seen how unjust they have
been toward you, and that they must glorify God on your account. So
St. Peter continues:

V. 13-17. _Submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's
sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as those that
are sent by Him for the punishment of evil-doers and to the praise of
those that do well. For this is the will of God, that by well-doing
ye may silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not as
though ye had your freedom as a cover of wickedness, but as the
servants of God. Be respectful toward every man. Love the
brotherhood; fear God; honor the king._

In such a beautiful order does St. Peter proceed, and teaches us how
we should conduct ourselves in all things. Hitherto he has spoken in
a general manner of the conduct that belongs to every condition. Now
he begins to teach how we should act toward civil magistracy. For
since he had said enough as to the first matter, of our duty to God
and ourselves, he now adds how we are to conduct toward all men.

And now he would say, in the first place, and before all else, since
ye have done all that was necessary that ye might attain to a true
faith and hold your body in subjection, let this now be your first
business, to obey the magistracy.

This, which I have here rendered in the Dutch, every _ordinance_ of
man, is in the Greek [Greek: ktiois], and in Latin _creatura_. This
thing has not been understood by our learned men. The Dutch language
well expresses what the word means, where it is said, we are to obey
what the ruler enacts (creates). So he uses the word here as though
he said, what the magistracy enacts (creates) yield obedience to. For
to enact (create) is to lay down a command and ordinance; it is a
human creation. But they have hence inferred that _creatura_ means an
ox or an ass, as the Pope also speaks of it. If this were Peter's
meaning, then we should need to become subject even to a slave. But
he here means a human ordinance, law or command,--and what they enact
we are to do.

What God makes, authorizes, and requires,--that is His ordinance, as
that we should believe. So, also, that is a human and secular
creation which is constituted by commands, as external government
must be. To this we are to be subject. Therefore understand the
expression as meaning, _creatura humana, quod creat et condit homo_
(what man makes and constructs).

_For the Lord's sake._ We are not bound to obedience to