ss, steal, lie or deceive and the like. Here we ought rather give
up goods, honor, body, and life, that God's Commandments may stand.

The four preceding Commandments have their works in the understanding,
that is, they take a man captive, rule him and make him subject, so
that he rule not himself, approve not himself, think not highly of
himself; but in humility know himself and allow himself to be led, that
pride be prevented. The following Commandments deal with the passions
and lust of men, that these also be killed.

I. The passions of anger and revenge, of which the Fifth Commandment
says, "Thou shalt not kill." This Commandment has one work, which
however includes many and dispels many vices, and is called meekness.
Now this is of two kinds. The one has a beautiful splendor, and there
is nothing back of it. This we practice toward our friends and those
who do us good and give us pleasure with goods, honor and favor, or who
do not offend us with words nor with deeds. Such meekness irrational
animals have, lions and snakes, Jews, Turks, knaves, murderers, bad
women. These are all content and gentle when men do what they want, or
let them alone; and yet there are not a few who, deceived by such
worthless meekness, cover over their anger and excuse it, saying: "I
would indeed not be angry, if I were left alone." Certainly, my good
man, so the evil spirit also would be meek if he had his own way.
Dissatisfaction and resentment overwhelm you in order that they may
show you how full of anger and wickedness you are, that you may be
admonished to strive after meekness and to drive out anger.

The second form of meekness is good through and through, that which is
shown toward opponents and enemies, does them no harm, does not revenge
itself, does not curse nor revile, does not speak evil of them, does
not meditate evil against them, although they had taken away goods,
honor, life, friends and everything. Nay, where it is possible, it
returns good for evil, speaks well of them, thinks well of them, prays
for them. Of this Christ says, Matthew v: "Do good to them that
despitefully use you. Pray for them that persecute you and revile you."
And Paul, Romans xii: "Bless them which curse you, and by no means
curse them, but do good to them."

II. Behold how this precious, excellent work has been lost among
Christians, so that nothing now everywhere prevails except strife, war,
quarreling, anger, hatred, envy, back-biting, c