Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/573



(:The nominal Christians pervert the words of Paul giving them ea meaning to serve their own interests. Therefore it is very important for those who want to be true Christians to see the true meaning of those Words.:)

For the word of God concerns sometimes (a) the true heavenly and spiritual authorities; (b) the true spiritual authorities which are a little lower than the heavenly; the creaturely authorities. I do not intend nor am I able to expound on the spiritual and heavenly authorities which are of God; I shall be concerned only about the human institutions which should be perfect in God's spiritual order as well as in the lower earthly orders. The latter, which God has established since the beginning of time, has been lost. Having lost that order they dwell now in great disorder. But even though they live in this disorder they still need some form of order which could – if not improve them – at least keep them in their corporeal life. dominium divinum. Cf. Wyclif,, chap.I, xi;

dominium angelicum,.

dominium humanum,. Heb.2:7: "Thou didst make (man) a little lower than the angels." Cf. also, I, chap XXVIII, p.134*.

182*