Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-05

war by the Carthagenians and impris
oned, he is sent on parole from Car
thage to Rome to propose terms of
peace to his countrymen. If the treaty
of peace was agreed to, Regulus was
free, If not agreed to he was Obliged to
return to his prison in Carthage. The
Roman Senate was disposed to ratMy
the treaty, but Regulus himself dis
slEaded them from doing SO. And rath
er than accept the terms which he con-
sidered dishonorahle to his country, he
voluntarily returned to Carthage where
he was tortured to death.
If the virtue of patriotism was held
in such high esteem by pagan Greece
and Rome, guided only by the light of
reason, how much more should it
BE Cherished by Christians
enlightened as they are by the voice of
revelation. Our Divine Savior has en-
nobled and sanctified loyalty to cour-
try by the force of His teaching and
example. The doctrine Of Christ on
this subject, is admirably condenser
in this short sentence: Render to
Caesar the things that are Caesars
and TO God the things that are Gods"
The Herodians questioned Jesus wheth
er it was lawful or not to pay tribute
to Caesar by this question, they
sought to ensnare Him in His words.
For, If he admitted the obligation, He
would arouse the indignation of the
Jews who deemed it unlawful to pay
tribute to a Gentle and idolatrous
raler. If He denied the obligation, He
would have incurred the vengeance of
Rome. He made this memorable reply
which silenced His adversaries: "Ren-
der to Caesar the things that are Gaze
sar's, and to God the things that are
Gods" In this short sentence, our
Savior clearly defines the duties We
owe to God, and to our country. and
points out the respective claims of
Church and State on our obedience.
On another occasion, Peter is asked
by the tax collector whether his Mas
ter would pay the tribute money or
not. Peter answered in the affirmative,
and our Lord confirmed His disciples
statement by paying the tax, though
His poverty obliged Him to work
miracle to procure the money. And
yet He might have exempted Himself
from the payment Of the tax on the
ground of His poverty and of His royal
origin, for, as He Himself remarked
on that occasion, taxes are levied not
on the sons but on the subjects of the
king, and He was the Son of the King
of kings. What lesson our Lord
gives us that we who are appointed to
preach to men their duties toward God
that we should be foremost in setting
to them an example of
Loyalty and Fidelity to Our Country.
The Apostles echo to their Master.
LET every SOUL" says st. Paul. BE
subject to the higher powers, for there
is no power but from God Therefore
he who resisteth the power. resisJeth
damnation. Render, therefore to all
their dues, tribute to whom tribute is
due, custom to whom custom. fear to
whom fear, honor TO whom honor.
BE We subject says St Peter. ITO
every human creature for Gods sake,
whether to the king as eXcelling. or to
governors as sent by Him for the pun
ishment of evil-doers and for the praise
OF them that do we'll" This short sen
tence: There is no authority but from
God" has contributed more effectually
to the stability of government and to
the peace and order of society than
standing armies, and all the volumes
ever written on the principles of gov
eminent. 1t ennobles obedience to con-
stituted authority by representing it
not as an act Of seryility TO man. but
of homage to God. 1t sheds a halo
around rulers and magistrates, by mold
ing them up to US ministers OF God: 1t
invests az legitimate laws with a di-
vine sanction by an appeal OF our con-
science.
We know with what scrupuIous fidel-
ity the early Christians carried out the
injunctions of the Apostles by their
observance Of tpe laws Of the Roman
empire. Now, if the primitive Chris
tians had so much reverence for the
civil magistrates in whose election they
certainly had no voice. and if they were
SO conscientious in observing the laws
of the Roman empire. which often in
fiuenced 9uanddhsti'f God dod doa
ficted on taem pains and disabilities,