The Rulers Are a Terror to Evil-Workers

Mr. Stone's Election SERMON On Wednesday, May 25th. 1720.

Massachusetts. At a Council held in the Council Chamber in Boston, upon Monday, May 30th. 1720.

J. Willard Secr.

p. 1An Election SERMON.

ROMANS XIII.3.

For Rulers are not a terror to Good Works, but to the Evil.

THAT this Epistle was written to a Number of Christians in Rome is unquestionable. Whither it was written to a Church there seems not evident.

THE former part of the Epistle is Doctrinal; and it treats of the most important Doctrines of the Gospel; as GOD'S eternal Purpose, Fore-knowledge, Predestination, Vocation of Sinners into a State of Grace, their Justification there-upon, &c. The Doctrine of Justification is here very particularly and clearly handled, by the Apostle.

THE latter part of the Epistle is Practical, Instructive of us as to variety of Duties to be done by us. Within this part falls this Chapter, and particularly this Text; For p. 2Rulers are not a terror to good works; but to the Evil.

IN v. 1. We have a Divine Command given by the Mouth of an Apostle, viz. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher Powers. The Soul is here put for the Person, as frequently other-where in Scripture. Every Soul, includes Persons of all Ranks and Distinctions. Powers, are here intended of Civil Rulers; for the Apostle is not here treating of Churchgovernment.

OBEDIENCE to this Precept is here urged by weighty Reasons. GOD made Man a Rational Being; and as such He deals with him. He expects he should be swayed by Reason; and accordingly he is hereby pressed to his Duty.

AND He tells us,

1. THAT the Powers are of GOD. They are Ordained by Him, are Constituted by His Authority. And this should certainly be of weight with Rational Beings, with every Man that owns a GOD, and himself to be His Creature, sustained by Him every Moment, and deriving from Him every thing, every good thing that is injoyed by him.

2. THAT whosoever resists the Power, resists the Ordinance of GOD. He does not ultimately p. 3resist a Creature, but GOD Himself, while he resists, or opposes himself against His Ordinance. He wages War with GOD Himself. And what daring Madness is this in the Creature! Who is, as we read, in Jer. 18.6. In GOD'S Hand as the clay is in the Potters hand.

p. 33. THAT they that resist, shall receive to themselves Damnation. A dreadful doom indeed! A strong Motive it is to be subject to Government. Its the same word both in the Translation and Original, which we read, in 1 Cor. 11. 29. respecting Persons Unworthily receiving the Lords Supper. And tho' it be true that the word might be translated, Judgment; its also true, That either of these Sins, with all others that Men are guilty of, or any particular Sin whatsoever; without Repentance, will issue in Damnation.

4.(WHICH brings me to my Text) he tells us, That Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. q. d. Obey them, Chearfully submit to their Authority and Rule; for tho' they be Men armed with the Sword of Civil Justice; they are only evil workers, vicious Persons, to whom they are a terror. They will not hurt the good: No, their Power is, as is the Law, in 1 Tim. 1.9. Not against a Righteous Man, but against the Lawless, Disobedient, Ungodly, Unholy, &c.

p. 4IN the Words of the Text we have,

1. THE subject spoken of, viz. Rulers; Such to whom the Civil Government is by GOD committed; they are Rulers, Ruling in the Fear of GOD; Rulers in Scripture denominated gods. Psal. 82.1. GOD judgeth among the gods: they are gods, as being cloathed with His Authority; gods, as bearing the lively Image of His own Impartiality, Equity, Justice, &c. mixed with Lenity and Mercy.

2. WHAT is Predicated or Affirmed of them. They are a Terror. Their Countenances, Deportments, and Administrations carry a terror in them.

3. TO whom they are thus, or the objects of this Terror of theirs. And they are thus, (1) Negatively, Not to good works. Here works are put for Persons working. Rulers are no terror to them that be honest and good; that do good & work righteousness. (2) Positively, They are a terror to evil works. i. e. To evil workers. Evil workers, Vicious Persons, are they to whom they are a terror. Against these it is that the Point, of their Sword of Civil Justice is set. Immoral Men, Men of evil Practices, of wicked Lives, are the objects of their terror. Thus are Rulers a terror not to good works, but to the evil, p. 5DOCTRINE.

THEY are Evil Workers, Vicious Persons, to whom Rulers are a Terror.

TO these and only these, according to their Character in my Text, they are so. They are Evil Workers against whom their faces are set, and the edge of their Authority turned. They will not hurt the good: No, Rom. 13.3. Do good, and thou shalt have praise of them. They will not discoutenance, but incourage the doing of Good. This you may expect; for we read in Rom. 13.4. The Civil Ruler is the Minister of GOD unto thee for good.

FOR further Illustration of this Truth, I shall first lay down the following Positions; then Answer the Inquiry, viz. How, or in what way are Rulers a terror to Evil Workers, to Vicious Livers?

POSITIONS.

Position, 1. That RULE Originally belongs to GOD Only. The right of Rule is Primarily alone in the Hand of the High and Lofty ONE, who inhabiteth Eternity. Even a proud and lofty spirited Heathen seems to p. 6have been convinced of this, in Dan. 4.34—I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever, whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion, and his Kingdom from Generation to Generation. And it will come to that again, that all Rule shall be intirely in the Hand of the Great JEHOVAH. We read, in 1 Cor. 15.24. That the Great Mediator shall put down all Rule, Authority, and Power; and then shall deliver up the Kingdom to GOD. And v. 28. When all things shall be subdued unto the Son; the Son Himself shall be subject to Him that put all things under Him; that GOD may be all in all.