Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 1 · Verse 6
VERSE 6. For, for this cauſe pay you tribute alſo: For they are Gods Miniſters attending continually vponupon this very thing.
THe firſt ſyllable of this Verſe ſhewes that it depends on ſomething going before.
M. Caluin makes it thus. The magiſtrate muſt defend the good, and puniſh the bad; but this he cannot do without meanes, therefore we muſt pay him tribute.
Pareus thus, for conſcience ſake we muſt pay tribute; true, but better, it is an Argument to vrge conſcionable ſubiection: which is the meaning, of, for this cauſe.
Pay you tribute. This word tribute by a Synechdoche implies all payments and taxes whatſoeuer due from the ſubiect to the Magiſtrate, by what name ſoeuer you call them.
For they are Gods Miniſters, as before verſe 4. though the word here be different ſignifying a publike officer, yet the ſenſe is the ſame, with a little increaſe of it by this terme.
Attending continually vponupon this very thing, that is, the good of the people according to their calling from God.
The Reaſon in theſe words to vrge conſcionable ſubiection, is taken from the ſigne of it, which is paying Tribute, or from the part to the whole, paying tribute, being a part of that conſcionable ſubiection ſpoken of in the firſt verſe: and this is ſhewed by the terme alſo.
The Reaſon may be thus framed.
To whom wee pay tribute of conſcience, to their lawes we ought to be ſubiect of conſcience.
But we pay tribute of conſcience to Magiſtrates.
Therefore, &c.
The Minor is the Apoſtles.
The Maior is confirmed from the end of paying tribute, which is that the Magiſtrate may make lawes for the good of the ſubiects: thus,
For the making of which we pay tribute, to ſuch lawes we are to be ſubiect of conſcience.
But for the making of good lawes we pay tribute.
Therefore, &c.
The Minor is the Apoſtles, For they attend continually vponupon this very thing.
The Maior is grounded vponupon common Reaſon: For what manner of thing were it, to offer the Magiſtrate tribute, and to ſue for lawes, and when they are iuſtly enacted to refuſe to obey them. God who ordained that thou ſhouldeſt maintaine the Miniſter that hee might preach to thee; ordaines thereby, that thou ſhouldeſt heare him, ſo of the caſe of the ſubiect toward the Magiſtrate.
There are then two parts of this verſe: firſt, a duty, paying tribute. Second, a reaſon from the original of ſuch tribute paying, which is the Magiſtrates care for the common wealth, and well gouerning the people, as in our Parliaments plainly appeares.
Paying of tribute is an acknowledgement of our ſubiection to the Magiſtrate and his lawes. Doctr.
Mat. 17.24, 25, 26, 27. The foreign or tribute there ſpoken of, was a payment gathered for the temple and maintaining Gods worſhip, in teſtimony of Gods dominion ouer them, and the Recognition of their ſubiection, from a law Exod. 30.13. of all other payments, the Iewes could leaſt diſgeſt that this ſhould be paid to the Emperour; becauſe it was a ſigne of their ſubiection to him, which our Sauiour Chriſt was pleaſed to pay.
Pompey firſt conuerted that Capitation or headſiluer to the City of Rome ſome ſixty yeeres before the Natiuity of our Sauiour.
Eſter 10.1. Ahaſhuerus laies a tribute vponupon his prouinces, which was a token of their ſubiection to him.
Luke 2.1. When Auguſtus Caeſar was ſtabliſhed in his Empire ouer all the world, hee cauſed by a decree that all the World ſhould be taxed, which was a ſigne, that he was an abſolute Emperor ouer all.
Here ſubiects are to be admoniſhed willingly to pay tribute. Ʋſe 1 We louelove no paiments; and ſubſidies ſeeme grieuous: but if wee looke vponupon the reaſon of Paul, hee is vnreaſonable that ſhould grudge them.
The Magiſtrate watcheth for our good, and attendeth continually therevpon. He defendeth from enemies abroad: hee repreſſeth robbers at home. The Adminiſtration of Iuſtice, the ſecurity of our liues, the ſafety and peaceable poſſeſſion of our goods are from him.
Men ſcan at the reuenewes of the Prince, but not at the iſſues. Counſellers, Iudges, Officers of State, a Guard, ſending forth Embaſſadours, rewards to the well deſeruing, for generall encouragement, and many other occaſions cannot be diſcharged without a great treaſure, which is the ornament of peace, and the ſinew of war.
Beſide; a King is to bee maintained like a King for his honour: and his care is worthy of great reward. We muſt pay of conſcience; for not the greedineſſe of Princes, deuiſed tribute, but it is by the ordinance of God himſelfe.
It is not for ſubiects, Ʋſe 2 to determine how much the Prince ſhall hauehave: but they ſhould moderately exact, and warily diſpoſe of the tributes, for their owne honour, and the publike good.
Tiberius liked not the Shepheard that flayed the ſheepe in ſtead of clipping. Nor Alexander, the Gardner which pulled vp the root of the hearbs. Nor Tully, him which ſo cut the wings that they ſhould neuer grow againe.
The Turkes call the tribute of the Prouinces, Saarum, the blood of the people, which to conuert otherwayes then for the good of the people ſhould be vniuſt.
If we owe tribute to Princes, Ʋſe 3 for the good of their gouernment; then what tribute and ſubiection doe we owe to God from whom wee receiue all good things, for this life and for a better?
But what could enemies and traytors doe more, then many among vsus doe; treading vnderunder foot, and contemning the very Lawes of God, and violating all good order.
What ſhall wee render to the Lord for his infinite goodneſſe? euen the tribute of willing and thankefull obedience.