The PuritanBoard - View Single Post

Kristine with a K · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 04:06 PM

I've been reading through Thomas Watson's "The Ten Commandments" and just this morning came across a bit that has to do with this subject. He classifies it under the 5th Commandment, saying "father is of different kinds; as the political, the ancient, the spiritual, the domestic, and the natural." Allow me to further quote Father Watson, regarding the magistrate,

"He is the father of his country; he is to be an encuorager of virtue, a punisher of vice, and a father to the widow and orphan. ... These fathers are to be honored, for (I) Their place deserves honor. God has set these political fathers to preserve order and harmony in a nation, and to prevent those state convulsions which otherwise might ensue. When 'there was no king in Israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes.'...It is a wonder that locusts have no king, yet they go forth by bands. (II) God has promoted kings, that they may promote justice. As they have a sword in their hand, to signify their power; so they have a sceptre, an emblem of justice...These political fathers are to be honored. 'Honor the king.' (I Pe. 2:17) This honor is to be shown by a civil respect to their persons, and a cheerful submission to their laws; so far as they agree and run parallel with God's laws. Kings are to be prayed for, which is a part of the honor we give them. ...(1 Tim. 2:1) We are to pray for our kings, that God would honor them to be blessings; that under them we may enjoy the gospel of peace, and the peace of the gospel."