Preface.

he would sin in doing so, and it would be no good work for him. For the Holy Divine Scripture commands all Christians that each one should remain in his calling and not grasp at a foreign office. 1 Corinthians 7; 1 Peter 4.

1 Kings 13; 2 Chronicles 26. Thus, in the Old Testament, burning incense and sacrificing were good works commanded by God, but they were commanded only to the priests. Therefore, when King Jeroboam and King Uzziah presumed to perform those same good works, Jeroboam's hand had to wither and the altar had to be torn apart before him, and Uzziah had to be struck with leprosy, for these were not works of their calling.

Thus, it is a good work to protect and shield Christ and all God-fearing and innocent people from violence with the sword, and to punish evil and violent knaves. However, that same good work is commanded by God only to the worldly government. Therefore, when the Apostle Peter tries to do it, it is not a good work for him; he must hear from Christ, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Secondly, if we wish to do good works—whether they be general or works of office—rightly, we must do them, as said above, in true faith, out of pure, obligatory obedience and gratitude toward God, without any trust in one's own merit, and without...