We who formerly hated and murdered one another now live together and share the same table. We pray for our enemies and try to win those who hate us.

Ch.X — Exhortations to prayer, humility, etc.

And pray ye without ceasing in behalf of other men. For there is in them hope of repentance that they may attain to God. See [permit], then, that they be instructed by your works, if in no other way. Be ye meek in response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their blasphemies return your prayers; in contrast to their error, be ye stedfast (Col 1:23) in the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness. While we take care not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord (who ever more unjustly treated, more destitute, more condemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be found in you, but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit.

And pray ye without ceasing in behalf of other men; for there is hope of the repentance, that they may attain to God. For “cannot he that falls arise again, and he that goes astray return?” (Jer 8:4). Permit them, then, to be instructed by you. Be ye therefore the ministers of God, and the mouth of Christ. For thus saith the Lord, “If ye take forth the precious from the vile, ye shall be as my mouth.” (Jer 15:19). Be ye humble in response to their wrath; oppose to their blasphemies your earnest prayers; while they go astray, stand ye stedfast in the faith. Conquer ye their harsh temper by gentleness, their passion by meekness. For “blessed are the meek;” (Matt 5:4) and Moses was meek above all men; (Num 12:3) and David was exceeding meek. (Ps 131:2). Wherefore Paul exhorts as follows: “The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle towards all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.” (2 Tim 2:24-25). Do not seek to avenge yourselves on those that injure you, for says [the Scripture], “If I have returned evil to those who returned evil to me.” (Ps 6:4). Let us make them brethren by our kindness. For say ye to those that hate you, Ye are our brethren, that the name of the Lord may be glorified. And let us imitate the Lord, “who, when He was reviled, reviled not again;” (1 Pet 2:23) when He was crucified, He answered not; “when He suffered, He threatened not;” (1 Pet 2:23) but prayed for His enemies, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). If any one, the more he is injured, displays the more patience, blessed is he. If any one is defrauded, if any one is despised, for the name of the Lord, he truly is the servant of Christ. Take heed that no plant of the devil be found among you, for such a plant is bitter and salt. “Watch ye, and be ye sober,” in Christ Jesus. (1 Pet 4:7).

Ch.XIV — Exhortations to faith and love

None of these things is hid from you, if ye perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus (1 Tim 1:14) which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love. (1 Tim 1:5). Now these two, being inseparably connected together [being in unity], are of God, while all other things which are requisite for a holy life follow after them. No man [truly] making a profession of faith sinneth; (1 John 3:7) nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; (Matt 12:33) so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognised by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession [there is not now the work of profession], but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end.

Wherefore none of the devices of the devil shall be hidden from you, if, like Paul, ye perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ (1 Tim 1:14) which are the beginning and the end of life. The beginning of life is faith, and the end is love. And these two being inseparably connected together, do perfect the man of God; while all other things which are requisite to a holy life follow after them. No man making a profession of faith ought to sin, nor one possessed of love to hate his brother. For He that said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,” (Luke 10:27) said also, “and thy neighbour as thyself.” (Luke 10:27). Those that profess themselves to be Christ’s are known not only by what they say, but by what they practise. “For the tree is known by its fruit.” (Matt 12:33).

Ch.XIX — Concerning Military Service

In that last section, decision may seem to have been given likewise concerning military service, which is between dignity and power.³¹⁴ But now inquiry is made about this point, whether a believer may turn himself unto military service, and whether the military may be admitted unto the faith, even the rank and file, or each inferior grade, to whom there is no necessity for taking part in sacrifices or capital punishments. There is no agreement between the divine and the human sacrament,³¹⁵ the standard of Christ and the standard of the devil, the camp of light and the camp of darkness. One soul cannot be due to two masters – God and Cæsar. And yet Moses carried a rod,³¹⁶ and Aaron wore a buckle,³¹⁷ and John (Baptist) is girt with leather³¹⁸ and Joshua the son of Nun leads a line of march; and the People warred: if it pleases you to sport with the subject. But how will a Christian man war, nay, how will he serve even in peace, without a sword, which the Lord has taken away?³¹⁹ For albeit soldiers had come unto John, and had received the formula of their rule;³²⁰ albeit, likewise, a centurion had believed;³²¹ still the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier. No dress is lawful among us, if assigned to any unlawful action.

Now the energy of the Lord has a reference to the Almighty; and the Son is, so to speak, an energy of the Father. Therefore, a hater of man, the Saviour can never be; who, for His exceeding love to human flesh, despising not its susceptibility to suffering, but investing Himself with it, came for the common salvation of men; for the faith of those who have chosen it, is common. Nay more, He will never neglect His own work, because man alone of all the other living creatures was in his creation endowed with a conception of God. Nor can there be any other better and more suitable government for men than that which is appointed by God.