tender mercies are over all his works.[1] It is blaſphemy to call tyrants and oppreſſors, God's miniſters. They are more properly the meſſengers of ſatan to buffet us.[2] No rulers are properly God's miniſters, but ſuch as are just, ruling in the fear of God.[3] When once magiſtrates act contrary to their office, and the end of their inſtitution; when they rob and ruin the public, inſtead of being guardians of its peace and welfare; they immediately ceaſe to be the ordinance and miniſters of God; and no more deſerve that glorious character than common pirates and highwaymen. So that whenever that argument for ſubmiſſion, fails, which is grounded upon the uſefulneſs of magiſtracy to civil ſociety, (as it always does when magiſtrates do hurt to ſociety inſtead of good) the other argument, which is taken from their being the ordinance of God, muſt neceſſarily fail alſo; no perſon of a civil character being God's minister, in the ſenſe of the apoſtle, any farther than he performs God's will, by exerciſing a juſt and reaſonable authority; and ruling for the good of the ſubject.
This in general. Let us now trace the apoſtle's reaſoning in favor of ſubmiſſion to the higher powers, a little more particularly and exactly. For by this it will appear, on one hand, how good and concluſive it is, for ſubmiſſion to thoſe rulers who exerciſe their power in a proper manner: And, on the other, how weak and trifling and unconnected it is, if it be ſuppoſed to be meant by the apoſtle to ſhow the obligation and duty of
