William Cunningham on Civil Government and Natural Reason

"[C]ivil government is intended to bear, at least principally and most directly, upon the temporal welfare of men, and ought to be regulated chiefly by a regard to the principles of natural reason. God has not prescribed His written word as the only rule to be followed by nations and their rulers in establishing and administering civil government; and He has not given them in His word sufficient materials to guide them authoritatively in determining all the questions which, with reference to this matter they may be called upon to entertain and dispose of. Yet where the word of God does speak to these issues, it ought to be authoritative in regu lating the opinions and conduct of those who acknowledge it as such” (William Cunningham, Discussions on Church Principles: Popish, Erastian, and Presbyterian [Edingburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1863], pages 196-197).