reaching the gospel, and
observing the sacramental ordinances;--and no human authority may
either repeal these laws or add to them. But in respect to the
duties which we owe to our neighbor, that is, to our fellow-man, in
any relation he holds to us or can ever hold; God has left the most
of these duties to the authoritative decision of human governments.
He has thus made a difference betwixt these two classes of duties.
The reason for this difference seems to be this; namely, man's
wisdom can reach farther in ascertaining what is fit or right
betwixt him and his fellow-man, than in ascertaining what is fit or
right betwixt him and his God: and consequently, man can legislate
in respect to property, and other matters of human right, but not in
respect to prayer, and other matters of the first class of duties.
Moreover, in respect to worship, God is himself one of the parties.
The parties are not man and man, as they are in all social duties;
but they are man and God:--and therefore, it would seem but fit and
natural, that God should legislate _exclusively_ in respect to the
duties which we owe to _Him_, and more specifically, than in respect
to the duties which we owe to one another. Hence, we find it so.
Explicit divine law regulates all the _particulars_ of the one class
of duties; the _particulars_ of the other class of duties are left
to human law, or the regulations of human society.

But this latter class of duties, that is, our social duties, are
_not left_ to the _individual_ judgment or independent choice of
men, in such a sense, that they may obey or disobey human government
just as they please. Not in the least. Human government is by the
divine will. Obedience to it is obligatory upon men, by the will and
law of God. St. Paul directing Titus how to preach, (and therefore
directing all ministers of the gospel who come after him,) says to
him, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers,
to obey magistrates:" and I am doing it in this sermon. Human
government is of divine authority, not the _kind_, but the fact. And
consequently, our action about human government, our obedience to
it, and our disobedience, are as much matters of religion, and
coming under its authority and obligation, as are any other matters.
If religion had nothing to do with them, I would have nothing to do
with them here. But it _has_ something to do with them. Human
government is a divine ordinance. It is of divine autho