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it be prayer or fasting； or by whatever name it may be called；
if he does not earnestly and diligently exercise himself in this。
But if it should happen； as it often does； that the temporal
power and authorities； as they are called； should urge a subject
to do contrary to the Commandments of God； or hinder him from
doing them； there obedience ends； and that duty is annulled。 Here
a man must say as St。 Peter says to the rulers of the Jews： 〃We
ought to obey God rather than men。〃 He did not say： 〃We must not
obey men〃； for that would be wrong； but he said： 〃God rather than
men。〃 Thus； if a prince desired to go to war； and his cause was
manifestly unrighteous； we should not follow nor help him at all；
since God has commanded that we shall not kill our neighbor； nor
do him injustice。 Likewise； if he bade us bear false witness；
steal； lie or deceive and the like。 Here we ought rather give up
goods； honor； body； and life； that God's Commandments may stand。
The four preceding Commandments have their works in the
understanding； that is； they take a man captive； rule him and
make him subject； so that he rule not himself； approve not
himself； think not highly of himself； but in humility know
himself and allow himself to be led； that pride be prevented。 The
following Commandments deal with the passions and lust of men；
that these also be killed。
I。 The passions of anger and revenge； of which the Fifth
Commandment says； 〃Thou shalt not kill。〃 This Commandment has one
work； which however includes many and dispels many vices； and is
called meekness。 Now this is of two kinds。 The one has a
beautiful splendor； and there is nothing back of it。 This we
practice toward our friends and those who do us good and give us
pleasure with goods； honor and favor； or who do not offend us
with words nor with deeds。 Such meekness irrational animals have；
lions and snakes； Jews； Turks； knaves； murderers； bad women。
These are all content and gentle when men do what they want； or
let them alone； and yet there are not a few who； deceived by such
worthless meekness； cover over their anger and excuse it； saying：
〃I would indeed not be angry； if I were left alone。〃 Certainly；
my good man； so the evil spirit also would be meek if he had his
own way。 Dissatisfaction and resentment overwhelm you in order
that they may show you how full of anger and wickedness you are；
that you may be admonished to strive after meekness and to drive
out anger。
The second form of meekness is good through and through； that
which is shown toward opponents and enemies； does them no harm；
does not revenge itself； does not curse nor revile； does not
speak evil of them； does not meditate evil against them； although
they had taken away goods； honor； life； friends and everything。
Nay； where it is possible； it returns good for evil； speaks well
of them； thinks well of them； prays for them。 Of this Christ
says； Matthew v： 〃Do good to them that despitefully use you。 Pray
for them that persecute you and revile you。〃 And Paul； Romans
xii： 〃Bless them which curse you； and by no means curse them； but
do good to them。〃
II。 Behold how this precious； excellent work has been lost among
Christians； so that nothing now everywhere prevails except
strife； war； quarreling； anger； hatred； envy； back…biting；
cursing； slandering； injuring； vengeance； and all manner of angry
works and words； and yet； with all this； we have our many
holidays； hear masses； say our prayers； establish churches； and
more such spiritual finery； which God has not commanded。 We shine
resplendently and excessively； as if we were the most holy
Christians there ever were。 And so because of these mirrors and
masks we allow God's Commandment to go to complete ruin； and no
one considers or examines himself； how near or how far he be from
meekness and the fulfilment of this Commandment； although God has
said； that not he who does such works； but he who keeps His
Commandments； shall enter into eternal life。
Now； since no one lives on earth upon whom God does not bestow
an enemy and opponent as a proof of his own anger and wickedness；
that is； one who afflicts him in goods； honor； body or friends；
and thereby tries whether anger is still present； whether he can
be well…disposed toward his enemy； speak well of him； do good to
him； and not intend any evil against him； let him come forward
who asks what he shall do that he may do good works； please God
and be saved。 Let him set his enemy before him； keep him
constantly before the eyes of his heart； as an exercise whereby
he may curb his spirit and train his heart to think kindly of his
enemy； wish him well； care for him and pray for him； and then；
when opportunity offers； speak well of him and do good to him。
Let him who will； try this and if he find not enough to do all
his life long； he may convict me of lying； and say that my
contention was wrong。 But if this is what God desires； and if He
will be paid in no other coin； of what avail is it； that we busy
ourselves with other great works which are not commanded； and
neglect this？ Therefore God says； Matthew v； 〃I say unto you；
that whosoever is angry with his neighbor； is in danger of the
judgment； but whosoever shall say to his brother； Thou fool （that
is； all manner of invective； cursing； reviling； slandering）； he
shall be in danger of everlasting fire。〃 What remains then for
the outward act； striking； wounding； killing； injuring； etc。； if
the thoughts and words of anger are so severely condemned？
III。 But where there is true meekness； there the heart is pained
at every evil which happens to one's enemy。 And these are the
true children and heirs of God and brethren of Christ； Whose
heart was so pained for us all when He died on the holy Cross。
Even so we see a pious judge passing sentence upon the criminal
with sorrow； and regretting the death which the law imposes。 Here
the act seems to be one of anger and harshness。 So thoroughly
good is meekness that even in such works of anger it remains；
nay； it torments the heart most sorely when it must be angry and
severe。
But here we must watch； that we be not meek contrary to God's
honor and Commandment。 For it is written of Moses that he was the
very meekest man on earth； and yet； when the Jews had worshiped
the golden calf and provoked God to anger； he put many of them
to death； and thereby made atonement before God。 Likewise it is
not fitting that the magistrates should be idle and allow sin to
have sway； and that we say nothing。 My own possessions； my honor；
my injury； I must not regard； nor grow angry because of them； but
God's honor and Commandment we must protect； and injury or
injustice to our neighbor we must prevent； the magistrates with
the sword； the rest of us with reproof and rebuke； yet always
with pity for those who have merited the punishment。
This high； noble； sweet work can easily be learned； if we perform
it in f