Page:Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission.djvu/42

 than he had before done, for revering, and ubmitting to, magitracy, from this conideration, that uch as really performed the duty of magitrates, would be enemies only to the evil actions of men, and would befriend and encourage the good: and o be a common bleing to ociety. But how is this an argument, that we mut honor, and ubmit to, uch magitrates as are not enemies to the evil actions of men; but to the good: and uch as are not a common bleing, but a common cure, to ociety! But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid: For he is the miniter of God, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Here the apotle argues from the nature and end of magitracy, that uch as did evil, (and uch only) had reaon to be afraid of the higher powers; it being part of their office to punih evildoers, no les than to defend and encourage uch as do well. But if magitrates are unrighteous; if they are repecters of perons; if they are partial in their adminitration of jutice; then thoe who do well have as much reaon to be afraid, as thoe that do evil: there can be no afety for the good, nor any peculiar ground of terror to the unruly and injurious. So that, in this cae, the main end of civil government will be frutrated. And what reaon is there for ubmitting to that government, which does by no means anwer the deign of government? Wherefore ye mut needs be ubject not only for wrath, but alo for concience ake. Here the apotle argues the duty of a cheerful and concientious ubmiion to civil government,