To provide for their support in the manner established by law and custom.
'With all thy soul fear the Lord, and reverence his priests* (Ecclus. vii. 31). 'Obey your prelates, and be subject to them; for they watch as being to render an account of your souls, that they may do this with joy, and not with grief; for this is not expedient for you' (Hebr, xiii. 17). 'The Lord ordained that they who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel' (1 Cor. ix. 14; comp. Luke x. 7, and 1 Tim. v. 17, 18). — Example of the Christians, when Peter was in prison (Acts xii.; comp. Gal. IV. 14, 15).
16. When do we sin against our Spiritual Superiors?
1. When, by word or deed, we violate the reverence due to them, or when, by speaking ill of them, we lower their character; 2. When we oppose them, and thereby may be the cause of schism and scandal; and 3. When, contrary to our duty, we refuse to contribute towards their support, and to provide for the Divine Service.
'He that despiseth you, despiseth me' (Luke x. 16). 'The Lord knoweth how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented; and especially them who despise government, audacious, self-willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming. They allure by the desires of fleshly riotousness those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error: promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption' (2 Pet. ii.). 'Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and have perished in the contradiction of Core' (Jude 11). — Examples: Core, Dathan, and Abiron, swallowed up by the earth (Num. xvi.); Forty-two boys torn by two bears (4 Kings ii. 24).
17. What are our duties towards our Civil, or Temporal, Rulers?
We are bound, 1. To show to our Civil Rulers, ordained by God. respect, fidelity, and conscientious obedience, and to suffer anything rather than raise sedition against them; 2. To pay the taxes imposed by them; and 3. To assist them in their necessities and dangers; and even to sacrifice our property and life in defence of our country against its enemies.
'Let every soul be subject to higher powers; for there is no
