of California is in harmony with the United States Government, for the laws of California do not conflict with the laws of the general government. If California enacts a law that conflicts with some law of the general government, it is unconstitutional, because the Constitution of the federal government is a part of the organic law of California. So also the law of morals in the general government was the law of morals in the theocracy, in order that the character of those in the theocracy might be in harmony with God. W. L. ILES.