e he commands it, but because I am under
obligation to confess my faith publicly before every man. But in case
he should go further, and command me that I should believe thus or
so, then I shall tell him: "My good sir, do you attend to your civil
government; you have no authority to intrude on God's domain,
wherefore I certainly shall not obey you. You cannot yourself
tolerate invasion into your sovereignty: if any one against your will
passes the limits, you shoot him down with musketry. Do you imagine
then that God will tolerate it, that you should thrust Him from His
throne and seat yourself in His place?" St. Peter calls civil
magistracy only a human ordinance. So that they (the magistracy) have
no power to step into God's ordinances and to make laws against
faith. But of this we have said enough. It follows now, further, in
the Epistle:

V. 18-20. _Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not
only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is
thankworthy, when any one, for conscience toward God, endures grief,
suffering wrongfully. For what praise is it, if ye endure buffeting
for your faults? But if ye for well-doing suffer and endure, this is
well-pleasing with God._

St. Peter has thus far taught us how we should be subject to the
civil power, and give it honor. Wherefore we have stated how far its
authority extends, that it may not arrogate to itself in matters
which pertain to faith. This is said of magistracy in general, and is
a doctrine for every one (to receive). But now he proceeds, and
speaks of such power as does not extend itself over a community, but
only over individuals. Here he first teaches how domestic servants
should conduct themselves toward their masters, and this is the
substance of it:

Household servants are just as really Christians as any other class,
if, like others, they have the word, faith, baptism, and all such
blessings; so that, before God, they are just as great and high as
others. But, as to their outward state and before the world, there is
a difference, since they occupy a lower station, and must serve
others. Wherefore, since they are called into this state by God, they
should let it be their business to be subject to their masters, and
have respect and esteem for them. Of this the prophet David gives a
fine illustration, and shows how they are to serve, Ps. cxxiii.: "As
the eyes of the servant to the hand of his master, and as the maiden
loo