He sent out his disciples to appear in a distinct character from the world and to be a light to it by imitating his example and by exhibiting his spirit and temper. They ought not to say, as the Jews did, that they have no king but Caesar, for they have an everlasting King and kingdom and laws perfect and eternal. They should, therefore, set their affections on things above and not on things beneath. While the kingdoms of this world exist, Christians must remain in captivity to them and must obey all their laws which are not contrary to the laws of the gospel; otherwise they cannot remain peaceful, harmless, and blameless in the midst of a wicked world before whom they must shine as lights. Though the church is now in captivity, yet her redemption draweth nigh, for God will soon "overthrow the throne of kingdoms," and the thrones will be cast down and the princes of this world will come to naught. The stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands will dash them to pieces, as the potter's vessel is shivered, and will become a great mountain and fill the whole earth; then the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high God whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and of whose dominion there shall be no end. Though God, by his decree, has ordained civil governments and established kingdoms, and will by his providence make them subservient to the good of his church and people, and notwithstanding it is the duty of Christians to be in subjection to them and pay tribute, yet it does not follow that their genius and laws may not often be contrary to the genius and laws of the gospel, and when they are so Christians must not obey them nor count their lives dear to themselves. It should be distinctly remembered that when Christians were exhorted and commanded to be obedient to civil rulers, they were under heathen, idolatrous, civil governments, and those civil governments were by no means congenial with the spirit and precepts of the gospel; still Christians were commanded to be in subjection to them; not, however, without limitation, for they utterly refused obedience in many instances and nobly suffered or died as martyrs. Thus civil government may be an ordinance of God, may be subservient to the good of the church, may be an instrument in God's hands of executing his wrath, and Christians may be bound to obey magistrates in all things not contrary to the gospel; and yet it will not follow that Christians may consistently with the gospel take up the sword or do anything to countenance war.