The _importance_ of civil Law is vastly great. Its importance can
scarcely be exaggerated by any representation. The most of our
earthly happiness lies under the protection of human Law, and lies
there by the will of God. We have not an item of property, in land,
or houses, or goods, or chattels, or money, which the Law does not
guard for us; and we have very little indeed, which we could
effectually guard for ourselves. If this protecting, guarding Law is
not enforced,--if the Law is obstructed, or crippled, or baffled, or
violently set at naught; then, the security of civilized society is
gone, and our property, our liberty, our rights, privileges and
life, just lie at the mercy of every unjust man, and any violent and
excited band of the wicked!--So important to us is the potential
dominion and regular administration of Law.
Moreover our very rights in religion, our privilege to have the word
of God and read it, to worship God according to the dictates of our
own conscience, to preach the gospel and hear it, are rights and
privileges, which, in this unjust world, we could not enjoy for a
single year, aside from the protection and potential administration
of human government.
If this human government, the government of Law, cannot be
maintained, therefore, there is nothing on earth valuable to us,
which is secure for a single hour! If the Law cannot be enforced,
then government is at an end and anarchy reigns, and all is
confusion, uncertainty, and violence! Order, civilization,
Christianity is not safe!
There is indeed a _limit_ to the obedience due to human government.
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