says (Rom. xiii. 1, 2), 'Let every soul be subject to higher powers; for there is no power but from God; and those that are, are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God.' We give them this reverence, not only through fear but through love; not only by reason but also by conscience. We do so because of the teaching of the Apostle, who says that all power is from God; and who also says (v. 7), 'Render therefore to all men their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honour, to whom honour.' It is therefore said (Prov. xxiv. 21), 'My son, fear the Lord and the king.'

4. Benefactors. Benefactors are called our fathers. The Scripture says (Ecclus. iv. 10), 'In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father:' for this is the characteristic of a father. Again (Ecclus. xxix. 19), 'Forget not the kindness of thy surety;' for that is what the thankless do. Of them it is said (Wisd. xvi. 29), 'The hope of the

unthankful shall melt away as the winter's ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.'

5. Age. The old are called our fathers. Thus we read (Deut. xxxii. 7), 'Ask thy father, and he will declare to thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.' Again (Lev. xix. 32), 'Rise up before the hoary head, and honour the person of the aged man, and fear the Lord thy God. I am the Lord.' Again (Ecclus. xxxii. 13), 'In the company of great men take not upon thee; and when the ancients are present speak not much.' So again (v. 9), ' Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.'

All such persons, therefore, are to be reverenced, because they all bear in different ways the likeness of our Father who is in heaven. To them we may apply the words, 'He who despiseth you, despiseth Me.'

Prayer.

O adorable Trinity, One God, Thou art Lord of all and Father of all. To Thee all

creatures do homage, and in Thee they live. Thou art my Father, and I give honour to Thee, in the highest and for Thy own sake. Whatever honour I give to other fathers, I give for Thy sake and in Thee.

From our earthly father and mother we receive our bodies and nourishment and instruction, but far more do we receive these gifts from Thee, our Maker and Keeper. As we owe our father and mother reverence and help and obedience for these blessings, so far more do we owe all reverence and all obedience to Thee, who art infinitely above all need of help, being almighty and all-wise.

Give me grace, O God, to follow in the steps of Jesus. As He loved His heavenly Father and His earthly mother, so give me much love for my father and mother. (Here pray for them, and for all their needs on earth or in Purgatory.) May I always show them love, reverence, honour, and obedience according to Thy will. May I always give them all the help I can here;

and may I always give them all the help that they need in Purgatory.

O adorable Trinity, let my life be a full life in Thee, that it may be a long life in virtue, however short a life it may be in days. If it be Thy holy will that it should be a long life in days, let it be far longer in holiness and in love of Thee.

O my God, may I have great reverence for the Vicar of Jesus Christ, the Saviour whom I love; and may I have great reverence for all bishops and priests who stand at Thy altars and serve Thee.

For Thy sake, O God, I submit myself to rulers and teachers, and those who are in any way set over me lawfully.

May I never forget my benefactors, but always remember them with gratitude, and always do what I can for them in return.

May I always be full of respect for the aged; remembering that a hoary head found in the way of holiness is as a crown of justice; and that Thou hast told me to rise

up and honour the person of the aged man, and fear Thee, the Lord my God.

O God, Thou art my Father, may I always live as Thy child, reverencing Thee only for Thyself, and submitting myself to all authorities in Thee and for Thee.

O adorable Trinity, Thou art my dearest Father and my own God.

CHAPTER X.

OF THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT OF THE

LAW.

'THOU shalt not kill' (Ex. xx. 13). By the divine law which sets charity in order in us, with regard to the love of God and our neighbour, we are commanded not only to do right, but also to keep from wrong. Now the greatest evil that we can bring on our neighbour is death. We have therefore the command, 'Thou shalt not kill.'

I. Men have erred about this commandment in three ways.