By Michael Daniels
9/28/2015
Should we allow other religions to practice freely in America? Do we permit Mohammedans to freely worship and build Mosque in cities, towns and neighborhoods?
To many people it is the supreme law that we are permitted and allowed to have freedom of religion and if we do not believe in freedom of religion or tolerance then we have broken some sort of supreme law that one can possible have. It has become the ultimate cultural sin. Sadly even those whom claim the name of Christ have been taught to believe the same thing. But is this what Yahovah have taught us? Is this what His divine law directs us to do? Are we to be tolerate of every false religion and grant full freedom of religion throughout the world?
Such concept is an insult to the Holy One of Israel. It is pure Blasphemy at its very root. For we are commanded to have no other gods before Him and no where in scripture are we directed to be tolerant or be accepting of other religions nor are we commanded to give freedom of religion. In essence this is a violation of the First Commandment.
§Tear down the wicked and abominable places
In fact we are directly commanded to tear down the wicked and abominable places throughout the land. We must be careful to not to participate in the fellowship of demons either directly or by not removing the idolatry as Scripture commands, Exodus 23:13, Exodus 23:24; Exodus 34:13; Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 7:26, for if we do not become accomplices in their wicked acts, (Psalm 50:18), “When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.”
“And ye shall take heed to all things that I have said unto you: and ye shall make no mention of the name of other gods, neither shall it be heard out of thy mouth.” (Exodus 23:13),
“But thus ye shall deal with them, Ye shall overthrow their altars, and break down their pillars, and ye shall cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.” (Deuteronomy 7:5),
“The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire, and covet not the silver and gold, that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therewith: for it is an abomination before the Lord thy God. Bring not therefore abomination into thine house, lest thou be accursed like it, but utterly abhor it, and count it most abominable: for it is accursed.” (Deuteronomy 7:25-26),
“Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, neither serve them, nor do after the works of them: but utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their images.” (Exodus 23:24),
“But ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their images in pieces, and cut down their groves” (Exodus 34:13),
“Ye shall then drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, and destroy all their pictures, and break asunder all their images of metal, and pluck down all their high places” (Numbers 33:52)
§Propagation of Religion Versus Preservation of Religion
Now granted we are not call to propagate Christianity by the Sword. There is a vast difference between an unbeliever and a person who commits Blasphemy willingly. We do not convert by the sword like the Mohammedans.
“Sixthly, as the reformation and preservation of religion differ much from the propagation of religion: so the coercive power put forth in the suppressing of Heresy or Schism, is a thing of another nature than the compelling of Infidels by the sword to receive the Gospel. Let the Pope, and the Spaniard, and Mahomet propagate religion by the sword; that is not it I plead for. None of the Gentiles was of old compelled to be circumcised, but being circumcised he might be compelled to keep the Law of Moses. Also if strangers of the Gentiles were sojourning or trading in the land of Israel, they might be compelled to abstain from the public and scandalous breaking of the moral Law, Nehem. 13.16,21; Exod. 20.10, which things did belong to the preservation, but the propagation of religion. “-George Gillespie, Wholesome Severity Reconciled With Christian Liberty, 1644
“Religion may be defended by arms but not propagated by arms.” -Johannes Wollebius, 1660
§Self-Preservation and the Defense of Others
But we pick up the sword in a number of situations. We are permitted to pick the sword for Self-defense as well as defense of others. In fact we are required to pick up the sword in such situations by the positive duty of the Sixth Commandment. For every commandment there is a positive and negative duty and in addition to this every commandment must be given explanation, not by our own reasoning or our own logic but how Scripture defines it. Now every Commandment can and will be abused but that cannot allow us to prohibit something that is a positive aspect of a commandment or by what other scriptures gives as examples.
As Reformed Covenanter Theologian Alexander Shield said in 1687 with reference to the Sixth Commandment,
” In the next place, What we own may be done warrantably, in taking away the life of men without breach of the sixth command … It is certain, though the command be indefinitely expressed, it doth not prohibit all killing, but only that which is condemned in other explicatory commands.”
So as he said, we must have other explicatory commands to define for us what is murder and what is not murder, what is a breach of the sixth commandment and what is not a breach of the sixth commandment.
We have a negative duty but we also have a positive duty and we must define them by Scripture.
We are preserve life including the life of other people. This self-defense even extends to Tyrants in so-called government rulers by such examples in Scripture a Jael as well as many more.
“Some of the Anabaptists hold it unlawful to take up the sword upon any occasion, but questionless a man may take up the sword for self-preservation, else he comes under the breach of the sixth commandment. He who does not is guilty of self-murder. In taking up the sword he does not so much seek another’s death, as the safeguard of his own life. His intention is not to do hurt, but to prevent it. Self-defense is consistent with Christian meekness.” — Thomas Watson, “The Beatitudes”, pg. 108
“Ver. 35-38. Those who interpret Luke 22:35,36, as a precept of our Saviour’s imposing a duty upon his disciples, or a counsel concerning the proviting arms which they might use for the protection and defence of themselves. … Hitherto I have been with you, and you have had my special protection; though you went out without a purse or a scrip, yet you have wanted nothing; though you went without a sword, yet none did you any harm. But the time is now come, when the posture of your affairs will be much altered; your friends will be few, your enemies many, therefore you stand concerned to make as good preparation as you can do in those things that are consistent with the general precepts that I have given you. The tragedy will begin with me; for what is written of me must now be accomplished, Isaiah 53:12, He was numbered with the transgressors. I must be brought before magistrates as a common malefactor, and hanged on a cross between two thieves. And the things concerning me shall shortly have an end: you will next come upon the stage, and therefore prepare what in you lieth for the performance of your part. “ -Matthew Poole’s Commentary
“35-38. “But now—that you are going forth not as before on a temporary mission, provided for without purse or scrip, but into scenes of continued and severe trial, your methods must be different; for purse and scrip will now be needed for support, and the usual means of defense.” -Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
§Rescue of our Brethren
We may pick up the sword to rescue of our brethren who are falsely imprisoned or taken as slaves as per Prov. 24.11,12.
“5. It is lawful to kill enemies in the rescue of our brethren, when they are keeping them in bondage, and reserving them for a sacrifice to the fury of tyrants, or leading them forth to a slaughter, or in the time of acting their murdering violence upon them: then, to break prisons, beat up garrisons, surprise the murderers, and kill them in the rescue of our innocent brethren, is very lawful, according to that command, Prov. 24.11,12, and the practice of Moses, who seeing one of his brethren suffering wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and slew the Egyptian, Acts 7.24. For that is a certain truth, which Grotius saith in locum. “the law of nature gives a right to an innocent, and to the defender of an innocent person, against the guilty offender.” Hence it cannot but be lawful also, in a case of necessity, when both ourselves and our brethren are pursued incessantly by destroying murderers, to avenge ourselves on them, and slay them, when there is no other way to be rid of their violence.” Alexander Shield, A Hind Let Loose, 1668
§Just War of Private Subjects or Part of the Commonwealth
We may also pick up the sword in a just war either by a defensive war of private subjects, or a part of the commonwealth, against their oppressing tyrants.
“It is lawful in a just war to kill the enemy; yea in the defensive war of private subjects, or a part of the commonwealth, against their oppressing tyrants, as is proven, head 5, Where several of the arguments used to evince that truth will confirm this; as namely, those arguments taken from the people’s power in reformation, and those taken from the hazard of partaking of others sin and judgment: for, if all the magistrates, supreme and subordinate, turn principal patrons and patterns of all abominations, and persecutors and destroyers of the people for not complying with them, then the people are not only under an obligation to resist them; but seeing otherwise they would be liable for their sin, in suffering them thus to trample on religion, and the interests of God as well as their own, in order to turn away the wrath of God, it is incumbent upon them to vindicate religion, and reform the land from these corruptions, in an endeavour to bring those malignant enemies of God, and destroyers of the people, to condign punishment, “That the heads of the people be hanged up before the Lord against the sun, the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from the land,” Numb. 25.4. In this case, as Buchanan says of a tyrant, De jure regni, “A lawful war being once undertaken with such an enemy as a tyrant is, every one out of the whole multitude of mankind may assault, with all the calamities of war, a tyrant, who is a public enemy, with whom all good men have a perpetual warfare.” And though the war be not always actually prosecute in a hostile manner, yet, as long as peace is not concluded and the war ceased, they that have the just side of the quarrel may take advantages, in removing and taking off, (not every single soldier of the contrary side, for that would contribute nothing to their prevailing in the end) but the principal instruments and promoters of the war, by whose fall the offending side would suffer great loss, and the defending would be great gainers. So Jael killing Sisera, Jabin’s captain-general, is greatly commended. [Judges chapters 4,5.] Now this was the case of the suffers upon this head, as Mr. Mitchel, one of them represents it in his forecited letter, “I being (says he) a soldier, not having laid down my arms, but still upon my own defence, having no other end or quarrel at any man—besides the prosecution of the ends of the covenant, particularly the overthrow of prelates and prelacy; and I being a declared enemy to him (that is Sharp) on that account, and he to me in the like manner, I never found myself obliged to set a centinel at his door for his safety; but as he was always to take his advantage, as it appeareth, so I of him to take any opportunity offered; moreover; we being in no terms of capitulation, but on the contrary, I, by his instigation, being excluded from all grace and favour, thought it my duty to pursue him at all occasions. “
§Defense of Religion & Sword Against Tyranny
We may also pick up the sword against tyranny in the land. When wicked rulers persecute the people of God and seek their lives. And we may pick up the sword of defense of religion. For Life, Liberty and Defense of Religion we may pick up the Sword but not for propagation of religion.
“From the resistance allowed in all governments, it may be argued thus; if it be duty to defend our religion, lives, and liberties ” Alexander Shield, A Hind Let Loose, 1668
” It is lawful to kill enemies in the rescue of our brethren, when they are keeping them in bondage, and reserving them for a sacrifice to the fury of tyrants, or leading them forth to a slaughter, or in the time of acting their murdering violence upon them: then, to break prisons, beat up garrisons, surprise the murderers, and kill them in the rescue of our innocent brethren, is very lawful, according to that command, Prov. 24.11,12, and the practice of Moses, who seeing one of his brethren suffering wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and slew the Egyptian, Acts 7.24. For that is a certain truth, which Grotius saith in locum. “the law of nature gives a right to an innocent, and to the defender of an innocent person, against the guilty offender.” Hence it cannot but be lawful also, in a case of necessity, when both ourselves and our brethren are pursued incessantly by destroying murderers, to avenge ourselves on them, and slay them, when there is no other way to be rid of their violence.” Alexander Shield, A Hind Let Loose, 1668
“From the limited power of princes it may be thus argued: If princes be limited by laws and contracts, and may be resisted by pleas in law, and have no absolute power to do and command what they will, but must be limited both by the laws of God and man, and cannot make what laws they will in prejudice of the people’s rights, nor execute the laws made according to their pleasure, nor confer on others a lawless license to oppress whom they please; then when they turn tyrants, and arrogate a lawless absoluteness, and cross the rules, and transgress the bounds prescribed by God’s laws, and man’s laws, and make their own lusts a law, and execute the same arbitrarily, they must be resisted by force, when a legal resistance cannot be had, in defence of religion and liberty; but all princes are limited, &c. ” Alexander Shield, A Hind Let Loose, 1668
§The Christian Magistrate and Duty to Suppress Wickedness and Abominations
It is also required for the Christian Magistrate to suppress wickedness and abominations from taking place in the land. This as well is not a propagation of religion but something that God endowed the Magistrate who is a minister of God to do as well as to defend and protect the true religion throughout the land. Magistrates are to be like nursing fathers to the church and what loving father would allow a child to practice outward heresy, blasphemy, abomination and false religion. Speaking of New Testament Times Isaiah says, “Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” (Isaiah 49:22-23)
William Symington said, The prophecy refers to New Testament times, when the Gentiles are to be gathered unto the Redeemer. A prominent feature of these times shall be the subserviency of civil rulers to the church, which surely supposes their subjection to Christ her Head. Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers is a similitude which imports the most tender care, the most endearing solicitude; not mere protection, but active and unwearied nourishment and support. If, according to the opinions of some, the best thing the state can do is to let her alone, to leave her to herself, to take no interest in her concerns, it is difficult to see how this view can be reconciled with the figure of a nurse, the duties of whose office would certainly be ill discharged by such a treatment of her feeble charge. -William Symington, Messiah the prince or, the mediatorial dominion of Jesus Christ (1839)
§The Fury of God’s Wrath on Nations from the defection of a few
But why should magistrates be required such and why is it so severe of a judgment? As John Knox so aptly put it in his Appellation, from Deut. 13,
“To the carnal man this may seem to be a rigorous and severe judgment, than even the infants there should be appointed to the cruel death; and as concerning the city, and spoil of the same, man’s reason cannot think but that it might have been better bestowed, than to be consumed. But in such cases, let all creatures stoop, and desist from reasoning, when commandment is given to execute his judgment. I will search no other reasons, than the Holy Ghost hath assigned; first, That all Israel should fear to commit the like abomination; and, secondly, That the Lord might turn from the fury of his anger: which plainly doth signify, that, by the defection and idolatry of a few, God’s wrath is kindled against the whole, which is never quenched, till such punishment be taken upon the offenders, that whatsoever served them in their idolatry be brought to destruction, etc.”
§Eradicate Outward Idolatry and False Religion
Kings are required by the law of God to eradicate outward idolatry and false religion from the land and we see this through the positive examples of Scripture of the commendation of the kings of Israel.
As the Historic Reformed Church has always believed. We hold not just explicit application of God’s law but positive historical examples of the kings and magistrates of the old testament to also be examples for Christian kings and princes. We also hold to Implicit examples and Good and Necessary Inference in the role of Civil Magistracy.
One of the Seven duties of civil magistrates outlined in Scripture and enforced in the Westminster Standards is
1. Nationally eradicate idolatry and false religion (cf. 2 Chron. 34:3-7; 2 Chron. 31:1; 2 Chron. 15:8; 2 Chron. 15:16, etc.).
2 Chron. 34:3-7 – “And in the eighth year of his reign (when he was yet a child) he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah, and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and molten images. And they brake down in his sight the altars of Baal, and he caused to cut down the images that were on high upon them: he brake also the groves, and the carved images and the molten images, and stamped them to powder, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. Also he burnt the bones of the Priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. And in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mauls they brake all round about. And when he had destroyed the altars, and the groves, and had broken and stamped to powder the images, and had cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
2 Chron. 31:1 – “And when all these things were finished, all Israel, that were found in the cities of Judah, went out and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake down the high places, and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had made an end: afterward all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession, into their own cities.”
2 Chron. 15:8 – “And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Obed the Prophet, he was encouraged, and took away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken of mount Ephraim, and he renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord.”
2 Chron. 15:16 – “And King Asa deposed Maachah his mother from her regency, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa brake down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.”
§Freedom of Conscience
What about freedom of conscience? We don’t go by conscience. Conscience is tainted by sin. Our Conscience is not free to do what is wicked and evil and not permitted the Creator of all things. We go by the Word of God with a Corporate Interpretation of Those Scriptures.
As Reformed Covenanter Theologian James Willson wrote in the 1800s,
“It will, no doubt, be urged, that the right of conscience is a sacred right—that whatever a man’s conscience thinks right, is right to him. No matter whether he be a Jew, a Christian, a Pagan, or a Mahometan—whether he believes the Bible or the Koran, or that both are an imposition, provided he conscientiously believes what he believes. Every man has an inalienable and indefeasible right to think, believe, and act, according to the dictates of his own conscience. And to call this in question is tyrannical, and to attempt to prevent it is persecution.
In answer to this, it would be necessary to settle the point, what is conscience, and what is right?—Conscience may be considered as a faculty or power of the soul of man, by which, as a judge, he passes sentence, in God’s name, upon his own conduct. It is the deputy or vicegerent of God in the soul, which pronounces in his name, a sentence of approbation, or disapprobation, on human conduct, according as it appears to be morally right or wrong. Respect must be had, in every case, to a law. There is no possibility of knowing what is right or wrong—approvable or disapprovable, without a law. Sin is a transgression of the law. The judgment passed by conscience upon an action, is a moral judgment. The understanding too, is a faculty of the human soul, by which we form judgments. We compare ideas—we examine evidence, and we judge the truth or falsehood of a proposition, by the understanding. In reference to a law, we examine actions, and determine their agreement or disagreement therewith, and so pronounce them good or bad, by the exercise of understanding. The understanding, comprehending the demonstration, judges that the three angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles.
But the conscience is distinguished, in its acts of judgment, from the understanding, inasmuch as all its judgments are judicial. It decides not merely as a jury finding a man innocent or guilty, but as the judge on the bench it pronounces a sentence of acquittal, or condemnation, according as the understanding has discovered an agreement, or disagreement, between the action and the law, in that case made and provided. The conscience, therefore, is not a rule or law, but a judge, applying the law to the case at hand, and pronouncing sentence accordingly. To identify the law with the judge, is a compounding of distinct ideas and calculated to destroy the precision of language. What are the rights of conscience? We might perhaps understand this question, by enquiring what are the rights of a judge? They are precisely, what the law allows him. The rights of conscience are, precisely, what the law of God allows it, neither more nor less. But the law of God never can give to the conscience of man, a right to act contrary to that law. This would be a sanction from the law, to destroy itself. Any thing, therefore, which the divine law forbids, never can be found among the rights of conscience.
It might, perhaps, assist us in forming correct ideas on this subject, to ask what is a right? It must be something opposite of wrong, for these words present contradictory ideas. Right can never be understood in an immoral sense. It matters little what may be the kind of right contemplated. Every conceivable kind of right must correspond with its name. It must be moral in its nature. An immoral right, i.e., a wrong right, is a contradiction in terms, and self-destructive. All creatures rights are derived from God. But God delegates no right to think, speak, or act, otherwise than his law directs. The legislative character of the Almighty is essentially connected with his divine sovereignty. It is here, in an eminent manner, that he is a jealous God. In article of supremacy, he will bear no competitor. He will not—he cannot share his sovereignty. Even to Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, he must necessarily say, “in the throne will I be greater than thou.” The Lord is our Lawgiver. How did it ever come to pass, that the breach of Jehovah’s law was denominated a right? That the conscience of man may err, is generally granted. But how does its error come to be called a right? The law of God, whenever it is known, is the formal rule and reason of human obedience. God commands that which is right, but we obey, because we are commanded. What command of God will justify a breach of his law, even though that breach should be dignified with the name of a sacred right of conscience? If God has given a well attested revelation of his law, conscience has no right to present a negative to any part of it. The Bible of God is the law-book of his kingdom, and wherever it comes, it claims, and justly claims, a supreme and paramount authority to rule the conscience, and regulate the relations of human society. To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” James Willson, Essay on Tolerance
§First Amendment and the United States Constitution
What about the First Amendment of the United States Constitution?
The First Amendment is contrary to the First Commandment (WLC 105: “The sins forbidden in the first commandment are…having or worshipping more gods than one, or any with or instead of the true God.”) and the Second Commandment (WLC 109: “The sins forbidden in the second commandment are…tolerating a false religion.”).
Those that would pit the First Amendment against the First Commandment is saying that our Constitution is higher then Divine Law. The Supreme law is not the United States Constitution but the Divine Law of the Triune God Yahovah. No man made law can replace or super-secede the God of Israel.
The Constitution is radically and willfully defective in that it does not recognize the existence of the triune God, the supremacy of Christ the King of Nations, and the Word of God as the supreme law.
The document reads: “We, the people of the United States … do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Along with the First Amendment along and the no religious test for office clause makes the United States Constitution Blasphemous to it’s very core and foundation.
It replaces the God Yahovah who is creator of all things and sovereign over all nations with a new god “the people”. These glaring defects, with the denial of any religious qualification, the absence of the name of God from the oath, and the license of immorality and crime upon which it sets its official seal, give the document, called the Constitution, such a character of infidelity and irreligion that no true Christian ought to give it his full sanction
Divine Law states:
Psalm 2.10.- “Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth; serve the Lord with fear; &c.”
Psalm 9.17 – “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
John 5.23 – “That all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.”
Isa. 34.1 – “Come near ye nations to hear. Verse 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read.”
Deut. 32.8 – “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.”
Isa. 43.3 – I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba for thee. Verse 14. For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down their nobles, and the Chaldeans whose cry is in the ships. Chapter 60.12. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. Verse 16. Thou shalt also suck the milk of nations, and shalt suck the breasts of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob.”
The nation is required to “Kiss the Son” and Obey Him or “be dashed into pieces like a Potters Jar” (Psalm 2). The Constitution is Blasphemous to its very core and is in no way a godly christian document and no Christian should ever give it any form of endorsement, obedience to, or oath and vowing unto it.. We seek to have it utterly abolished and replaced with a National Covenant that is obedient to Divine Law and Christ as King.
§Has America ever been a Christian Nation
Has America ever been a Christian Nation? Let the Reformed Presbyterians of that time period in the early founding days of this nations and thereafter speak,
“The stark secularism of the [American] Constitution is a killing frost that blasts the most delicate flowers first; and, in the havoc it has wrought with these institutions, is given an example of what it will do farther, if the full winter of unbelief should come.” -Covenanter Witness 1928
“It should be — We, the people of the United States, acknowledging the being and authority of God, and our obligation to submit to his Son Jesus Christ as King of nations, for the glory of God, to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do adopt, sanction and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” -The Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter, Vol. I. March, 1863. No. 3.
The objectional features of the Constitution of the United States were clearly pointed out and testified against. Its wilful omission of all reference to God the Author, Christ the King, and the Word of God as the Supreme Law of nations and civil government, and other permissions of evil, excluded all conscientious Covenanters from swearing allegiance to it.
“NO consideration will justify the framers of the Federal Constitution and the administration of the Government, in withholding a recognition of the Lord and His anointed from the grand charter of the nation.” — Rev. Alexander McLeod, D. D
“In the United States the refusal to acknowledge God in the Constitution has probably been more explicit than it ever was in any other nation.” — Rev. James R. Willson, D. D.
“The Federal Constitution of the United States does not recognize the existence of God, the King of Nations; * * and shall a nation act as if independent of the God of the Universe, and expect to be guiltless? * * The principles of reformation are not fashionable. They were once, however, considered as the glory of Presbyterians. For civil and ecclesiastical reformation, for a glorious covenanted cause, thousands bled and died. * * I have endeavored to advocate that cause because I thought it the doctrine of the Bible, and the cause of Christ.” — Rev. Samuel B. Wylie, D. D.
For constitutions religious test as well as recognizing God, Christ as king of the nations and His law as the supreme laws of the land are essential for legitimate authority at ALL levels of government. State constitutions, Federal constitutions, confederacies of nations as well as treaties between nations. I believe in a civil type presbytery system in the same way as the church presbytery is setup. Ex. 18 is where the civil presbytery is ordained. From the local level to the highest level in the land.
When it comes to Magistrates themselves they are required to have a due measure of those qualifications which God has ordained in His Word and they are essentially necessary to the constitution and investiture of any lawful authority over a people. What are these essential qualifications?
“The New Testament gives a definitive statement of civil government in Romans ch. 13 v. 1-9 and 1 Timothy ch. 2 v. 1-2; which is a summary of the pattern also found in the Old Testament. We shall first take in review these Old Testament passages where we have the epitome of kingship delineated. Thus the qualifications of those who exercise civil rule are that, They must be men of truth, fearing God and hating covetousness (Ex. 18.21); they must be just, and not deceitful, false or oppressive: He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God (2 Sam. 23.2-3); they must be men of understanding, they must be of the same nation, and not strangers (Deut. 13 v. 1 & 17; Jer. 30 v. 21). They are to be elected by all the people, that is, by the adult men among whom they are to rule: The men of Judah made David king (2 Sam. 2 v. 4) or again: The people made Saul King (1 Sam. 11.15) and as also in the words of Hushai: Whom the Lord and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be (2 Sam. 16.18). Any perversion of this order by those who thrust in upon the people however they accomplish it, is usurpation; as in Hos. 8.4: ‘They made kings but not by me; that is, strictly and only in the way appointed by God, and which is said to be “by” him as if God himself had actually done it.” -Alexander Shield, A Hind Let Loose, 1638
American Covenanter James Willson declared the following in a sermon 32 years after the U.S. Constitution was ratified by the USA the following:
“Britain and the United States are colonies within Jehovah’s government; and if they refuse to acknowledge the authority of Messiah, he will treat them as rebel provinces of his empire. In the United States, the refusal to acknowledge God, has probably been more explicit than it ever was in any other nation. Soon after we had obtained, through the beneficent providence of God, liberation from the dominion of a foreign power; soon after the most eminent displays of Jehovah’s goodness to our land; the convention, elected to form articles of fundamental law for the commonwealth, rejected the government of God, and with a degree of ingratitude, perhaps without a parallel, formed a constitution in which there is not the slighest hint of homage to the God of heaven; in which God receives no more honor than the devil. They force all within their territories to bow before them, but they refuse to bow before the throne of God. This is a species of national atheism, almost as enormous as that of the French republic, whose representatives voted, that there is no God. It is to all intents practical atheism; and we cannot doubt that those who planned such rebellion against the King of kings and Lord of lords, were practical atheists and professed infidels.” -The Subjection of Kings and Nations to Messiah, p. 65 in Political Danger published by Crown and Covenant Publications.
1832…43 yrs after the ratification of the US Constitution Reformed Presbyterians declared in the RPCNA,
“The privations and trials of those who witness a good confession for God, have been very distressing in our own country, since the adoption of the Federal Constitution, which wears less of a religious aspect than any government in the world, antecedent to its formation. The very theory of the government is adverse to the honor of Jehovah. The fundamental principle of the United States Constitution is, that the people are the ultimate source of all civil power. It does not admit that magistracy is the ordinance of God, or that civil rulers are God’s ministers; but views them merely as the servants of the people. The nation has forgotten God, and “all the nations that forget God shall be turned into hell.” The framers of the constitution did not intend to honor the Lord God of Israel, nor did they consider the United States as an organized commonwealth within the dominions of Jehovah. The United States professes to have no God!
The city of Washington the seat of the general government, is one great house of harlotry, profane swearing, Sabbath breaking and card playing. With the exception of those of New England, the state constitutions, and the men who administer them, are nearly of the same ungodly character with those of the United States.
God says “they have set up kings, but not by me, and princes, but I knew it not.” As a matter of science, God knows all things, but the word know means here to approve. Such direct dishonor to the God of heaven is the more deplorable, and the more astonishing, as in this land there are at least ten thousand ministers of the gospel, thirteen thousands congregations of people, professing to believe the Bible and to be Christians. When the British nation entered into the solemn league and covenant, the colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts Bay, were integral parts of the empire, by their own full consent dependent on the mother country, and subject to her government, and claiming all the rights of British subjects. The great majority of the emigrants who have peopled the United States, are from Great Britain, since that became a covenanted kingdom. It is an humbling and astonishing fact, that in this land of ministers, churches, Bibles, and among the descendants of covenant ancestors, the nation has acknowledged no God ; and has contemned Jehovah Jesus, who is, “King of kings and Lord of lords.””
§Earthly Manifestation of the Kingdom
In conclusion it is worth pointing out that we are to pray for the Earthly manifestation of God’s kingdom. Within the prayer that our Lord taught us it is written, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done even in earth as it is in heaven.“
Here is we are commanded not just to wait for the future age to come or to wait for heaven but to earnestly and fervently pray for the Earthly manifestation of God’s kingdom. Not just in some distant future but here and now!
Also the Westminster Directory of Publick Worship states that we are to pray the following,
“To pray for the propagation of the gospel and kingdom of Christ to all nations; for the conversion of the Jews, the fulness of the Gentiles, the fall of Antichrist, and the hastening of the second coming of our Lord; for the deliverance of the distressed churches abroad from the tyranny of the antichristian faction, and from the cruel oppressions and blasphemies of the Turk; for the blessing of God upon the reformed churches, especially upon the churches and kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland, now more strictly and religiously united in the Solemn National League and Covenant; and for our plantations in the remote parts of the world”
We are to pray for the kingdom of Christ and that it’s propagation would go throughout the world to all nations as it is required in the Great Commission “Go and teach ALL nations”, we are to pray for the fall and destruction of AntiChrist (Papacy, Islam and Secularism) and from tyranny of antichristian factions.
§Human Instrumentation
This can and will happen through various means. It will go forth through the propagation of the Gospel to all nations. It will happen through the defense of religion sometimes by the sword. It will happen through individuals and the church standing before kings and commanding them to obey the laws of God and testifying before them. That is not to say that God does not work miracles but the Scripture teaches us that God normatively works through human instrumentation.
Throughout the Scriptures when a servant of God carries out their role and function it is said to be by Him as if God himself had actually done it because the Minister or Magistrate, or other servant of God was God’s instrument for carrying out His purpose. Think of the Midianites, Sisera, Jabin, etc. Those were carried out by humans instruments but in Psalm 83 it says “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.”
So do not discount that God may use you for His divine purpose and plan to bring forth His kingdom visibly manifested on Earth here and now. The rest is in God’s hands. Duty is ours, Providence is God’s…
“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.” Psalm 68:1-3
“O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Yahovah, art the most high over all the earth.” -Psalm 83:14-18
Mint, Anise, and the Cumin 