When? When He was on the Cross. And how? By committing His mother to the care of the beloved disciple (John xix. 26, 27). § 3. The Civil Authority. Does this commandment require you to honor any persons besides your parents? Yes; I am to honor and obey the President, the Governor of the State, and all that are put in authority under them. By whose authority do civil magistrates bear_rule? By the ordinance of God. God says by St. Paul: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" (Rom. xiii. 1. Also 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14; Titus iii. 1). Does this mean that the personal commands of the civil magistrate, whether according to the law or not, are to be obeyed? No; by the tenure on which all magistrates hold office, they are bound to govern according to the laws. How do we break this commandment in the matter of obedience to the civil ruler? By speaking disrespectfully of him, or of those under him. 2. By wilfully disobeying the law, or by evading its clear meaning and intent, as for instance in the matter of taxes. What rule does our Lord lay down respecting obedience to the civil governor? "Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's" (Matt. xxii. 21). Are we bound to obey a wicked magistrate? We are bound to obey the law, no matter what the personal character of the person who administers the law. St. Paul commanded obedience even to Nero, who was emperor when the Epistle to the Romans was written (Rom. xiii. 1-8). If the law is plainly contrary to God's law, as, for instance, in the matter of divorce, which are we bound to obey? "We ought to obey God rather than men v. 20). (Acts § 4. Governors, Teachers, Pastors, etc. Are you to obey any other persons besides your parents and the civil authority? Yes; I must submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors, and masters. Who are your governors, as distinguished from your teachers or masters? Such persons as the head of a college, the captain of a ship, or the president of any lawful society of which I may be a member. If these societies are voluntary, are you bound to obey the governors of them? Yes; in all matters within their province. If I disapprove of their orders, I am bound to leave the society. Who are your teachers? My schoolmasters, or tutors, or my Sunday-school teacher, while I am in his class. Who are your spiritual pastors? The Bishops and Clergy, especially my Parish How are you to submit yourself to him? By listening respectfully to his teaching. How besides? By upholding his authority when it is spoken against. What are we to consider the clergy to be? "Ministers of Christ, and stewards of the myster ies (i. e., of the mysterious truths and the sacraments) of God" (1 Cor. iv. 1). How besides this are you to do your duty to your spiritual pastor? By helping him with my exertions and offerings (1 Cor. ix. 13, 14). Who are your masters? Our employers (Col. iii. 22, 23. See also 1 Peter ii. How do we as servants disobey this command? By impertinence or insolence; and by carelessness and idleness, as well as by disobedience. In serving their earthly masters, whom are servants to serve? Their heavenly Master, the Lord Christ. How do they do this? By serving their masters faithfully, as if the eye of their Master in Heaven was upon them. § 5. My Betters. In what other respect does your duty toward your neighbor teach you to observe the fifth commandment? I am to order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: that is, to my elders and those above me in station (Rom. xiii. 7). What command does God give with respect to the aged? "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord" (Lev. xix. 32). What else does this command enjoin? 66 To honour all men;" to be "courteous," and "in lowliness of mind each to esteem other better than ourselves" (1 Pet. ii. 17; iii. 8; Phil. ii. 3). What beside all this is enjoined under this fifth commandment? It enjoins that those to whom honor is due should act so as to be worthy of it. Parents, for instance, must rule their families well, and bring up their children in the fear of God. Kings and magistrates must rule according to justice and equity. Spiritual pastors must set before themselves the example and the return to judgment of the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. v. 4). Masters must carefully oversee their servants, and render to them that which is just and equal. § 6. The Promise. What are the words of the promise attached to this commandment? "That thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (See Eph. vi. 2.) How will this be fulfilled? God will make good this promise, either in this world, or in the world to come. But will not all who are forgiven enter into God's rest, the true land of promise? Yes; but God will particularly remember and reward the obedience of those who have kept this commandment. PORTION OF CHURCH CATECHISM. From "How many Sacraments" to the end. § 1. Murder. What is the sixth commandment? "Thou shalt do no murder." What is the crime of murder? Taking away the life of a fellow-creature from some bad motive, such as revenge, hatred, or desire of gain. Is it necessary that there should be the deliberate intention to take away life? Yes; or else the crime is that of manslaughter (Num. xxxv. 22-29). Mention some ways in which the letter of the sixth commandment is broken. By concealing, or setting free a murderer; by so doing we make ourselves partakers in his crime. Mention another. By wilfully neglecting to save a fellow-creature from death, when it is in our power to do so (as when one, who has the means of helping him, suffers a poor man to die of hunger). Mention another. By suicide, which is self-murder. We have no more right over our own lives than we have over the lives of others. Can the sixth commandment be broken by our treatment of the brute creation? Yes; all cruelty to dumb animals is of the nature of murder. § 2. The Murderous Spirit. How is this commandment explained in the“ duty towards my neighbor?" "My duty towards my neighbor is to . . hurt nobody by word or deed . . . to bear no malice nor hatred in my heart." Why are we taught that this commandment is broken when we hurt any one by word or deed? Because our Blessed Lord expressly lays down that the use of all injurious and abusive language is a breach of this commandment (Matt. v. 21, 22). Why do we extend the scope of this commandment to the thoughts of the heart? Because our Lord, in this very place, lays down that every one that is angry with his brother without a cause disobeys the spirit of this commandment; and because St. John teaches us that, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer " (1 John iii. 15). What is one very common form of breaking this commandment? By holding imaginary conversations in which biting words are addressed to the person who has injured us. § 3. Righteous Anger. Are there any things which, if we are true Christians, will make us righteously angry? Yes; the sight of sin, and hearing the faith denied or explained away by those who are bound to profess it. Do we ever read of our Lord being angry? Yes; in Mark iii. 5 it is written concerning cer |