or among a christian people there should
and can be no compulsion, and if the attempt is made to bind the
conscience by outward laws, faith and the christian life are soon
suppressed; for Christ's are only to be led and ruled in the spirit,
since they know that they, through faith, already have all whereby
they are to be saved, and stand in need of nothing more to this end,
and henceforth are under obligation to do nothing more than good to
their neighbor, helping him with all they have, as Christ has helped
them, and moreover that all the works which they do should be done
freely and without constraint, and flow forth from willing and happy
hearts; this is grateful to God, exalts and praises Him for the
blessings that have been received. So St. Paul writes (I. Tim. i.),
That for the righteous no law is made, for they do freely of
themselves, and unsummoned, all that God requires.

Since now such enforcement of human doctrines is rejected and
christian freedom is preached, the reckless spirits that are without
faith coincide with it, and thereby would become good Christians,
inasmuch as they keep not the law of the Pope, claiming this freedom
which relieves them from obligation to it; and yet they observe not
that which true christian freedom requires,--namely, to do good to
their neighbor with cheerfulness, and irrespective of its being
commanded, as real Christians do. Thus they make christian freedom
just a cloak, under which they work only their shame, and disgrace
the noble name and title of that freedom which Christians have.

This St. Peter here forbids, for this is what he would say: although
ye are free in all external matters (if ye are Christians), and
should not be forced by laws to subject yourselves to the control of
worldly rule, since for the righteous no law is given (as we have
said), yet ye should do it of yourselves, voluntarily and without
compulsion,--not that ye must be held in obedience by necessity, but
in order to please God, and for the advantage of your neighbor. This
also Christ did Himself, as we read in Matt. xvii., that he paid
tribute when he need not have done it, but was free, and Lord over
all things. So likewise he subjected Himself to Pilate and permitted
Himself to be judged, while as yet He said to him, "You could have
had no power or authority over me except it had been given you from
above," in which words He gave confirmation to the authority to which
He meanwhile subjected H