Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/525



The fifth objection against a good Christian's participation in government is this: He cannot be king even over evil men that is, the Christians who have strayed from  the path of perfection. No matter how good the intention of a Christian ruler would be, (:the result would always be bad and the man himself would get involved in the snares of evil.:) A good king must abide by a law which he orders  his people to obey. There exists no king who could rule without having some law A good Christian who would intend to be a king over an evil people for the purpose of their improvement, could have no better law for this end than the divine law. (:In other words, this divine law would make human laws as well as his rule superfluous:)

And what if he who purports to be a king for (the purpose of) betterment of evil people takes the Old Teatament for his (law)? And it is a good law since God Himself gave it to His chosen people. The Jewish kings led people to do good even by coërcion. They were even allowed to war in accordance with this law But a Christian cannot obey this law because Christ is the end 158*