ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
ment does for the people. From "the powers that be" we re... ceive ~rotection of life .-and- property. Armies and navies, pplicemen and firemen, the courts of the land-these are all for our "good" when authority is exercised as a trust from . God. Public schools and parks and all educational and rec.- reational organizations, conducted for the best interests of the people, belong to this class. You see, my friend, how the higher powers can be and often are "the ministers of God" for our "good." And again, the civil ruler "beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." These words take us back to Gen. 9: 6, which we read a few minutes ago. We saw that God put government into the world after the flood, in order to restrain wickedness and violence in the earth. That is why He insti-- tuted capital punishment, saying, "Whosoever sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." We find in our country today sentimental people who are leading a crusade against capital punishment, but let us remember that it is God's fundamental, governmental law. And in those countries where this law is exercised there is less crime, less murder, less lawlessness than in those countries where the criminal can more easily escape the just penalty of his deed. When this law is set aside, human life becomes cheap and far more blood is shed than would be the case if men knew that if they shed man's blood, by ~aµ their own blood would surely be shed. The judge who ignores this law of God will have to give an account to Him, whether his action may be for bribe or favor or sentiment. He is "the minister of God" for the exer... cise of authority in the world. "He beareth not the sword in vain." Let us not forget that God's Word does not deny the murderer pardon. A man may be saved, even though he has taken life. Shedding human blood is an awful thing in the eyes of God; but He will pardon and save the murderer just [Page 237
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