Objections Answered | 13

13. Magistrates Are Called Avengers Who Execute Wrath

Objection.

To deny the right of the magistrate to call on his subjects to take the sword is to deny that he is an avenger to execute wrath, though the gospel expressly declares that he is.

Answer.

This conclusion does not follow unless it is a fact that God cannot and does not actually make him the instrument of doing it, by his providence, without his command;

for, as we have already observed, men may fulfil the decrees of God under his providence, without his command, and be very criminal in the deed.

God raised up the king of Assyria and made him the rod of his anger, to chastise his people and to execute wrath upon the surrounding ungodly nations:

“Howbeit he meant not so, but it was in his heart to cut off nations not a few.”

And God declared, with reference to him, “that when he had performed his whole work he would punish the fruit of his stout heart and the glory of his high looks.”

It will not be contended that warlike nations are commanded by God to destroy and trample down the nations of the earth as the dust of their feet;

yet, when they do so, they doubtless fulfil his high decree and are avengers to execute his wrath on a wicked world.

The beast represented in the Revelation with seven heads and ten horns has generally been considered as an emblem of nations:

These ten horns, or powers, are to hate the great harlot of Babylon – to eat her flesh and burn her with fire –

and though they destroy the greatest enemy of the church, and in this way are ministers of good to her, yet they receive their power, their seat, and their authority from the old serpent, the dragon.

And a magistrate or king may be a minister of good to the church and an avenger to execute wrath, and still be very wicked in the deed and use very unlawful means to accomplish the end.

While he fulfils the decree of Heaven, he acts not in obedience to the command of God, but to the dictates of his own lusts and passions.