To Civil Pow'rs, let great regard be giv'n;
And human laws, that cross not those of Heav'n.
For so do sacred oracles direct,
To higher pow'rs let ev'ry soul subject .
Saints, even in Rome, were taught, in lawful things ,
Meekly t' obtemperate their heathen kings.
The precept reaches all the human clan,
Submit to ev'ry ordinance of man.
And that for reasons which apostles take
From heav'n and earth, even God and conscience sake .
While magistratic pow'rs don't tyrannize,
But grant their sacred, civil liberties,
Reclaimers in that case complain of ease.
Their name is such as few will dare applaud,
Resisters of the ordinance of God.
Apostles order all their flocks, and ours,
For heav'nly ends, to stoop to earthly pow'rs:
Nor for their want of qualities divine,
Must we their just authority decline.
And hence the prophet Jeremy implor'd
King Zedekiah as his royal lord:
Who yet had broke his oath to Babylon,
And to idolatry aside had gone.
Hence also Obadiah good and great,
Was wicked Ahab's minister of state:
Yet in this service sacred lines record,
That Obadiah greatly fear'd the Lord .
Elijah too, that holy zealous man.
Who ne'er on Ahab, in his sins, would fawn;
Yet, most submiss, before his chariot ran.
The sacred book with special folly loads
All such as venture to revile the Gods .
For (but except sons of tyrranic thrall)
The God of heav'n does rulers of the ball,
His viceroys and anointed servants call.
Hence Paul to Caesar his appeal display'd:
And Christ to Caesar will have tribute paid.
Yea, Heav'n for earthly rulers pray'r exacts,
As much as they do tribute, toll, or tax.
And hence 'tis God's command to pray, we see,
For all invested with authority;
That under them we peaceful lives may lead,
And godliness and honesty succeed.
This precept, if we view the time, relates
To Pagan persecuting magistrates:
For none but such possest the ruling throne,
Till centuries of Christian years were gone.
Don't Sov'reigns , then, much more our prayers claim,
That bear the Christian Protestant's fair name?
In ancient times, the man of God, 'tis said,
For sinful Jeroboam earnest pray'd.
Moses, for wicked Pharaoh lift his eyes;
And faithful Abram, for Abim'lech cries:
Hence holy martyrs, in their dying hours,
Pray'd for their bloody persecuting pow'rs.
And holiest Jesus spent his dying breath
In praying for cruel actors in his death.
And bids his foll'wers pray to Heav'n for those
That are their spiteful persecuting foes.
Thus with his great example and command,
These precepts all in Judah binding stand;
Yet Judah was a covenanted land.