Donahoes Magazine, Volume 15, No. 1, January 1886 | Page 3

person is over all, impelling individuals by efficient and similar
motives to pursue the common advantage, it is brought about that
authority whereby it may be ruled is indispensable to a civilized
community, which authority, as well as society, can have no other

source than nature, and consequently God Himself. And thence it
follows that by its very nature there can be no public power except
from God alone. For God alone is the most true and supreme Lord of
the world, Whom necessarily all things, whatever they be, must be
subservient to and obey, so that whoever possess the right of governing,
can receive that from no other source than from that supreme chief of
all, God. "There is no power except from God." (Rom. xiii. 1.) But the
right of ruling is not necessarily conjoined with any special form of
commonwealth, but may rightly assume this or that form, provided that
it promotes utility and the common good. But whatever be the kind of
commonwealth, rulers ought to keep in view God, the Supreme
Governor of the world, and to set Him before themselves as an example
and a law in the administration of the State. For as God, in things which
are and which are seen, has produced secondary causes, wherein the
Divine nature and course of action can be perceived, and which
conduce to that end to which the universal course of the world is
directed, so in civil society He has willed that there should be a
government which should be carried on by men who should reflect
towards mankind an image as it were of Divine power and Divine
providence. The rule of the government, therefore, should be just and
not that of a master but rather that of a father, because the power of
God over men is most just and allied with a father's goodness.
Moreover, it is to be carried on with a view to the advantage of the
citizens, because they who are over others are over them for this cause
alone, that they may see to the interests of the State. And in no way is it
to be allowed that the civil authority should be subservient merely to
the advantage of one or of a few, since it was established for the
common good of all. But if they who are over the State should lapse
into unjust rule; if they should err through arrogance or pride; if their
measures should be injurious to the people, let them know that
hereafter an account must be rendered to God, and that so much the
stricter in proportion as they are intrusted with more sacred functions,
or have obtained a higher grade of dignity, "The mighty shall be
mightily tormented." (Wisd. vi. 7.)
Thus truly the majesty of rule will be attended with an honorable and
willing regard on the part of the citizens; for when once they have been

brought to conclude that they who rule are strong only with the
authority given by God, they will feel that those duties are due and just,
that they should be obedient to their rulers, and pay to them respect and
fidelity, with somewhat of the same affection as that of children to their
parents. "Let every soul be subject to higher powers." (Rom. xiii. 1.)
Indeed, to contemn lawful authority, in whatever person it is vested, is
as unlawful as it is to resist the Divine will; and whoever resists that,
rushes voluntarily to his destruction. "He who resists the power, resists
the ordinance of God; and they who resist, purchase to themselves
damnation." (Rom. xiii. 2.) Wherefore to cast away obedience, and by
popular violence to incite the country to sedition, is treason, not only
against man, but against God.
It is clear that a State constituted on this basis is altogether bound to
satisfy, by the public profession of religion, the very many and great
duties which bring it into relation with God. Nature and reason which
commands every man individually to serve God holily and religiously,
because we belong to Him and coming from Him must return to Him,
binds by the same law the civil community. For men living together in
society are no less under the power of God than are individuals; and
society owes as much gratitude as individuals do to God, Who is its
author, its preserver, and the beneficent source of the innumerable
blessings which it has received. And therefore as it is not lawful for
anybody to neglect his duties towards God, and as it is the first duty to
embrace in mind and in conduct religion--not such as each may choose,
but such as God commands--in the same manner States cannot, without
a crime, act as though God did not exist, or