From The Commonwealth Of The Hebrews, And Their History, Certain Political
Doctrines Are Deduced.
[18:1] (1) Although the commonwealth of the Hebrews, as we have conceived it, might
have lasted for ever, it would be impossible to imitate it at the present day, nor would it
be advisable so to do. (2) If a people wished to transfer their rights to God it would be
necessary to make an express covenant with Him, and for this would be needed not only
the consent of those transferring their rights, but also the consent of God. (3) God,
however, has revealed through his Apostles that the covenant of God is no longer written
in ink, or on tables of stone, but with the Spirit of God in the fleshy tables of the heart.
(18:4) Furthermore, such a form of government would only be available for those who
desire to have no foreign relations, but to shut themselves up within their own frontiers,
and to live apart from the rest of the world; it would be useless to men who must have
dealings with other nations; so that the cases where it could be adopted are very few
indeed.
(18:5) Nevertheless, though it could not be copied in its entirety, it possessed many
excellent features which might be brought to our notice, and perhaps imitated with
advantage. (6) My intention, however, is not to write a treatise on forms of government,
so I will pass over most of such points in silence, and will only touch on those which bear
upon my purpose.
(18:7) God's kingdom is not infringed upon by the choice of an earthly ruler endowed
with sovereign rights; for after the Hebrews had transferred their rights to God, they
conferred the sovereign right of ruling on Moses, investing him with the sole power of
instituting and abrogating laws in the name of God, of choosing priests, of judging, of
teaching, of punishing - in fact, all the prerogatives of an absolute monarch.
(18:8) Again, though the priests were the interpreters of the laws, they had no power to
judge the citizens, or to excommunicate anyone: this could only be done by the judges
and chiefs chosen from among the people. (9) A consideration of the successes and the
histories of the Hebrews will bring to light other considerations worthy of note. To wit:
(18:9) I. That there were no religious sects, till after the high priests, in the second
commonwealth, possessed the authority to make decrees, and transact the business of
government. (10) In order that such authority might last for ever, the high priests usurped
the rights of secular rulers, and at last wished to be styled kings. (11) The reason for this
is ready to hand; in the first commonwealth no decrees could bear the name of the high
priest, for he had no right to ordain laws, but only to give the answers of God to questions
asked by the captains or the councils: he had, therefore, no motive for making changes in
the law, but took care, on the contrary, to administer and guard what had already been
received and accepted. (12) His only means of preserving his freedom in safety against
