er of the
judgment; but whosoever shall say to his brother, Thou fool (that
is, all manner of invective, cursing, reviling, slandering), he
shall be in danger of everlasting fire." [Matt. 5:22] What
remains then for the outward act, striking, wounding, killing,
injuring, etc., if the thoughts and words of anger are so
severely condemned?

III. But where there is true meekness, there the heart is pained
at every evil which happens to one's enemy. And these are the
true children and heirs of God and brethren of Christ, Whose
heart was so pained for us all when He died on the holy Cross.
Even so we see a pious judge passing sentence upon the criminal
with sorrow, and regretting the death which the law imposes. Here
the act seems to be one of anger and harshness. So thoroughly
good is meekness that even in such works of anger it remains,
nay, it torments the heart most sorely when it must be angry and
severe.

[Sidenote: The Limits of Meekness]

But here we must watch, that we be not meek contrary to God's
honor and Commandment. For it is written of Moses that he was the
very meekest man on earth, and yet, when the Jews had worshiped
the golden calf and provoked God to anger [Sir. 45:4], he put
many of them to death, and thereby made atonement before God.
[Ex. 32:28] Likewise it is not fitting that the magistrates
should be idle and allow sin to have sway, and that we say
nothing. My own possessions, my honor, my injury, I must not
regard, nor grow angry because of them; but God's honor and
Commandment we must protect, and injury or injustice to our
neighbor we must prevent, the magistrates with the sword, the
rest of us with reproof and rebuke, yet always with pity for
those who have merited the punishment.

This high, noble, sweet work can easily be learned, if we perform
it in faith, and as an exercise of faith. For if faith does not
doubt the favor of God nor question that God is gracious, it will
become quite easy for a man to be gracious and favorable to his
neighbor, however much he may have sinned; for we have sinned
much more against God. Behold, a short Commandment this, but it
presents a long, mighty exercise of good works and of faith.

_Thou shalt not commit adultery._

[Sidenote: The Sixth Commandment: The Duty of Purity]

In this Commandment, too a good work is commanded, which includes
much and drives away much vice; it is called purity, or chastity,
of which much is written and preached, and it