THEY DESPISE GOVERNMENT.
By James White
THERE are those in our day who seem to despise reproof and church government. They are very fearful of an abridgement of their religious freedom, and under this plea sometimes take liberties which infringe upon the rights of others. And it is common to find among them those who have imbibed a spirit of hatred against the civil government. Jude has described them thus: "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. "But these speak evil of those things which they know not; but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core [Korah]. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever; And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." Peter describes them thus in his second epistle. Chap. ii, 10, 11. "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." We understand by "government" and "dignities," the civil government and civil rulers. If, then, angels who are greater in power than mortal men, when having to do with the affairs of this world, do not bring railing accusation against wicked and oppressive rulers before the Lord, certainly the presumptuous revilings of some who profess Christianity seem wonderfully out of place. We invite all who are in any way tinctured with this spirit (and there are many who are more or less,) to read what the Apostle Paul hath declared touching our duty in relation to civil rulers. Rom. xiii, 1-7. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 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. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." How shall we dispose of this? Those who may refer to other scriptures as if they taught different sentiments, and thus array Paul against Paul, or one Apostle against another, are not wise. This is not the way to dispose of this matter. This will, when correctly understood, harmonize with all other precepts, and may then be seen as a golden link in the chain of truth. Divine precept must be limited so as to harmonize with the revealed duty of the man of God. We should obey our rulers until the civil law requires the violation of the Divine Law. Says Peter in his first epistle, [chap. ii, 13-17,] "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. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." Mark the two closing precepts; first, "Fear God;" second, "Honor the king." This would be a hard old world were it not for the civil government. It becomes us, brethren, to thank God for the civil government, notwithstanding its increasing corruptions. He yet reigns as the disposer of hearts among the children of men. We shall have reasons for gratitude to God for the civil government until our message closes, then we shall doubtless be glad enough to get away from it to meet our coming Saviour.
J. W.