Selected Sources on the Civil Magistrate

Our plan is to analyze standard evangelical and Reformed scholars to see if there is any reason why we cannot abolish the State. If you know of other commentators we should respond to, please write us.

• Augustine, The Writings Against the Manichians and Against the Donatists (Augustine on the Civil Magistrate) http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/ecf/npnf104/htm/i.htm

• Bamberg, Stanley, "A Footnote to the Political Theory of John Adams Vindiciae contra tyrannos," PREMISE Volume III, Number 7 / August 31, 1996, p. 10 http://capo.org/premise/96/aug/p960810.html 

• [Barrow, Reg,] "When is Civil Government So Constituted that Christians Can Swear Allegiance To It?" The Original Covenanter and Contending Witness [magazine] http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/civgovcons.htm 

• ________, Reformation Civil Government, http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/refcg_rb.htm 

• Beza, Theodore, "The Right of Magistrates Over Their Subjects," Journal of Christian Reconstruction, Volume XIV, Number 1.

• Brutus, Junius, A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants, Edmonton, AB: Still Waters Revival Books, 1989 (1689). http://www.visi.com/~homelands//vindiciae/vindiciae.html

• Buchanan, George, On the Rights and Powers of the Crown Of Scotland, c. 1567, http://fly.hiwaay.net/~pspoole/Buchan_2.HTM 

• Calvin, John, “Civil Government,” Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, chap xx.

• Carson, Clarence B., "The Necessity for Government," in Basic Economics, Wadley, AL: American Textbook Committee, 1988.

• Cromartie, Michael, ed., Caesar's Coin Revisited: Christians and the Limits of Government, Wash.D.C.: Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1996.

• Culver, Robert Duncan, Toward a Biblical View of Civil Government, Chicago: Moody Press, 1974.

• Dabney, Robert L., “The Civil Magistrate,” Lecture LXXIII in Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972 (1878).

• DeMar, Gary, Ruler of the Nations: Biblical Principles for Government, Ft.Worth, TX: Dominion Press, 1987.

• DeMar, Gary, God and Government, Atlanta: American Vision, 3 vols., 1989.

• Dodds, Josiah, Essay on Civil Government, Cincinnati: Franklin 1851. http://www.covenanter.org/CivilGovt/doddsessay.htm

• Dooyeweerd, Herman, The Christian Idea of the State, Nutley, NJ: The Craig Press, 1975.

• Douglas, James, Essay on Civil Government http://www.covenanter.org/CivilGovt/douglasessay.htm

• Durand, Greg Loren, De Legis et Gubernatis: The Christian's Duty to the Civil Magistrate, Crown Rights Book Co., 1997 http://www.crownrights.com/government/

• Gentry Kenneth L., "Civil Sanctions in the New Testament, in North, Gary, ed., Theonomy: An Informed Response, Tyler, TX: Institute for Christian Economics, 1991.

• Gillespie, Patrick, Rulers Sins: The Causes of National Judgments, or a Sermon Preached at the Fast, Upon the 26th Day of December, Prov. XIV. 34; 2 Kings XVII. 22,23; Ezek. XIX. 14, or a Sermon Preached at the Fast, Upon the 26th Day of December 1650, rp 3195 no. 02 http://www.covenanter.org/CivilGovt/rulerssins.htm

• Goodman, Christopher, How Superior Powers Ought to Be Obeyed by Their Subjects, Geneva: 1558 http://fly.hiwaay.net/~pspoole/Goodman1.HTM 

• Gothard, Bill, Law Resource F (Booklet 52-Preliminary Edition) October 1992 Analysis

• Hagopian, David, "Forgive Us Our Trespasses? A Biblical View of Civil Disobedience and Operation Rescue," Antithesis, May/June 1990 - Volume I, Number 3  http://www.reformed.org/webfiles/antithesis/v1n3/ant_v1n3_trespass.html 

• Hall, David, "From Reformation to Revolution: 1500-1650," from Saviour or Servant: Putting Government in its Place The Covenant Foundation © 1995.

• ________, The Roman Catholic View of the State, PREMISE / Volume II, Number 7 / August 27, 1995 / Page 7 http://capo.org/premise/95/august/p950707.html 

• ________, The Early Church and the State, PREMISE Volume III, Number 2 / February 29, 1996 page 8 http://capo.org/premise/96/feb/p960208.html 

• ________, "Liberty and Virtue are Twin Sisters": Southern Presbyterians and Theology of the State, 1850-1890, PREMISE Vol. IV, No. 4 December 97 p. 7 http://capo.org/premise/97/Dec/p971207.html 

• Harrington, James, The Commonwealth of Oceana 1656 http://www.constitution.org/jh/oceana.htm 

• Hodge, Charles, “The Fifth Commandment,” Systematic Theology, vol. III, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1975 (1871).

• Hosmer, William, The Higher Law in its Relations to Civil Government, NY: Negro Universities Press, 1969 [1852].

• Hume, David,  Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth, 1754 http://www.constitution.org/dh/perfcomw.htm 

• Jordan, James B., The Bible and the Nations, Tyler TX: Biblical Horizons, 1988.

• Knox, John, On Rebellion (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought), Roger A. Mason (Editor) Cambridge Univ Press, 1994.

• Knox, John, The Appellation from the Sentence Pronounced by the Bishops and Clergy: Addressed to the Nobility and Estates of Scotland (1558)

• Kuyper, Abraham, “Calvinism and Politics,” in Lectures on Calvinism, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1931 (1898).

• Luther, Martin, On Secular Authority: how far does the Obedience owed to it extend? (1523) http://capo.org/premise/98/FEB/p980210.html 

• Madison, James. Letters and Other Writings of James Madison, Published by order of Congress. 4 volumes. Edited by Philip R. Fendall. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1865. Volume 4: 1829-1836, p.329 

• Maritain, Jacques, Man and the State, Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1951.

• Martin, R.H., et al, Can the Oath to the Constitution of the United States be taken with the Oath Taken Maintaining a Supreme Allegiance to God and the Lord Jesus Christ? 1948?

• Mayhew, Jonathan, A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers, (1750)

• McAllister, David, Answers to objections to the religious amendment to the United States Constitution, 187?
• McAllister, David, Christian civil government in America: the National Reform Movement, its history and principles, 1927
• McAllister, David, Constitutionality of the Reading of the Bible in the Public Schools 1902
• McAllister, David, Testimonies to the religious defect of the Constitution of the United States, 1874
• McAllister, David, The moral ends of the state, 1906
• McAllister, David, The National Reform Movement, 1898, 
• McAllister, David, The National Reform Movement. Its history and principles. A manual of Civil Government 1890
• McAllister, David, The Ultimate Source of the State's Authority 1907?

• M’leod, Alexander, Messiah, Governor of the Nations of the Earth, New-York: Printed By T. & J. Swords, No. 160 Pearl-Street, 1803. http://www.covenanter.org/McLeod/messiahgovernor.htm 

• McMaster, Gilbert, The Duty of Nations, Ballston-Spa: Brown and Miller, 1810. http://www.covenanter.org/McMaster/dutyofnations.htm 

• McMillan, John I (1669?-1753), The Auchensaugh Renovation, Renovation of Covenants, Auchensaugh 
  http://www.covenanter.org/RefPres/auchensaugh.htm

• Milton, John, The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates: Proving that it is lawful, and has been held so through all ages, for any, who have the Power, to call to account a tyrant, or wicked king, and after due conviction, to depose, and put him to death; if the ordinary magistrate has neglected, or denied to do it. And that they, who of late so much blame deposing, are the men that did it themselves. London, 1650. 

• Miner, David L., The Christian’s Response to Political Activism, http://www.freedomsite.net/chrstian.htm 

• Morecraft, Joseph, III, With Liberty and Justice for All, Sevierville, TN: Onward Press, 1991.

• North, Gary, "The State's Monopoly of Vengeance," in Boundaries and Dominion: The Economics of Leviticus, Institute for Christian Economics, 1994.

• North, Gary, "Editor's Introduction to Part II," in North, Gary, ed., Theonomy: An Informed Response, Tyler, TX: Institute for Christian Economics, 1991.

• Owen, John, “Christ’s Kingdom and the Magistrate’s Power,” Sermon IX (1652), The Works of John Owen, vol. 8, ed. Goold, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1967 (1850).

• Ponet, John, A Short Treatise on Political Power, and of the true obedience which subjects our to kings and other civil governors, with an Exhortation to all true and natural English men,1556 http://fly.hiwaay.net/~pspoole/Ponet1.HTM 

• Pratt, Lawrence, “Political Science,” in Gary North, ed., Foundations of Christian Scholarship, Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books, 1976

• Price, Greg, Biblical Civil Government versus the Beast; and, The Basis for Civil Resistance, Still Waters Revival Books 4710-37A Ave., Edmonton, AB, Canada T6L 3T5 http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/BibCG_GP.htm 

• Rankin, F.E., "The State and the Citizen of the State: A Sermon in the First Congregational Church on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1883," Library of Congress, African American Perspectives: Pamphlets form the Daniel A.P. Murray Collection, 1818-1907. This Sermon Online at Library of Congress

• Raymond, Paul Michael, "The Civil Magistrate," Reformed Bible Church PO Box 2397 Appomattox VA 24522, http://www.hisglory.com/Paul/cm/cm001.htm 

• Roberts, William L., The Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, NY: R. Craighead, 1853.

• Rushdoony, R.J., Christianity and the State, Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books, 1986.

• Rushdoony, R.J., “Humanistic Law,” in Hebden Taylor, The New Legality, Philadelphia: Presbyterian & Reformed Publ. Co., 1967.

• Rushdoony, R.J., “Introduction,” (1968) in Herman Dooyeweerd, The Christian Idea of the State, Nutley, NJ: The Craig Press, 1975.

• Rushdoony, R.J., “The Sociology of Justification,” in Politics of Guilt and Pity, Nutley, NJ: The Craig Press, 1970.

• Rutherford, Samuel, Lex, Rex, Harrison, VA: Sprinkle Publications, 1980 (1644).

• Shearer, J.B., Hebrew Institutions Social and Civil, Richmond, VA: Presbyterian Committee of Publications, 1910.

• Singer, C. Gregg, “Gordon Clark’s View of the State,” in The Philosophy of Gordon H. Clark, Ronald Nash, ed., Philadelphia: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company, 1968.

• Sproull, Thomas (1803-1892), The Loyal Archite: or, the attributes of legitimate Civil Government, Pittsburgh: Bakewell & Marthens, 71 Grant Street, 1876. http://www.covenanter.org/TSproull/archite.htm

• Stevenson, T.P., Is the United States a Christian Nation? 1907?

• Stevenson, T.P., What constitutes a Christian state? 1907

• Sutton, Ray R., “State: Biblical and Historical,” chap. 12 in That You May Prosper: Dominion by Covenant, Tyler, TX: Institute for Christian Economics, 1987.

• Thoburn, John, Vindiciae Magistratus, Edinburgh: D. Paterson, 1773.

• Thoburn, Robert, The Christian and Politics, Tyler, TX: Thoburn Press, 1984.

• Thornwell, James Henley, “Moral Government,” Lecture XI in The Collected Writings of James Henley Thornwell, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974 (1875).

• Titus, Herbert H., God, Man, and Law: The Biblical Principles, Oak Brook, IL: Institute in Basic Life Principles, 1994.

• Wagner, Michael, A Presbyterian Political Manifesto: Presbyterianism And Civil Government, http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/PresbPol.htm 

• Weaver, John, The Christian and Civil Government, Fitzgerald, GA: self-published, 1991.

• Weaver, John, The Sovereignty of God and Civil Government, Fitzgerald, GA: self-published, n.d.

• Willson, James M. The Subjection of Nations & Kings to Messiah,Published by Request, New-York: PRINTED BY E. CONRAD, NO. 4 FRANKFORT-STREET, 1820.

• _________, The Sabbath and Civil Government, Newburgh: Printed by Parmenter & Spalding, 1829. 
• _________, Prince Messiah's Claim to Dominion over All Governments, And the Disregard of His Authority by the United States, in the Federal Constitution, First published in Albany, N.Y. Packard, Hoffman and White, 1832. Cincinnati: Printed by Smith and Chipman, Corner of Fourth & Walnut Streets, 1848
• _________, The Written Law, Or The Law Of God Revealed In The Scriptures, By Christ As Mediator; The Rule of Duty to Christian Nations to Civil Institutions, Newburgh: N.Y. Printed by J.D. Spalding 1838
• _________, An Essay on Submission to the Powers That Be, http://www.covenanter.org/JMWillson/submission.htm  

• Dennis Woods Constitutional Defects: Social Compact vs. Covenant With God, Nashville: The Vantage Group, 1998.

• Wylie, Richard Cameron, The Institution of civil government 1906

Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought

Titles published in the series thus far

• Aristotle The Politics and The Constitution of Athens (edited by Stephen Everson)
• Arnold Culture and Anarchy and Other Writings (edited by Stefan Collini)
• Astell Political Writings (edited by Patricia Springborg)
• Austin The Province of Jurisprudence Determined (edited by Wilfrid E. Rumble)
• Bacon The History of the Reign of King Henry VII (edited by Brian Vickers)
• Bakunin Statism and Anarchy (edited by Marshall Shatz)
• Baxter A Holy Commonwealth (edited by William Lamont)
• Beccaria On Crimes and Punishments and Other Writings (edited by Richard Bellamy)
• Bentham A Fragment on Government (introduction by Ross Harrison)
• Bernstein The Preconditions of Socialism (edited by Henry Tudor)
• Bodin On Sovereignty (edited by Julian H. Franklin)
• Bolingbroke Political Writings (edited by David Armitage)
• Bossuet Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture (edited by Patrick Riley)
• The British Idealists (edited by David Boucher)
• Burke Pre-Revolutionary Writings (edited by lan Harris)
• Christine de Pizan The Book of the Body Politic (edited by Kate Langdon Forhan)
• Cicero On Duties (edited by M. T. Griffin and E. M. Atkins)
  Conciliarism and Populism (edited by J. H. Burns and Thomas M. Izbicki)
• Constant Political Writings (edited by Biancamaria Fontana)
• Dante Monarchy (edited by Prue Shaw)
• Diderot Political Writings (edited by John Hope Mason and Robert Wokler)
• The Dutch Revolt (edited by Martin van Gelderen)
• Early Greek Political Thought from Homer to the Sophists (edited by Michael Gagarin and Paul Woodruff)
• The Early Political Writings of the German Romantics (edited by Frederick C. Beiser)
• The English Levellers (edited by Andrew Sharp)
• Erasmus The Education of a Christian Prince (edited by Lisa Jardine)
• Ferguson An Essay on the History of Civil Society (edited by Fania Oz-Salzberger)
• Filmer Patriarcha and Other Writings (edited by Johann P. Sommerville)
• Fletcher Political Works (edited by John Robertson)
• Sir John Fortescue On the Lam and Governance of England (edited by Shelley Lockwood)
• Fourier The Theory of the Four Movements (edited by Gareth Stedman Jones and lan Patterson)
• Gramsci Pre-Prison Writings (edited by Richard Bellamy)
• Guicciardini Dialogue on the Government of Florence (edited by Alison Brown)
• Harrington A Commonwealth of Oceana and A System of Politics (edited by J. G. A. Pocock)
• Hegel Elements of the Philosophy of Right (edited by Allen W. Wood and H. B. Nisbet)
• Hobbes Leviathan (edited by Richard Tuck)
• Hobhouse Liberalism and other Writings (edited by James Meadowcroft)
• Hooker Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity (edited by A. S. McGrade)
• Hume Political Essays (edited by Knud Haakonssen)
• John of Salisbury Policraticus (edited by Cary Nedennan)
• Kant Political Writings (edited by H. S. Reiss and H. B. Nisbet)
• King James VI and I Political Writings (edited by Johann P. Sommerville)
• Knox On Rebellion (edited by Roger A. Mason)
• Kropotkin The Conquest of Bread and Other Writings (edited by Marshall Shatz)
• Lawson Politica sacra et civilis (edited by Conal Condren)
• Leibniz Political Writings (edited by Patrick Riley)
• Locke Political Essays (edited by Mark Goldie)
• Locke Two Treatises of Government (edited by Peter Laslett)
• Loyseau A Treatise of Orders and Plain Dignities (edited by Howell A. Lloyd)
• Luther and Calvin on Secular Authority (edited by Harro Höpfl)
• Machiavelli The Prince (edited by Quentin Skinner and Russell Price)
• de Maistre Considerations on France (edited by Isaiah Berlin and Richard Lebrun)
• Malthus An Essay on the Principle of Population (edited by Donald Winch)
• Marsiglio of Padua Defensor minor and De translatione Imperii (edited by Cary Nederman)
• Marx Early Political Writings (edited by Joseph O'Malley)
• Marx Later Political Writings (edited by Terence Carver)
• James Mill Political Writings (edited by Terence Ball)
• J. S. Mill On Liberty, with The Subjection of Women and Chapters on Socialism (edited by Stefan Collini)
• Milton Political Writings (edited by Martin Dzelzainis)
• Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws (edited by Anne M. Cohler, Basia Carolyn Miller and Harold Samuel Stone)
• More Utopia (edited by George M. Logan and Robert M. Adams)
• Morris News from Nowhere (edited by Krishan Kumar)
• Nicholas of Cusa The Catholic Concordance (edited by Paul E. Sigmund)
• Nietzsche On the Genealogy of Morality (edited by Keith Ansell-Pearson)
• Paine Political Writings (edited by Bruce Kuklick)
• Plato Statesman (edited by Julia Annas and Robin Waterfield)
• Price Political Writings (edited by D. O. Thomas)
• Priestley Political Writings (edited by Peter Miller)
• Proudhon What is Property? (edited by Donald R. Kelley and Bonnie G. Smith)
• Pufendorf On the Duty of Man and Citizen According to Natural Law (edited by James Tully)
• The Radical Reformation (edited by Michael G. Baylor)
• Rousseau The Discourses and Other Early Political Writings (edited by Victor Gourevitch)
• Rousseau The Social Contract and Other Later Political Writings (edited by Victor Gourevitch)
• Seneca Moral and Political Essays (edited by John Cooper and John Procope)
• Sidney Court Maxims (edited by Hans W. Blom, Eco Haitsma Mulier and Ronald Janse)
• Spencer Man versus the State and The Proper Sphere of Government (edited by John Offer)
• Stirner The Ego and its Own (edited by David Leopold)
• Thoreau Political Writings (edited by Nancy Rosenblum)
• Utopias of the British Enlightenment (edited by Gregory Claeys)
• Vitoria Political Writings (edited by Anthony Pagden and Jeremy Lawrance)
• Voltaire Political Writings (edited by David Williams)
• Weber Political Writings (edited by Peter Lassman and Ronald Speirs)
• William of Ockham A Short Discourse on Tyrannical Government (edited by A. S. McGrade and John Kilcullen)
• William of Ockham A Letter to the Friars Minor and Other Writings (edited by A. S. McGrade and John Kilcullen)
• Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Men and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (edited by Sylvana Tomaselli)