Verse 19. — He leadeth away priests without glory, and overthroweth the nobles. Those who either neglect the care of their subjects, or seek something other than eternal rewards, are without glory. The great glory of the priesthood is the rectitude of subjects. Hence well does the excellent preacher say to his disciples: For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory? Are not ye, before the Lord? (1 Thess. ii, 19). But when priests neglect the life of their disciples, and bear no fruit from their advancement before the Lord, what else are they called but 'without glory'? For before the strict judge they then assuredly find no glory, which now by the zeal of preaching they do not seek in the morals of their subjects. And it is well said:
And he overthroweth the nobles, because when by just judgment he forsakes the ruling mind, it does not seek the inward reward of recompense; and it is overthrown in that whereby it is deceived, so that instead of eternal glory it congratulates itself on temporal rule. The nobles, therefore, are overthrown, because while they neglect the true rewards of the heavenly country, they fall here into their own pleasures. There follows: