Romans 13

Romans 13:1-7

There are three good lessons taught us in this chapter: 1. A lesson of subjection to lawful authority, ver. 1—6. 2. A lesson of justice and love to our brethren, ver. 7—10. 3. A lesson of sobriety and godliness in war-hers, ver. 11. in the end.

1. L ET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4. For he is the minister of God to shew 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 doth evil. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for confidence take. 6. For, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.

From the duties they owed to each other, as members of civil society, the apostle proceeds to enforce submersion in all lawful things to the authority of the civil government under which they lived. The Christian doctrine makes no alte-

ration in the natural and civil rights of mankind. Dominion is not founded in grace; therefore let every soul be subject unto the higher powers; respectful and obedient to all lawful magistrates, from the highest to the lowest, and willingly observant of the laws with the execution of which they are accredited. For there is no power but of God; he is the source of all authority, dignity, and honour; by him kings reign. The powers that be are ordained of God; whatever be the mode of government, whether the ruling power be lodged in the hands of one person or many, submersion is our duty; and though the ones who are unveiled with the authority be never so vile and wicked, their lawful commands are nevertheless to be obeyed; and the magistrate is to be honoured, however despicable the man may appear. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, and refuses obedience to the lawful orders of the established government, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (1824a), the punishment due to their witness, according to the laws, from the sword of the magistrate, and judgment also from God, for the transgression against his ordinance. For rulers are not a terror to good works: they who behave quiet and submissive have nothing to fear, for such subjects the magistrates are bound to protect and cherish; but they are appointed to ordain the evil actions of men, which tend to disturb the peace of society, to dishonour God, or injure their neighbour. With thou then not be afraid of the power? do thou which is good, peaceable and obedient to the laws, and thou shalt have praise of the same; in every well-ordered government such subjects will be protected and encouraged. For he is the minister of God, appointed to preserve the peace of the State, to redress injuries, administer justice, suppress vice, prophamines, and immacality; to punish offenders, and promote the general welfare: and therefore if thou art found obedient, the office of magistrate will be to thou for good. But if thou do that which is evil, and violate the established laws, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; being obliged by his very office impartially to insist the penalty due to every offence; for he is the minister of God, who puts the sword of judgment into his hands, as a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil; not out of any private personal resentment, but coolly as God’s vicepreten, without partiality or favour, according to the dictates of justice. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, merely through fear of punishment and penalties, but also for confidence (viz.) from a principle of duty towards God, whose ordinance is binding, and obedience for his sake is due to human laws, though no pains or penalties were annexed. For, for this cause pay you tribute also; the taxes and duties necessary for the support of the government, whose protection you enjoy: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing; and therefore every fraud committed against the public is even more criminal, than if it merely affected an individual. Render therefore to all their dues, according to the laws human or divine: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom; all subsidies, taxes, &c. imposed by lawful authority; fear to whom fear and reverence should be paid; honour to whom honour is due, according to the superior rank and relation in which by the providence of God they are placed.

8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another, hath fulfilled the law. 9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not cover; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:8-10

From the payment of dues to magistrates the apostle passes on to enforce the discharge of every debt, to whomsoever due.

Owe no man any thing; never run in debt where you have no immediate prospect of paying, nor continue in debt when you have ability to discharge it; and in every relation of life be ready to fulfil the duty which you owe. One debt there is, however, and but one, where, though ever paying, you neither with nor desire that it should be less, and that is, to love one another as men, and especially as Christians, seeking to promote each other’s present and eternal welfare; and this, as the great and reigning principle in all your conduct: for he that loveth another, and, from a sense of the love of God in Christ, experiences this God-like charity, hath fulfilled the law; if his love were perfect, he would be complete in all the will of God; which is not indeed the lot of man in this life; it is reserved for the felicity of a better. The so far as love is in vigorous exercise, so far will his spiritual obedience advance towards perfection. For this, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not cover, and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, and act conscientiously towards them, as, were our circumstances reversed, we might reasonably expect they should behave towards us; for then,