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When Nations Forsake Righteousness


‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people
.’ [Proverbs 14:34]
 

It would be a strange anomaly in the Divine administration if the connection between godliness and prosperity, ungodliness and misery established in individual men should not also apply to nations of men. The Scriptures clearly prove this to be the case. The annals of the chosen people as they were a righteous or a sinful nation are marked by corresponding exaltation or reproach.

Not the wisdom of policy, military prowess, abundant natural resources or extent of empire, but righteousness exalts a nation. Greece in her proud science and Rome in the zenith of her glory both sunk in the lowest depths of moral degeneration. No nation is immune from the reproach of sin.

Beloved America; a nation highest in the profession of righteousness! For you we rejoice with trembling. You were the home of the Pilgrims; the grace of God has come near you; the Bible and the Law was precious in your midst; you saw the establishment of liberty as the law of the land; you saw the church of Christ extend its reach and circulate the word and preaching of the gospel to the ends of the earth. This is your national exaltation.

But these things are your reproach: the exchange of the doctrines of the Bible for the opinions and traditions of men; the want of a full recognition of God in your public acts; the expulsion of God from the education of your children; the flood of infidelity, lawlessness and ungodliness; the slaughter of the innocents and the demeaning of the sacred institution of marriage.

God is not mocked. Judgment has come upon you, but how can you repent when you will not acknowledge there is a God? What an enemy is the ungodly man to his country! Loudly as he may talk of his patriotism and even though God should make him an instrument of advancing her temporal interest; yet he contributes to her deepest reproach.

Let the remnant in her midst remember their high responsibility. Let them take care in their life to add to her righteousness and not to the sin of the nation. Let them plead for their country‘s true prosperity with humiliation, faith and perseverance from a heart given to prayer. Let Daniel 9 be their pattern for this exercise of Christian patriotism. Let them labor for her exaltation with hearts united around the grace of God fully revealed in Jesus Christ: the Lord our righteousness.

[Adapted from Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:34]

 
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Necessity of Righteousness

 
Wisdom will lead a people to maintain a sacred regard to righteousness in reference to the public and individuals.
 
Moral righteousness is one of those strong bonds by which all public societies are supported. Heathen nations ignorant of divine revelation and the particular duties and obligations which are enlightened and enforced by the word and authority of God, have nevertheless been sensible of the great importance of moral righteousness. Greece and Rome in the beginning of their greatness, before they sunk into effeminacy and corruption, were careful to encourage and maintain public and private justice — they labored to diffuse principles of righteousness among all ranks of their citizens. Many of their writings on this subject deserve attentions so far as the observance of moral duties respect civil communities and the well-being of mankind in the present world.

As all civil communities have their foundation in compacts by which individuals immerge out of a state of nature and become one great whole — cemented together by voluntary engagements, covenanting with each other to observe such regulations and perform such duties as may tend to mutual advantage — hence ariseth the necessity of righteousness, this being the basis on which all must depend. When this fails, compacts [agreements and contracts] will be disregarded, men will lose a sense of their obligations to each other, instead of confidence and harmony will be a spirit of distrust and fear, every man will be afraid of his neighbor, jealousies will subsist between rulers and subjects, the strength of the community will be lost in animosity and division, all ability for united exertion will be destroyed; and the bonds of society being broken, it must be dissolved. It was long since observed by one of the greatest and wisest of kings and will forever remain true: “That righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” [Proverbs 14:34]. The truth of this divine maxim doth not depend upon any arbitrary contribution or positive system of government but flows from the reason and nature of things.
 
 
 
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The Fear of Liberty: Let us Return to Egypt

 
Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’ [Numbers 14:3]
 

The power of God had been displayed for the Jews in their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, yet they were willing to return to it rather than face difficulty and uncertainty.

What is it about us humans that we would prefer dependency over liberty?

Dependency for the Jews meant a reliance on a cruel master. They would willingly accept the certainty of dependency over self reliance and the hope of prosperity.

Liberty for the Jews was to rely on the promises of a sovereign God who had demonstrated His goodness and faithfulness in the face of hardship.

No man can serve two masters. We must choose between liberty and dependency; between Christ and the state.

Why must liberty be fought for and once it is gained why is the tendency toward a return to tyranny? What can we learn from the Jews who when led out of bondage in Egypt would soon want to return?

To be continued…
 
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Thy Kingdom Come


Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” –Jesus Christ [Matthew 6:10]

The colonial American’s were motivated by this prayer. They pursued the kingdom of God on earth by submitting to the authority of His revelation in the Bible and applying revealed truth to every area of life. Today we lack their view of the kingdom and the Scriptures. The culture is secular because the churches are no longer salt and light, having compromised the doctrines of Christ for the opinions of men.

What is the kingdom and what is it for the will of God to be done on earth?

We pray that God would exert his power, both by the Word and by the Spirit, that the whole world may willingly submit to him. The kingdom of God is opposed to all disorder and confusion for good order is nowhere found in the world, except when he regulates by his hand the schemes and dispositions of men…Ought we to ask from God what, he declares, will never exist to the end of the world? I reply: When we pray that the earth may become obedient to the will of God, it is not necessary that we should look particularly at every individual. It is enough for us to declare, by such a prayer as this, that we hate and regret whatever we perceive to be contrary to the will of God, and long for its utter destruction, not only that it may be the rule of all our affections, but that we may yield ourselves without reserve, and with all cheerfulness, to its fulfillment. [Calvin]
 
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A Pastoral Letter of Heartfelt Reflection

   
I post this letter from a dear former pastor because it was an encouragement to me…
 

Dear friends,

                I have to be honest in saying that the recent election did not turn out as my flesh would have preferred.  Nevertheless, it turned out precisely as I would have expected the Lord to ordain.  And bowing to the Spirit rather than the flesh, I have to say that my great disappointment is not that many of my preferred candidates did not win, but that the church at large has failed to a large extent to be salt and light in a dying world.  Much of the church has been active in conservative politics, but that is not being salt and light.  It would be better in the midst of spiritual, social and economic turmoil for the Christian to be able to say with a clear conscience that he had been true to the word, faithful to his Lord, and zealous in evangelism.  The Apostle Paul wrote that “we are a fragrance of Christ to God, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Our task is not to win elections, nor is it to boast in baptisms.  Our task is to be a fragrance of Christ to God.  But to what extent has this been the description of the church in America?

            I am reminded of how the Prophet Habakkuk grieved over the sins of Israel, and then shuddered to see God’s judgment.  He finally came to say,

Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

We have little reason not to say that God has brought judgment to our nation.  And this was the case long before this election.  We are in the crucible; we are in the Refiner’s fire.  Circumstances will grow worse.  But let us be content in what God has done.  For contentment is a matter of priorities and not circumstances.  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God . . .” Let us seek a kingdom which is not of this world. “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” And we cannot anticipate that the church can make any impact on this evil world until it has been purified.  Let us take to heart Paul’s exhortation to Timothy that we take heed to ourselves and our doctrine.  This is not a time for moderation in holiness, nor is it a time for compromise in instruction.  Let us all be pure in word and deed.

Trusting Him,
 
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Obama and the Oath


The current oath of enlistment is as follows:

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

This oath assumes that the President believes that the Constitution is worth defending. Now in the case of a man like Obama who disdains the Constitution, should he be considered a domestic enemy? The Constitution was intended to limit federal power to those things explicitly enumerated in favor of promoting the liberty of We the People and the States. Obama sees this as a fundamental flaw.

God forbid that We the People would ever elect a President that is the enemy of liberty. It is not only Obama that must be defeated, but his ideology of authoritarianism and dependency must be thrown out and trampled under foot as the worthless bilge it is.
 
So, will the oath be changed now that Obama is President?
 
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Qualifications of the Civil Magistrate

 
Knowledge and fidelity are qualifications indispensably necessary to form the character of good magistrates. No man ever possessed natural or acquired abilities too great for the discharge of the duties constantly incumbent upon those who act as the representatives of the Most High God in the government of their fellow creatures: multitudes, however well disposed, are totally incapable of such trust. The interests of society are always important; they are many times involved in extreme difficulty through the weakness of some and the wickedness of others; and there is need of the most extensive knowledge, wisdom, and prudence to direct the various opposing interests of individuals into one channel and guide them all to a single object: the public good. Woe to that people to whom God by His providence [Divine sustenance, oversight, and intervention]in judgment shall say, “I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed every one by another and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient and the base against the honorable. And judgment is turned away backward and justice standeth afar off, for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey” (Isaiah 3:4,5 and 59:14,15).

But knowledge alone will qualify no person to fill a public station with honor to himself or advantage to others. The greatest abilities — the most extensive knowledge — are capable of abuse; and when misapplied to selfish ambitious purposes, may be improved to the destruction of everything valuable in society.

Fidelity [integrity], therefore, is another essential characteristic in a good ruler. This is a qualification so absolutely essential that when known to be wanting, no conceivable abilities can atone for its absence. Fidelity hath no sure unshaken foundation but in the love and fear of the one true God — that love which extends its benign [gentle] influence to all the creatures of God. This is a branch of that benevolent religion which the Son of God came down from Heaven to establish in the hearts of men on earth; this, when seated in the soul of man, becomes a stable principle of action and will have a habitual influence in all his conduct, whether in public or private life; this will enable rulers to maintain the dignity of their elevated stations amidst the strong temptations with which they may be assaulted, feeling their just accountableness to those of their fellow men who have placed such confidence in them as to entrust them with all their valuable temporal interests — and what is infinitely more, feeling their accountableness to God, they will labor to discharge the important duties of their office, remembering that the day is fast approaching when notwithstanding “they are gods, and children of the Most High, yet they shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes” [Psalm 82:6-7]. Able pious magistrates who wish to answer the end of their appointment will not wish to hide their real characters from the public eye; they will come to the light that their deeds may be manifest [John 3:21].

It is the interest and privilege of an enlightened free people to be acquainted with the characters of their most worthy citizens who are candidates for public offices in the community; and it is equally their interest and privilege to make choice of those only to be rulers who are known among their tribes for wisdom and piety. Following the salutary counsel of the prince of Midian, they will provide out of all the people, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness [Exodus 18:21].

 
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Importance of Good Civil Leadership

 

The wisdom of a people will appear in the election of good rulers.

The peace and happiness of communities have a necessary dependence, under God, upon the character and conduct of those who are called to the administration of government. A bad constitution, under the direction of wise and pious rulers who have capacity to discern [and the] disposition and resolution to pursue the public good, may become a blessing being made to subserve many valuable purposes. But the best constitution committed to rulers of a contrary description may be subverted or so abused as to become a curse and be rendered productive of the most mischievous consequences. The understanding or folly of a people in reference to their temporal interests is in nothing more conspicuous than in the choice of civil rulers. In free states the body of electors have it in their power to be governed well if faithful to themselves and the public in raising those to offices of trust and importance who are possessed of abilities and have merited their confidence by former good services.

http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=13044

 

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A Pathway into the Holy Scripture


For Reformation Sunday here are some words of William Tyndale. First translator of the Greek New Testament into English. A model of his life's work may be taken from 2 Peter 1:12-21. He loved the Scriptures and desired that the common man have access to the Bible in the common tongue.
 
First printed in 1531; William Tyndale's ground breaking prologue expanded and printed as a separate volume: A Pathway into the Holy Scripture.   It was attacked in England and denounced as heretical.  It contains what Tyndale believed to be "the first principles" of the Christian faith -- and therefore necessary to the proper understanding of the Holy Writ. The following is the first few paragraphs. The rest can be found at the link...
 

I do marvel greatly, dearly beloved in Christ, that ever any man should repugn or speak against the scripture to be had in every language, and that of every man. For I thought that no man had been so blind to ask why light should be showed to them that walk in darkness, where they cannot but stumble, and where to stumble is the danger of eternal damnation; other so despiteful that he would envy any man (I speak not his brother) so necessary a thing; or so Bedlam mad to affirm that good is the natural cause of evil, and darkness to proceed out of light, and that lying should be grounded in truth and verity; and not rather clean contrary, that light destroyeth darkness, and verity reproveth all manner lying. 

Nevertheless, seeing that it hath pleased God to send unto our Englishmen, even to as many as unfeignedly desire it, the scripture in their mother tongue, considering that there be in every place false teachers and blind leaders; that ye should be deceived of no man, I supposed it very necessary to prepare this Pathway into the scripture for you, that ye might walk surely, and ever know the true from the false: and, above all, to put you in remembrance of certain points, which are, that ye well understand what these words mean; the Old Testament; the New Testament; the law; the gospel; Moses; Christ; nature; grace; working and believing; deeds and faith; lest we ascribe to the one that which belongeth to the other, and make of Christ Moses; of the gospel, the law; despise grace, and rob faith; and fall from meek learning into idle disputations; brawling and scolding about words.

The Old Testament is a book, wherein is written the law of God, and the deeds of them which fulfill them, and of them also which fulfill them not. 

The New Testament is a book, wherein are contained the promises of God; and the deeds of them which believe them, or believe them not. 

Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word; and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man's heart glad, and maketh him sing, dance, and leap for joy: as when David had killed Goliah the giant, came glad tidings unto the Jews, that their fearful and cruel enemy was slain, and they delivered out of all danger: for gladness whereof, they sung, danced, and were joyful. In like manner is the Evangelion of God (which we call gospel; and the New Testament) joyful tidings; and, as some say, a good hearing published by the apostles throughout all the world, of Christ the right David; how that he hath fought with sin, with death, and the devil, and overcome them: whereby all men that were in bondage to sin, wounded with death, overcome of the devil, are, without their own merits or deservings, loosed, justified, restored to life and saved, brought to liberty and reconciled unto the favor of God, and set at one with him again: which tidings as many as believe laud, praise, and thank God; are glad, sing and dance for joy... [William Tyndale]
 
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Purpose of Civil Law

 
The wisdom of a people will appear in their united exertions to support [a good] system of government in its regular administration.

Enacting salutary laws discovers the wisdom and good design of legislators, but the liberty and happiness of the community essentially depend upon their regular execution. The best code of laws can answer no good purposes any further than it is executed. Every member in society is bound in duty to the community, himself, and posterity to use his endeavors that the laws of the state be carried into execution.

Laws point out the existing offices, relations, and dependencies of the community; they serve for the direction, support, and defense of all characters; but considered as restrainers, they more especially respect the unruly members. (I Timothy 1:9,10): “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.”

…the strength and reputation of government doth not a little depend upon the uniformity and stability observed in its administration. Laws, while they remain such, ought to be executed; when found to be useless or hurtful, they may be repealed. To have laws in force and not executed, or to obstruct the natural course of law in a free state, must be dangerous will have many hurtful tendencies, will greatly weaken government, and render all the interests of the community insecure. Liberty, property, and life are all precarious [insecure] in a state where laws cease in their execution. When known breachers of law pass with impunity [without penalty] and open transgressors go unpunished — when executive officers grow remiss in their duty, especially when they connive [wink] at disobedience — all distinctions betwixt virtue and vice will vanish, authority will sink into disrepute, and government will be trampled in the dust — for which reasons (with others that might be named), it must be the wisdom — the indispensable duty of all characters in society — to unite their exertions for the support of righteous laws in their regular administration.

 
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The Religious Man


Obama is a religious man and so is every other man. The question is what will a man worship?

Most men are self worshippers in that they make themselves the authority on truth or some other man. They have judged the God of the Bible and found Him lacking. They do not recognize His authority, nor will they submit to His rule. This is what it means to be in rebellion. Every man does what is right in his own eyes.

The blind faith of the atheists is that the truth they have suppressed about God is not really truth. After all there are many radical naturalists; they cannot all be wrong. Can they?

Christ said that His people hear His voice and they follow Him. He said that love toward Him is demonstrated by keeping His commandments. This is the only valid measure of faith. Many will profess Him, but they will be condemned for practicing lawlessness. Their life is characterized by lawlessness rather than obedience. The only definition of Christian that matters in the one given by Christ.

The faith of the Christian is made evident by his adherence to the Law, for love is the fulfillment of the Law and the definition of what is good.

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. [Romans 13:9-11]
 
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America depends on the First Thing

 
The reason Mrs. Palin is so hated by the Left is that she represents those who see ‘the value inherent in those deemed imperfect’ [Marjorie Dannenfelser].

She is a reminder that the Left doesn’t see the worth and potential of the individual. All they can see is a serf of the state. Those deemed imperfect or unwanted are of no value to the state.

She focuses the differences in world view and exposes the bankruptcy of their pathetic ideology. The worth of men is not measured in their value to the state. Mrs. Palin understands the first thing about man and about the Constitution. Christian or not, all men have infinite worth based on the image they bear of the Personal and Infinite I AM.

Everything else depends on this whether it be the right to life, civil liberty, religious freedom, the right of self defense or the right to own property including the fruits of labor. So, it is of no surprise that those who oppose Mrs. Palin are the same ones opposed to these things that most of us associate with America. They are not only anxious to give away their own liberty, but hate those who oppose them.

Thanks to all who will stand up in support of Governor Palin and family.
 
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Origin of the Love of Liberty

 
What happened to the love of liberty that characterized the colonial Americans and the founding generations? If we understood the origin of their love for liberty, then perhaps we could answer that question.

The secularists do not like the religious nature of the Founders nor their references to Divine Providence and the Supreme Judge of the earth. Even less do they like the references to the Bible and Christianity.

The religious do not like the flavor of Christianity. They deny the influence of the Reformation and the Great Awakening and of Reformed Theology on the American Revolution and American Constitutionalism. They prefer the pagan philosophers of Greece and Rome over the great Reformers, who are the fathers of western thought and culture.

Denying our heritage has resulted in losing perspective of what motivated the early Americans. Their hope was in the sovereign God who had spoken in the person and work of Jesus Christ. They understood that in Christ there is grace greater than their sin and that liberty was to be found in adherence to the God of Law. What once had accused and condemned them without mercy had now become to them that which is holy, just and good. In Christ they were free of the Law’s condemnation; free to pursue the glory of God in all things including their family, worship, work and community.

We say that the love of liberty comes from the love of the Redeemer of men in an understanding of what great blessings He has secured for His people. Those who deny our heritage will certainly lose the blessings of liberty. Rather than a reliance on Divine Providence, their reliance is in the socialist state.
 
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Civil Liberty and Law

 
Wisdom will direct a community to establish a good system of government. It may be a question whether the all-wise God ever designed that any of His intelligent creatures — even in a state of perfection — should exist without some kind of government and subordinating amongst themselves…yet it is beyond doubt that government was designed and is absolutely necessary for men on earth in their present state of degeneracy.

Creatures who have risen in rebellion against the holy and perfect government of Jehovah have partial connections [an attachment to their temporal life above their eternal life], selfish interests, passions, and lusts which often interfere with each other and which will not always be controlled by reason and the mild influence of moral motives however great: but these in their external expressions must be under the restraint of law or there can be no peace — no safety among men. Some kind of government is therefore indispensably necessary for the happiness of mankind that they may partake of the security and other important blessings resulting from society which cannot be enjoyed in a state of nature. Without any consideration of the various forms of government which have been adopted in different ages and countries, that may be the best for a particular people which in the view of all their circumstances affords the fairest prospect of promoting righteousness and of securing the most valuable privileges of the community in its administration.

Civil liberty is one of the most important blessings which men possess of a temporal nature — the most valuable inheritance on this side heaven. That constitution may therefore be esteemed on the best which doth most effectually secure this treasure to a community. That liberty consists in freedom from restraint, leaving each one to act as seemeth right to himself, is a most unwise mistaken apprehension [Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25].

Civil liberty consists in the being and administration of such a system of laws as doth bind all classes of men — rulers and subjects — to unite their exertions for the promotion of virtue and public happiness. That happy constitution enjoyed by the Hebrews of which the Supreme Lawgiver was the immediate [author], other than a system of good laws and righteous statutes which limited the powers and prerogatives of magistrates, designated the duties of subjects and obliged each to that obedience to law and exchange of services which tended to mutual benefit. (Deuteronomy 4:8): “And what nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day.”

The laws of a state should equally bind every member, whether his station be the most conspicuous or the most obscure. Rulers in a righteous government are as really under the control of law as the meanest [lowest] subject, and the one equally with the other should be subjected to punishment whenever he becomes criminal by a violation of the law. Rewards and punishments should be equally distributed to all, agreeably to real merit or demerit without respect of persons. A constitution founded upon the general and immutable laws of righteousness and benevolence, and corresponding to their particular circumstances, will therefore become a primary object with a wise and understanding people.

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Lessons from a Divine Constitution

 
‘We are not left in doubt concerning the wisdom and salutary [useful] nature of that constitution under which the Hebrews were placed, as it proceeded immediately from God; and in reference to the particular circumstances of that people, was the result of unerring perfection. It was a free constitution in which all the valuable rights of the community were most happily secure. The public good was the great object in view, and the most effectual care was taken to preserve the rights of individuals. Proper rewards were promised to the obedient and righteous punishments allotted for the disobedient [Deuteronomy 28:1,15]. God designed for special reasons that [the] seed of Abraham should be distinguished in a peculiar manner from all other nations; He therefore undertook the government of them Himself in all matters respecting religion, civil policy, and that military establishment which he saw to be necessary for their happiness and defense. We find Moses — who received this constitution from God and delivered it to his people — frequently exhorting them to maintain a sacred regard for this Divine institution and to pay a conscientious obedience to all its laws, in doing of which they might secure to themselves national prosperity and enjoy the unfailing protection of Almighty God’ [Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Leviticus 26:3-12; Deuteronomy 4:5-8].

 
In this introduction Pastor Stone gives us the characteristics of Constitutional government as given to the ancient Hebrews though Moses the prophet and man of God.

This is the perfect model for the Reformation principle of rule of law because it is based on divine Law and knowledge of what is good for man in his fallen state.

This was the view of our forefathers and served as the basis for the American Constitution. We need not look to the pagan philosophy of the Greeks and Romans to serve as the foundation of American constitutionalism. We look to the ancient record of the seed of Abraham, the Old Covenant people of God.

The Hebrew people were given a constitution to distinguish them from the nations of men in their religion, civil policy and security in order to promote their well being and happiness.

The public good was the great object in view, and the most effectual care was taken to preserve the rights of individuals. Proper rewards were promised to the obedient and righteous punishments allotted for the disobedient according to divine law.

Moses exhorted the people to consider the high privilege of being under the government of God through the constitution given to him from God and therefore to pursue obedience to the Laws of God to order to insure their national prosperity under divine protection.

It should be of no surprise that the New Covenant people of God would find their greatest happiness in ordering themselves in civil affairs according to the divine pattern given to the Hebrews. This is what happened in the founding of America. This is what separates America from the other nations. The exhortation that Moses made to the Hebrews applies to us as well.


Next Post: In what doth the true wisdom of a civil community consist?
 
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