Rev. Samuel B. Wylie on civil government being an ordinance of God

Samuel B. Wylie (1773-1852)

“Civil government does not, as some modern politicians affirm, originate either in the people, as its fountain, or in the vices consequent upon the fall. Among the angels, who retained their primitive rectitude, we find certain orders, suggested by the denominations of Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, and Powers, Col. 1:16. This testifies regular subordination among them, agreeable to the constitutional laws of their nature, and their amenability to God, their Creator and Lord. But though civil government is no new order of things, predicated upon the fall, nor, like the ministry, in all its circumstances, flowing immediately from Christ as Mediator; yet it is among the all things committed to him by the donation of the Father, Eph. 1:22. Its officers likewise, are enjoined, under pain of perdition, to make all their administrations bend to the honour of Immanuel: and the body politic indispensably bound to modify their constitutions by his word, when in his goodness he has revealed it unto them. Ps. 2:10,12: “Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.” Can any thing be more explicit in demonstrating the obligation of the civil authorities to render homage and respect to Messiah?”

The Two Sons Of Oil; or, The Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry upon a  Scriptural Basis.

So much for social conservatives saying the power of government is in “we the people.”

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Tags: American Covenanters, Christian Nation, U.S. Constitution