Faith of Our Fathers

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 19, 17 May 1923, Page 41

Faith of Our Fathers

■■' [A Weekly Instruction for Young and Old.] The Supreme Dominion of God Over Us, and How Much We are Bound in Justice to Serve Him.(Continued.) (5) But what. above all other considerations bewilders our imagination, and totally confounds our understanding, is, that the power of God is so amazingly great, and acts in a manner so singular, so immensely different from every thing we know, and so peculiar to itself alone, that it has no need, I don't say, of exertions and efforts, of external helps and instruments, but not even of matter to act upon, which all the works of men pre-suppose as existing before the smallest thing can be made by them. But it is not so with God take a view once more, of all the wonders of the creation, consider the mighty fabric itself, and the innumerable multitude of beings, both spiritual and material, both animate and inanimate that it contains; "Look upon heaven and earth and all that is in them, and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind also" (2 Mach. vii., 28). Oh! here indeed we are altogether lost in wonder! what an amazing strength must that be, what incomprehensible power, which can in an instant, without the least labor or toil, by a simple act of the will create, I. do not say a grain of sand, or the smallest" insect, but innumerable worlds out of mere nothing, where there was not the smallest appearance of being, not even, the., shadow of existence before! How tremendous that Almighty Being, Whose power operates even upon nothing itself, and when, as St. Paul assures us, "calleth those things that are not as those that are" (Pom. iv., 17); and not only "giveth strength to the weary, but even gives force and might to them that are not!" (Is. xl., 29). How vain does all the strength of man appear, when compared to the power of God! what a more nothing are the greatest potentates of the earth, when compared to Him whose name is The Almighty "Who is like to Thee, among the strong, 0 Lord? who is like to Thee, glorious in holiness, terrible and praise-worthy, doing wonders?'' (Ex. xv., 11). "Thine, 0 Lord, is magnificence and power, and glory and victory, and to Thee is praise; for all that is in heaven and earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom 0 Lord, and Thou art above all princes; Thine are riches, and Thine is glory, Thou hast dominion over all, in Thine hand is power and might, in Thy hand greatness, and the empire of all things" (1 Ohron. xxix., 11). Of the Supreme Dominion of Jurisdiction Which Cod Has Over All Creatures. Q.. 6. What is understood by dominion? A. These words, strength, power, and dominion, have each their proper signification. Strength, properly signifies that personal force, vigor or ability, which one possesses in himself,- and by which he can produce certain effects. Dominion signifies that right, title or authority, which one has to exert his strength on other beings. Voicer signifies both the one and the other; but whereas Strength more properly signifies personal abilities, whether of body or mind, which are intrinsical to the person in whom it resides; power also signifies these extrinsical abilities which one has from the help of others joined with him; as the power which kings have, by means of their armies, or which is found in different states joined together in league or society. We have seen how infinitely great the strength and power' of God are which He possesses in Himself alone, •and by which He can do whatever is possible to be done in heaven, in earth, and in all creatures, and even in mere nothing. We now come to consider His dominion over 'all things, or that supreme authority, that unlimited right, which He has, to use His Almighty power over all His creatures,- ih whatever manner He pleases. Q; 7. How many kinds of dominion are there ? . A. Two kinds: the "dominion of jurisdiction, and the dominion of property. Q. 8. What is the dominion of jurisdiction ! A. The dominion of jurisdiction is the authority and right that one has to govern others, to lay commands upon them, to make laws, and to enforce obedience to his commands and laws by rewards and punishments. This is the dominion which is competent to kings, lords, and potentates, ; and to all-who possess any lawful authority over others. V' It always implies a corresponding obligation upon the subjects, to obey the laws and perform the commands of such lawful superiors. . _ . ,>, ,

Q. 9. Has God this dominion of jurisdiction over all creatures? A. All possible dominion over all creatures essentially belongs to : God, and His dominion over them, both of jurisdiction and property, is an absolute dominion, perfectly complete, and without all exception or limitation; it is also an inalienable dominion, and so essentially belongs to Him, that it can never be weakened or diminished, nor is it possible for any creature ever to withdraw itself from subjection to Him. Q. 10, To what does the dominion of jurisdiction, which God has over His reasonable creatures, extend? A. It extends to all such creatures, and to every thin" they are capable of doing; for (1) It embraces all intelligent beings, whether angels or men; from the most sublime spirit in heaven, to the lowest of the human race, from the king upon the throne, to the poorest beggar; for He is the only Mighty, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. yi., 15). "Bless the Lord," says David, "all ye His angels, you that are mighty in strength, and execute His words, hearkening to the voice of His orders. Bless T LOl m yeHIS hosts ' y ° U ministers of His that do " ,2O - " ThiUe ° Lord," says SolomoU) « magnificence and power . . Thou art above all princes ihi'iurs" n r I,V - S g f atUeSS and the em P ire of all things (1 Ohron. xx«., 11). ( 2 ) His authority over all intelhgent beings extends to everything Aatloeve that He pleases, to require of them; there is no action o ma 2r so indifferent in itself, that He cannot make th matter of a law, and require their obedience to it under he severest penalty; His Divine will is the supreme - of all righteousness, which every reasonable creature is indispensably obliged to oh PV k\ w r, cieature IS extends in .',ll \ , y " (3) H,S Dlvllle authority extends to all manner of punishments, which He has the os unlimited right to inflict upon those who presume to soey Hnn. o whatever kind, in whatever manner? and ml whatever extent, His infinite wisdom and 2 tee s h",l ; l Klge proper. "Who shall say to Tho OG J whTt has it ,I ,T ? <>r Uh ° Sll;,il "itlistand Thv judgmentP or who shall come before Thee * ha * "rTwickeu mentor wh0.1,,1i , ' reven & Gr of wicked Hence when God gave the law to His people, He began bv these t r e„ [l0 „ s ,„,,, v , AM *£.''^J, *%&%* If'V'lr" "' mi " d ° f His »"•■* doming™ r the™ oids, / „„, fhe Lord, and ends the whole with this clause / run Mt lord" (Lev. xix., 37); showing that this alone was sufficient to engage their obedience to ever, hing He had commanded them, and to obviate every difficulty whlh co"" Ve ' SemeS ° r rGaSOn C °" ld --e S t "o the Q. 11. How does this dominion of Cod extend to irrational and inanimate creatures? \ A. Here indeed, the sovereign authority of the Almighty shines forth in the most splendid manner; for h s dominion over irrational and inanimate creatures, makes those beings, .sensible of His commands, though in themselves they have no sense, and procures the most exact and perfect obedience, even from those that have no understanding. His power and authority over them, is such .that He may .command them whatever He-pleases and whatever He commands them, His commands are 'instantly obeyed. < Praise the Lord," says the royal prophet, -from the earth, ye. dragons and all ye deeps, fire, hail snow ice, stormy winds, which fulfil His word" (Ps. cxlviii 7)' "Thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth : by Thy ordinance the day goeth on; for- all things serve Thee" (Ps. cxviii., 91). "0 Adonai Lord, great art thou and glorious in Thy power, and no one can overcome Thee Let all Thy creatures serve Thee; because Thou hast spoken and they were made, Thou didst send forth Thy spirit 'and they were created, and there is no one "that can resist Thy voice the mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the waters, the rocks shall, melt as wax before Th™ face" (Judith xvi., 16). ; /.;■"-;., , ..;■ ' y