# Of The Office Of The Magistracy.

Date not assigned · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: OF THE OFFICE OF THE MAGISTRACY.



The secular power or magistracy is ordained by
God in all countries, and bears the sword not in
vain, for it is the minister of God, and a revenger,
for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise
of the good. Rom. 13:2,4; Sir. 17:18; 1 Pet. 2:14.

Every one is commanded to be subject unto the
higher powers. Whosoever therefore resisteth the
power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they
that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom. 13:1,2.

All true believers are therefore in duty bound by
the word of God, to fear the magistracy, to render
honor and obedience to the same, in all things not
contrary to the commandments of the Lord, and to
pay tribute, custom, and taxes to them, without
gainsaying or murmuring, seeing that, according to
the words of Peter, we must submit ourselves to
every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, and
pray to Almighty God for them; also to give our
greatest thanks to the Lord for good and reasonable
authorities. Rom. 13:7; Acts 4:19; 5:29; 1 Pet.
2:13; Jer. 29:7; Bar. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:2.

Yet, we do not find, that the Lord Jesus Christ
has ordained this office of secular authority in his
spiritual kingdom—the Church of the New Testament—or
added it to the offices of his church; nor
has he given them laws adapted for such office and
government; but he said to his disciples: The kings
and lords of the Gentiles, and they that exercise
authority among them, are called gracious lords.
But it shall not be so among you. Matt. 20:25,26;
Luke 22:25,26. Here we leave the matter, as we
do not consider it necessary to enter into farther
details.





---

Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-of-the-office-of-the-magistracy/

[Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Of+The+Office+Of+The+Magistracy.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AOf+The+Office+Of+The+Magistracy.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-of-the-office-of-the-magistracy%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-of-the-office-of-the-magistracy%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)