These commands must, therefore, be limited. The question is, How are they limited? We apprehend, by the spirit and other precepts of the gospel. We have already shown, we trust, that these absolutely prohibit war in every form. If so, then none of these injunctions can counteract the position we are examining. They only enjoin strict obedience to all human laws under which we live that do not contradict the spirit or precepts of the gospel; when they do, they are not binding and must be resisted; not, however, with carnal but spiritual weapons; we must take joyfully the spoiling of our goods and count not our lives dear unto ourselves. It has been often said that he who refuses to comply with the commands of the magistrate resists the powers that be, and, according to the apostle's reasoning, resists the ordinance of God and will receive to himself damnation. And, further, as all powers are the ordinance of God they ought to be supported, and if they cannot without, they must be even at the point of, the sword. Here the subject of the Mediator must make a distinction between resisting the "powers that be" by force of arms and refusing to obey their unlawful commands. It is not supposed that in one case he would obey and that in the other he would disobey the commands of his Master. No martyr ever considered himself as violating this precept in refusing to sacrifice to an idol at the command of an earthly power; neither will any subject of the Mediator view himself as violating it by refusing to use carnal weapons while he believes that his Lord has utterly forbidden his using them. It is apprehended that if this proves anything upon the principles of war, that it will prove too much for its advocates. The command is to obey the powers that be and not the powers that ought to be. If it is taken in an unlimited sense, it must prohibit resisting even tyrannical powers, and would, of course, condemn every Christian who engaged in the American Revolution. To say that all power is in the hands of the people, and, of course, it is the people who are the powers that be, is thought to be but a quibble. We will suppose a very possible case,--that a foreign power completely overturns the government of the people and disannuls their laws and gives a new code; in that case, the command to obey the powers that be would not be annihilated. The precept originally was given while the disciples were in the midst of tyrannical governments. It is thought that it is so far from tolerating defensive war that it is opposed to it. The precepts of the gospel cannot be dependent upon the convulsions of the nations. If Christians are bound to aid with carnal weapons in suppressing a rebellion, then, if the opposing power gains the predominance, they must turn directly about and fight the very power they were before supporting. Such conduct would not become the citizens of Zion. If it is said the powers that be are