Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

V. DEMOCRACY.—A government administered by representatives
chosen by the people at large. Nearly allied to this is "republicanism."
There is rather an affected than real difference between this and
democracy: both are of the people, though the latter pretends to be of a
more liberal type than the former. FEDERALISM: A government framed
out of several states, each having its own representatives, and sending
them to a general congress or diet.
VI. ANARCHY.—Where the legislative and executive power is
acknowledged as existing nowhere, or rather equally in every individual:
and where, consequently, there is no rule; all is confusion, every one
doing what is right in his own eyes.
At present only three kinds of governments prevail in the world:—1.
Monarchy; 2. Aristocracy; 3. Democracy: and these are only
distinguished, by being more or less limited by law, more or less rigid in
execution, or more or less mild in general operation.
Every man owes to Caesar, that is, the civil government under which
he lives,
I. HONOUR. He who respects not civil institutions, and those who in
the course of God's providence are clothed with political authority, will
scarcely regard civil obligations: and the men who can speak evil of such
dignities will, in general, be found such as have little reverence for God
himself. It is therefore most evident that every man should honour and
reverence civil authority, in whomsoever it is invested: 1. Because it
comes from God. 2. Because without it society could not subsist. 3.
Because in every case it promotes, in a less or greater degree, the public
welfare; and, 4. Because, in its support and preservation, his own
happiness is intimately concerned. If Caesar, in his official character, do
not receive that honour which, from the origin, nature, and end of
government, is due to him, public order and tranquillity must soon be at
an end.