Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/351

 priest  as  well! This led  him  to  sin  grievously  against  the  law  of  God, and as  a punishment  for  his  pride  he  lost  even  his  royal  position,  and led a sad  and  solitary  life. No doubt,  in  his  solitude,  he  renounced his pride,  and  heartily  repented  of  his  crime. “Everyone that  exalteth himself shall  be  humbled”  (Luke  14,  11).

Temporal and  spiritual  authority.  Even  in  the  Old  Testament  God, in His  wisdom,  separated  the  spiritual  or  priestly  from  the  temporal or royal  authority,  perpetuating  it  in  Aaron  and  his  descendants. In the New  Testament  our  Lord  instituted  a special  priesthood,  entrusting its authority  to  the  apostles  and  their  successors. Both Church  and State represent  God’s  authority,  and  they  ought  mutually  to  respect each other,  and  work  together  for  the  good  of  the  people,  but  neither of them  ought  to  usurp  the  prerogatives  of  the  other. The severe punishment which  followed  the  crime  of  Ozias  ought  to  serve  as  a warning  to  temporal  rulers  in  all  ages  not  to  encroach  on  the  rights of the  Church;  and  it  ought  to  show  all  men  that  it  is  a sin  not  to respect  the  spiritual  authority  instituted  by  God,  to  set  themselves  up against  it,  or  blame  or  abuse  its  decrees.

Lawful obedience.  The  High  Priest  did  his  duty  in  undauntedly opposing the  king  in  his  sinful  purpose. This was  a case  when  it  would have been  wrong  for  him  to  obey  the  king,  for  he  commanded  a thing which God  had  forbidden.

APPLICATION. Remind yourselves  of  the  cases  in  which  you are not  bound  to  obey  your  parents  and  those  set  in  authority over you.

URING the  reign  of  Ozias,  Joatham,  and  especially  Achaz, the people  of  Juda  were  guilty  of  many  acts  of  idolatry. Wherefore God  sent  them  the  great  prophet  Isaias. In sublime and terrific  language  he  warned  them  of  many  fearful  calamities that were  to  come  upon  their  country,  unless  they  did  penance. Isaias was  the  great  preacher  of  penance  and  of  forgiveness  of sins. “Hear the  word  of  the  Lord”,  he  wrote:  “Wash  yourselves,