and such measures, not having religion for their warrant, can never be justifiable in the sight of God. You are commanded by divine authority to *" honour the King," +" to obey the Magistrates," and the Laws, and, ‡" as much as lieth in you, to live peaceably with all men." "Obey God rather than Man." Obey God for his own sake; obey Man for the sake of God. 66 In false patriotism the heart contracts and closes. Its worst passions are excited, and excited too against those whom it should regard most. The love of man is forgotten in the gloomy suggestions of the imagination; and the object is sought, not with a view to the comfort and happiness of mankind, but with the vain desire of self-aggrandisement; not with the intention to secure the praise of God, but with the hope of gaining the applauses of a crowd. In true patriotism the heart opens and country and its + Titus iii. 1. 1 Peter ii. 17. Romans xii. 18. § Acts v. 29. countrymen, and feels a pure and exalted delight in its affections. All the generous sensations are alive. Love and Charity accompany every wish and every action; and the whole man, divested of every angry feeling, except against the wicked and the unchristian disturbers of public tranquillity, is wrought up to the noblest enthusiasm in the cause of his King, his Country, and his God. The opinions which I have now delivered upon this subject, are not (and, I trust, you will not think them such) the opinions of political prejudice, nor of mere private judgment; but they are, as I have endeavoured to show you, the sentiments of truth deduced from Scripture, and sanctioned by the highest possible authority, that of the Lord God himself. What I have to say further upon the subject of your Duty towards your Neighbour, I shall reserve for my next Discourse. I shall now conclude with the words of the Apostle. *"Let every soul be subject unto the *Romans xiii. 1—5. 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." |