Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject ('submit yourselves'), not only for ('because of the') wrath - or, for fear of the magistrate's vengeance,
But also for conscience' sake - out of conscientious reverence for God's authority. It is hardly necessary to say that it is of Magistracy in general, considered as a divine ordinance, that this is spoken: and the statement applies equally to all forms of government, from an unchecked despotism-such as flourished when this was written, under the Emperor Nero-to a pure democracy. The inalienable right of all subjects to endeavour to alter or improve the form of government under which they live is left untouched here. But since Christians were constantly charged with turning the world upside down, and since there certainly were elements enough in Christianity of moral and social revolution to give plausibility to the charge, and tempt noble spirits, crushed under misgovernment, to take redress into their own hands, it was of special importance that the pacific, submissive, loyal spirit of those Christians who resided at the great seat of political power should furnish a visible refutation of this charge.