among the number of the godly, and shall enjoy with
them everlasting life. For St. Paul saith, "Those that are just," that is,
those that are justified by faith, and exercise faith in their living and
conversation, "they shall shine like unto the sun in the kingdom of God;"
that is to say, they shall be in exceeding great honour and glory. For
like as the sun exceeds in brightness all other works of God, and is
beautiful in the eyes of every man; so shall all the faithful be beautiful
and endued with honour and glory: although in this world they are but
outcasts, and accounted as "The dross and filth of the world;" but in the
other world, when the angels shall gather together the wicked, and cast
them into the fire, then shall the elect shine as the sun in the kingdom
of God. For no man can express the honour and glory that they shall have,
who will be content to suffer all things for God's sake, and reform
themselves after his will; or are content to be told of their faults, and
glad to amend the same, and humble themselves under the mighty hand of
God.

Also the householder said unto his servants, "Let them alone until
harvest." Here you may learn that the preachers and ministers of the word
of God, have not authority to compel the people with violence to goodness,
although they are wicked. But they should admonish them only with the word
of God, not pull the wicked out by the throat; for that is not their duty.
All things must be done according as God has appointed. God has appointed
the magistrates to punish the wicked; for so he saith, "Thou shalt take
away the evil from amongst the people, thou shalt have no pity of him." If
he be a thief, an adulterer, or a whore-monger, away with him. But when
our Saviour saith, "Let them grow;" he speaks not of the civil
magistrates, for it is their duty to pull them out; but he signifies that
there will be such wickedness in spite of the magistrates, and teaches
that the ecclesiastical power is ordained, not to pull out the wicked with
the sword, but only to admonish them with the word of God, which is called
"The sword of the Spirit." So did John Baptist, saying, "Who hath taught
you to flee from the wrath of God that is at hand?"

So did Peter in the Acts of the Apostles; "Whom you have crucified," he
said unto the Jews. What follows? "They were pricked in their hearts;"
contrition and repentance followed as soon as the word was preached unto
them. Therefore they said, "Bret