Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/453

122* if the people endured them in humility, these (impositions) would not harm their consciences.

However, a much greater concern should be given to the fact that this power and system is so vicious and devoid of good when judged from the point of view of faith. In this matter the lords want to do nothing regarding their consciences or the conscience of those over whom they rule. They are all Christian and at least some of them have, on account of faith, a bad conscience when they kill, do violence to others, and rob them of their property. But (on the whole) they do not hold these things to be sinful. Driven by pride they fight for goods and chattles, for worldly honor, and if someone touches their property, immediately they declare war, round up the people like cattle and drive them to war where all murder and rob one another. How can it not be dangerous, therefore, for good Christians, to live under such powers which force them to do evil and to trespass the divine commandments! And what I esteem more cruel, they drive Christian men to war and there are Christians on both sides with orders to kill and rob others. A brother will go against a brother to do violence to him; he who by faith should lay down his life for him goes to kill and despoil his brother, simply because he is compelled to do so by the ignoble