In a religious sense, individuals and nations are under the government of God. The image of princes stamped on their coin, denotes that temporal things belong to their jurisdiction. The image of God origi nally stamped on the soul, denotes that all its qualities, and powers, belong to the Most High, and should be employed in his service. Where he has granted a revelation of his will, mankind are to be regulated by its dictates. Over body and soul, his dominion is absolute and unlimited, because he is their creator and preserver. From God alone, in religion and morality, men derive their laws, and by revelation, his rights in and over them, the doctrines of his truth, and the ordinances of his religion, are determined. These are, as our Saviour states them, the rights of God.*

Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar or not? The answer of Christ to this question of the insiduous Pharisees, (who wished to entangle him in his talk,) was full of consummate wisdom. You profess to be attached to your religion, and to be loyal to government, therefore render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsars, and to God, the things that are Gods. You acknowledge Cæsar to be your sovereign in all civil matters, and he demands his denarious by way of tribute. A small sum

The rights of Cæsar, or civil government, are different from those of God. Governments have their geographical limits, and their political relations and dependencies. Their jurisdiction refers to territory, and to those who dwell in it, and their rights are such as are assigned, defined, and regulated by just laws, and prudent enactments. Every country must have a government-every government has three grand duties to perform, in behalf of the governed, -1 to maintain internal order-2 to distribute impartial justice-3 to protect from foreign enemies,

As God is the origin of power and the supreme governor of the universe, he delegates authority, to whomsoever he will. In ancient times, God in a particular manner, on many occasions, appointed the individual who was to govern, and he accor

sum for the protection you enjoy. You acknowledge Jehovah for your sovereign, in religious matters, and he demands for the support of his temple service, a half shekel. Exod. xxx. 13, 14. A portion equally small for the spiritual advantages you reap, from the Almighty's word and ordinances,

dingly governed by a divine right, as in the case of Moses, Joshua, the Hebrew judges, and several of the Israelitish kings. In after times, and to the present day, he does that by a general superintending providence, which he did before by special designation. In all nations, there is what may be called a constitution, a plan by which a particular state or kingdom is governed, more or less calculated to promote the interests of the community. And the civil governor, whether he be elective or hereditary, who administers the laws of a state, according to its constitution, is the minister of God.

In his regal capacity, the people properly consider him, the grand agent between God and them, the viceroy, lieutenant, or deputy of God, acting as it were in his place, and ruling in his name. "The powers that be are ordained of God." The laws are under his eye, the ruler under his eye, and the people under his eye. What reason so completely evinces the christian religion, the rule of all duty and moral obligation decides, in the most positive terms.

By St. Paul, every soul is required to be subject to the higher powers. By the same apostle we are further told, that whoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and shall receive to himself damnation. By St. Peter we are directed to submit to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him, for the punishmeut of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well, and all subjects as well prelates and nobles, as inferior people, are forbidden with the tongue to revile kings. Ex. xxii. 28. with the heart to think ill of them. Eccl. x. 20, or with the hand to resist them. Rom. xiii. 2. The law makes the king, the king guards and executes the law, and a loyal subject loves, obeys, and supports both.

In the order of God, to Cæsar is entrusted the civil sword, and the laws shew how he is to wield it. While it is a terror to evil doers, it is a praise to them that do well. Where the laws are right, and equal justice is maintained, no honest man need fear the sword. Obedience to the laws is ab

solutely necessary, for when a spirit of insubordination takes place, no man can ever have his right. Nothing but wrong prevails, and the property of the honest and industrious man, will soon be found in the hands of the knave. Those who have nothing to lose, are the first to complain of wrongs, and the first to disturb civil order, that they may enrich themselves with the spoils of those, who by legal inheritance, or honest industry, have obtained wealth. Wherever this spirit of disobedience and disloyalty appears, it should be discountenanced, and opposed by every honest man. The very seeds of it are dangerous, the embrio and buds, much more so, and the fruit ruinous. For all reasons of personal safety, public peace, and public prosperity, obedience is owed to Cæsar-when Cæsar ceases to receive obedience, personal safety, and public happiness are at an end.

Strictly speaking, there are only four national forms of government, different from each other, theocracy, monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy.