Page:Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission.djvu/43

 from the nature and end of magitracy as he had before laid it down, i.e. as the deign of it was to punih evildoers, and to upport and encourage uch as do well; and as it mut, if o exercied, be agreeable to the will of God. But how does what he here ays, prove the duty of a cheerful and concientious ubjection to thoe who forfeit the character of ruler? to thoe who encourage the bad, and dicourage the good? The argument here ued no more proves it to be a in to reit uch rulers, than it does, to reit the devil, that he may flee from us. For one is as truly the miniter of God as the other. For, for this caue pay you tribute alo; for they are God's miniters, attending continually upon this very thing. Here the apotle argues the duty of paying taxes, from this conideration, that thoe who perform the duty of rulers, are continually attending upon the public welfare. But how does this argument conclude for paying taxes to uch princes as are continually endeavoring to ruin the public? And epecially when uch payment would facilitate and promote this wicked deign! Render therefore to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute is due; cutom, to whom cutom; fear, to whom fear; honor, to whom honor. Here the apotle ums up what he had been aying concerning the duty of ubjects to rulers. And his argument tands thus—“Since magitrates who execute their office well, are common benefactors to ociety; and may, in that repect, be properly tiled the miniters and ordinance of God; and ince they are contantly employed