372 The Faith of Our Fathers "the most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule,"5 and that "judgment should begin at the house of God."508 The words of the Apostle are present to his mind: "What hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?"509 As well might the vessel that is filled with precious liquor boast of being superior to the vessel that is filled with water. The Priest knows full well that the powers he has received from God are given to him not to feed his own vanity, but to enrich the hearts of the faithful; and that, though instrumental in pointing out to others the way to heaven, he himself, unless adorned with personal virtues, will [395] become a reprobate, like those unhappy Priests of Jerusalem who directed the Magi to Jesus in Bethlehem, but did not go thither themselves. "I have planted," says the Apostle, "Apollo watered, but God gave the increase. Therefore, neither he that planteth is anything, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase."510 We perform the outward ceremony; God alone supplies the grace. The obligations of the minister of God are, therefore commensurate with his exalted dignity. The Priest is required to be a man of profound learning and of solid piety. "The lips of the Priest shall keep knowledge, and they (the people) shall seek the law at his mouth."511 The Lord denounces the Priests of the Old Law because they neglected to study the Sacred Sciences: "Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not do the office of priesthood for Me, and thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." 507 Wisd. vi. 6. 508 I. Pet. iv. 17. 509 I. Cor. iv. 7. 510 Cor. iii. 6, 7. 511 Malach. ii. 7. 512 Osee. iv. 6.