Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
VERSE 7. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, cuſtome to whom cuſtome, feare to whom feare, honour to whom honour.
IN this verſe Paul brings a new argument to inferre conſcionable obedience and ſubiection to Magiſtrates, and ſo concludes this whole matter.
The Argument is taken from Iuſtice, which giues eueryevery one that which is his: To pay debts is conſcionable.
But ſubiection to Magiſtrates is a debt.
Therefore, &c.
Paul vrgeth this point with many ſtrong arguments, both becauſe the Emperours were then Heathen, and alſo becauſe it is hard to corrupt nature to bee ſubiect: eueryevery man would be a Ruler.
Here are two parts. The argument ſet downe in manner of a precept: Render to all men their dues.
The amplification in the reſt of the words.
In the precept we hauehave the duty, To render dues: and the perſons to whom, To all.
Render: not giuegive, as if it were an almes, or gratuity, but render, or pay.
Dues: foreign, debts, the ſame word which is vſed in the Lords Prayer. Sabiection, and tribute, debts, ſo that he is perfidious and vniuſt which payeth them not.
To all: If you ſay men, then it followes well from the leſſe: if to all men, then to Magiſtrates, which are the worthieſt men.
If you ſay Magiſtrates, then All reſpecteth either their quality, or degree.
Their Quality. To all, to the good to the bad. The euilneſſe of the Magiſtrate diſcharges not the ſubiect of duty: no more then the euilneſſe of parents, their children: The ordinance of God not the vnworthineſſe of men muſt bee reſpected.
Their Degree: to the chiefe, and to all inferiour Magiſtrates ſent from him.
The amplification is from a ſpeciall enumeration of dues; which may be referred to two heads: to the maintenance, and countenance of the Magiſtrate.
Tribute and cuſtome are for his maintenance; Feare and honour for his reputation and countenance.
Some diſtinguiſh theſe foure thus. Tribute to be rendred to the Treaſurer, cuſtome to the Publicans and collectors, Feare to the Adminiſtrators of Iuſtice, and Honour to the Perſon of the ſupreme Gouernour: but I thinke it is eaſier to vnderſtand theſe to be rendred to the chiefe Magiſtrate, and for the manner, to be left to his will.
Tribute: foreign, that which is brought into the Kings treaſury or Exchequer, and ſo it is a generall word: but vſually tranſlated Tribute: which is derſued from tribuo, which is, diuido, becauſe Princes muſt not take all but a part, as Lipſius: Lipſ. polit. l. 4. c. 11.but rather à tribu from the Tribes: The people of Rome were diuided into three parts, each part had a gouernor, which was therefore called a Tribune: and the payments made to the State, a Tribute. So Capitation or payments by the poll, or out of lands and goods, with vsus, may bee called Tribute.
Cuſtome. foreign, from whence comes foreign, or foreign, A Publican, of which kinde of men there is often mention in the Goſpell, after this manner, Publicans and ſinners. In Latine, vectigal à vehendo, and hereby are meant, Impoſts and taxations vponupon merchandiſe, exported or imported; called with vsus cuſtome, and his Maieſties officer herein a cuſtomer: whom the Romanes called a Publican: an office of honour among the Romanes, but in diſgrace among the Iewes, (who vnwillingly paid any thing to the Romanes) for their ſubiection and bondage ſignified thereby, and for the oppreſſion vſed by the officers, and eſpecially if any of their owne countrey-men had bought the office: Such an one was Matthew, before his conuerſion. The office was lawfull, but odious to the Iewes for the cauſes rehearſed.
Feare. Feare and honour are the Lords due, but hee communicateth them to Princes which beare his Image vponupon earth.
Feare. Not the feare of an euill conſcience, which followeth euill facts of which verſe 3, 4. but reuerence to their Perſons, and regard to their lawes, which preſerues from euill facts.
It is better to be loued then feared; and Nero was hated for his Oderint dum metuant: but if ſubiects were in no feare, the Magiſtrate would be contemptible.
Honour. This word comprehends all the former, being expounded according to the meaning of the fifth Commandement. As firſt, Reuerence, inward of the heart: outward, in word, behauiour. Second, Obedience. Third, Thankefulneſſe, vntounto which due payments are to be referred.
Subiection to Magiſtrates, Doctr. is a debt and of conſcience to bee paid them in all the parts of it: Matthew 22.21. Render vntounto Caeſar, the things which are Caeſars. Epheſians 6.1. Children are commanded to obey their Parents; for this is foreign iuſt or right: much more iuſt to obey the Father of the Common-wealth. When the Sonne of Fabius Max. was Conſul, Fabius taking horſe before him and ſetting forward; was commanded by his Sonne to diſmount, and to giuegive him place being Conſul: Plularch in Apo. Liuius l. 4. d. 3.The Father ſaith to his Sonne: Euge fili, ſapis, qui intelligas quibus imperes et quam magnum Magiſtratum ſuſceperis. It is well done my Sonne, thou art wiſe, and vnderſtandeſt the greatneſſe of thy Office.
He is no good ſubiect that refuſeth, Ʋſe 1 or vnwillingly and grudgingly paies his dues to his Prince.
Thinke it not hard, or that it is extorting: It is his due, and to render it conſcionably and willingly is an acceptable ſeruice, to the King, to God.
It is an Iniuſtice, for him that is able, to deſire to be freed, from payments, from finding armes, and ſuch like: this were to deſire to reape the benefit of a good Prince, and good Lawes, and not to bee thankefull, and to maintaine them.
OnelyOnly let Aſſeſſours bee admoniſhed to rate men equally that the poore man beare not the rich mans burden.
Ʋſe 2 Princes muſt be reuerenced and honoured though they bee euill: indeed glory is due to vertue, but honour to their dignity.
Defame not their perſons, couer their faults, cauill not at their lawes, but obey: For a diuine ſentence is in the lips of the King; his mouth tranſgreſſeth not in iudgement. He that ſaith he honoureth God and obeyeth not, lieth; ſo he that obeyeth not the King, is guilty of diſhonouring him.
Render to Caeſar that which is Caeſars, and vntounto God, the things that are Gods.