may therewith serve your neighbor. Thus should every one hold himself
for a servant; the lord may still remain a lord, and yet hold
himself, in his own esteem, no better than the servant: so that he
even cheerfully would become a servant if it were God's ordering; and
the same is applicable to other conditions.

V. 10. _As good stewards of the manifold grace of God._ God has not
bestowed upon us all like grace; therefore should every one inquire
to what he has been appointed, and what kind of gift has been
bestowed upon him. When he discovers this, let him use it for the
service of his neighbor, as St. Peter further explains, and says:

V. 11. _If any man speak, let him speak as the word of God._ That is,
if any one has the grace that enables him to preach and teach, let
him teach and preach. As St. Paul says, also, Rom. xii. 3: "That no
one think more of himself than he ought to think, but every man
according as God has dealt to him the measure of faith. For as we
have many members in one body and all members have not the same
office, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one
members one of another; and have many gifts, differing according to
the grace that has been given unto us." And then follows, "Has any
one a prophecy, let it be in accordance with faith; Has any one a
ministry, let him wait on his ministering: Does any one teach, let
him wait on his teaching." He teaches the same doctrine also
elsewhere, in his Epistles to the Corinthians and Ephesians.

For this reason has God distributed various gifts among men which
should be employed to this intent alone, that one should minister
therewith to another, especially those who are in authority, be it in
preaching, or some other ministry.

Now St. Peter says, here, _If any one speak, let him speak as the
word of God._ This point is worthy of special remark, that no one is
to preach anything but what he is sure is the word of God. There St.
Peter has shut up the Pope's mouth, and lo! he will be St. Peter's
successor, so cunningly has he managed it. Further:

V. 11. _If any one ministers, let him do it as of the ability which
God giveth._ That is, whoever rules in the christian church and has
an office or ministry for the care of souls, he is not to proceed as
he may choose, and say, "I am sovereign lord, I must be obeyed; what
I do shall remain established." God requires that we should do no
otherwise than as he directs. So that since it is