Page:Chelčický, Molnar - The Net of Faith.djvu/131



He who does good because of the fear of the sword may save his physical life, (from the threat of the sword). Therefore, I have said that Saint Paul, considering the inclination of this people to do good works by the grace of God, spoke about the sword on account of an especial carefulness and goodwill toward the lords to whom they were subordinated. But had this people been living in the Promised Land, like the sons of Israel in their days of freedom, when they had no secular lord with authority over them, Saint Paul would never have written that they ought to do good and to eschew evil in the fear of the sword. For they had too good a rule given them by the apostles, and had no need to be prodded to goodness by the authority of the sword… [ Paul certainly did not act contrary to the feelings of Samuel who regretted that the Jews preferred a king to freedom under God.[465]  He simply urged them to show Christian submission to their rulers, and to suffer their injustice with Christ-like patience. ] The non-Christians, fearing the retribution of the sword, do not transgress the laws of their king. [ In this way the kings are serving God ] for they preserve from annihilation the fallen generation [ keeping it for God’s own time. ] God alone knows why he wants to have this generation saved and maintained by paganism.

CHAPTER 65

INTERPRETATION OF ROMANS 13:3-4 (CONTINUED)

[ The pagans do good only because they are driven by fear of punishment. ] That is why Saint Paul warns the Christians: “Be good and beware lest you fall into the hands of the pagans.”  No great harm is done when pagans sue pagans; they know no better way…  [ But when Christians commit some wrong and are tried in pagan courts, they appeal to pagan authority and confess that their faith is impotent to solve disputes. They are, in fact, renouncing the authority of Christ and expect a verdict from the authority of the sword; and this is to be avoided. ]

CHAPTER 66

INTERPRETATION OF ROMANS 13:3-4 (CONTINUED)

Our own authorities are pagan… Our secularized priesthood loves authority, as it guarantees an easy life of comfort. [ And, since the Church has allied itself with the secular authority, the injunction that St. Paul made to the faithful in Rome is not valid any more. For the Church herself has become a secular power. She defends herself in the same way as any state does. ] The admonition, “do good if you do not want to fear the authority,” has become pointless because … both the state and church authority have lost the moral right to punish evil … when they themselves are steeped in all evils…  All they care about … is that (the Christians) attend masses, vigils, and other formal ceremonies. The Church authority stakes the salvation of all on masses … and eternal prayers; she intermittently sings psalms for the dead; in