The English Philosopher, John Locke, Who Set The ...

The English philosopher, John Locke, who set the tone for the American Revolution, in his Second Treatise, wrote "the ruling power ought to govern by declared and received laws, and not by extemporaneous dictates and undetermined Justice…"

Locke understood that laws worked best when people received them. We are more likely to break laws with which we do not agree than those we receive.

This is more true with Christianity than with government. We must freely choose to receive God’s Word and follow it. No one can make us do this against our will. We will not be clubbed if we do not love our brother, we will not serve time if we fail to encourage others, and we will not fined if we fail to study our Bibles.