ained
that we could not be Christians if we lived among the Turks.

Now you may perhaps say here, But still Christ has commanded that we
should not resist evil, but if any one strike us on one cheek we are
to turn the other also; how, then, can we strike and execute others?
Answer: the heathen formerly objected in like manner to the
Christians, and said, if such and such should come to pass, your
government must be suppressed. But we reply, it is true that
Christians for themselves should not resist the evil, neither should
they revenge themselves when they are injured, but endure injustice
and violence, so that they cannot be severe even toward those who do
not believe. But the magistracy of the sword is not thereby
forbidden; for although honest Christians have no need of the sword
and law (since they live so that none can complain of them, do no man
wrong, but treat every one kindly and cheerfully, endure all that is
done to them), yet the sword must be borne on account of the
unchristian, that these, when they injure others, may be punished, so
that the general peace shall be preserved and the just be protected.
Thus God has provided another rule, that they who would not of
themselves be restrained from evil, might be so compelled by the
power that they should do no injury. Therefore God has established
magistracy for the sake of the unbelieving, insomuch that even
christian men might exercise the power of the sword, and come under
obligation thereby to serve their neighbor and restrain the bad, so
that the good might remain in peace among them. And still the command
of Christ abides in force, that we are not to resist evil. So that a
Christian, although he bears the sword, does not use it for his own
sake nor to revenge himself, but only for others; and, moreover, this
is a mark of christian love, that with the sword we support and
defend the whole Church, and not suffer it to be injured. Christ
teaches those only who, while they believe and love, obey also. But
the greater multitude in the world, as it does not believe, obeys not
the command. Therefore they must be ruled as unchristian, and their
caprice be put under restraint; for if their power was suffered to
obtain the upper hand, no one could stand before them.

Thus there are two kinds of government in the world, as there are
also two kinds of people,--namely, believers and unbelievers.
Christians yield themselves to the control of God's word; they have
n