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.

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, he put many of them to death, and thereby made
atonement before God. 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.

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 is well known to every one, only
that it is not as carefully observed and practised as other works which
are not commanded. So ready are we to do what is not commanded and to
leave undone what is commanded. We see that the world is full of
shameful works of unchastity, indecent words, tales and ditties,
temptation to which is daily increased through gluttony and
drunkenness, idleness and frippery. Yet we go our way as if we were
Christians; when we have been to church, have said our little prayer,
have observed the fasts and feasts, then we think our whole duty is
done.

Now, if no other work were commanded but chastity alone, we would all
have enough to do with this one; so perilous and raging a vice is
unchasti