Romans 13

Romans 13:1

And, whether ye be Jews or Gentiles, ministers or people, see that ye conscientiously submit to, and cheerfully obey, the civil governors who rule over you, in every thing lawful; for they are advanced to their dignity by the providence of God, derive their whole authority from him as the supreme Governor of the world, and therefore ought to be acknowledged and obeyed as his deputies and vicegerents

Romans 13:2

Whoever therefore they be, and of what religious profession or worldly circumstances soever, who in their private capacity, oppose any lawful command of the civil government which is providentially set over them, and, in a seditious and treasonable manner, endeavour to disturb, defame, and subvert, it, they rebel against the authority of God himself, and oppose an ordinance which he has appointed in his law, natural and revealed, for the protection, safety, and welfare, of mankind, and expose themselves to severe punishment from their rulers, and to the everlasting vengeance of God who appointed them

Romans 13:3

For, according to the end of their institution, civil rulers are not authorized by God to punish men for, or deter them from, any thing truly good and lawful, but to restrain and punish what is manifestly injurious and disturbing to the commonwealth, and dishonourable to God their supreme Governor, for the caution of others, and to preserve them from the like conduct. If therefore you would be safe from all danger of punishment by them, always live quietly and peaceably, in all godliness and honesty, doing what is morally and politically good; and then you may ordinarily expect the protection, commendation, and encouragement, of magistrates, instead of their severe resentment

Romans 13:4

For, by the very nature of their office, magistrates are God’s deputies, whom, for the common benefit of mankind in this imperfect state, he has authorised to suppress vice, immorality, and profaneness, and to maintain his honour, as the Lord of the world, and the natural, civil, and religious, rights of their subjects. If therefore you violate the moral and political laws of their government, by doing what tends to dishonour, weaken, or destroy, it, you expose yourselves and families to the most dreadful consequences; magistrates being obliged, as the deputies of God, to punish such as are turbulent, or chargeable with any other notorious crimes: 5. Ye are therefore bound to pay all due subjection and obedience to magistrates, not only for avoiding that punishment which they are able and bound to inflict upon the injurious and rebellious, but chiefly from a principle of religion and conscience towards God, regarding their office as his ordinance, and themselves as his deputies, placed over you in his providence, and acting in his name and authority in all their lawful injunctions, to whom as guardians of the state, under himself, he requires you to be subject. 6, 7. And, since they are the deputies of the most high God, who, by virtue of their office and power derived from him, lay out themselves continually for the security of the rights and liberties of their good subjects, and the restraint and punishment of malefactors, make conscience of honestly paying whatever taxes are laid upon you for the support and dignity of government; and always labour to cultivate a becoming reverence and esteem of them in your minds, as your political fathers and lords; and manifest it in every proper expression of outward homage, honour, or respect

Romans 13:7-10

Never be either backward or dilatory to pay the tax you owe them, or the debt you owe any other; and never think the just debt of love, which you owe to all mankind, fully paid, but in all circumstances, and by all proper means, desire, contrive, and labour, how to exercise it best for their advantage.—For in love to our fellow creatures in its due latitude and fervour, as founded upon and springing from our love to God, and from a sense of his love to us in Christ, we really fulfil all the commandments of the second table of the moral law, relative to chastity, preservation of life, furtherance of wealth, maintenance of truth, charitable contentment, and relative duties:—for, whenever unfeigned and fervent love reigns in the heart, it sweetly and powerfully restrains from desiring, designing, or willingly doing, any thing hurtful, and constrains to the performance of every kind office to every one; and so is radically and intentionally a compliance with all the duties of the second table of the law, and will render a man sincerely desirous of and diligent in performing them

Romans 13:11

And the more careful ought we to be in cultivating this comprehensive duty of love, as now, under the light and grace, assistances and encouragements, of the gospel dispensation, it is high time for us to shake off all our sloth and carnal security, that Jesus Christ may not, in death or judgment, find us asleep;—for now our deliverance from persecution, and chiefly our complete salvation in heaven, is much nearer than when we first believed on him for it

Romans 13:12

And since not only this night of our outward troubles, but also of our ignorance, unbelief, and sinful courses, is now far spent, and the day of gospel light hath begun to dawn in our souls, and the day of complete redemption is at hand, let us labour to mortify our shameful lusts, and shun every sinful and dangerous practice, and daily grow in, and exercise, the precious, pure, heart-comforting, and adorning, graces of God’s Spirit, in opposition to the temptations and terrors of sin, Satan, and the world

Romans 13:13

Let us constantly, uniformly, and progressively, behave in a manner suited to our Christian character, and the privileges which we enjoy or expect;—carefully avoiding all excessive feasting and carousing, revellings, and debaucheries; all whoredom in heart, looks, words, actions, or dress; all angry contentions and brawlings; and all envying or grudging at the prosperity of others

Romans 13:14

And, on the contrary, let us, by faith, constantly receive, profess, and improve, the Lord Jesus Christ as our Head and Husband, &c. made of God unto us righteousness and sanctification. Let us study to be conformed to him in heart and life, as a mean of rendering us meet for the heavenly blessedness, and of recommending him to all around us: and let us never inordinately consult, care, or provide, for our body, to the neglect of our spiritual concerns; nor contrive what may promote or gratify our sinful inclinations. ***

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XIII.—Divine is the appointment, and advantageous the right exercise, of magistracy. And what a promoter of the peace, order, and happiness, of nations is the Christian religion! While it directs rulers how to discharge their high trust as deputies of God, it requires the subjects to revere, honour, obey, support, and reward, them as such.—An exact honesty in the contracting or payment of debts ought to mark every Christian. And Christian love to our neighbour is a permanent duty and an amiable and powerful restraint from vlees, and constraint to every thing virtuous. No murder, adultery, theft, falsehood, covetousness, or relative disorder, can consist with it. But how imperfect, dark, dangerous, and transient, is the present state of things on earth! Great is the mercy that eternal happiness daily approaches nearer to every believer. The faith and contemplation of these things should 2 make us effectually to shake off our sinful indolence and unconcern; to avoid and abhor luxury, uncleanness, strife, and envy; and to receive Jesus, and his righteousness and grace; that we may be always perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord