Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/509

150* defended by authority of the king, through war, driving away the disturber, revenge (:These Christians that have strayed from the law of Christ and are under the jurisdiction of the civil law are regarded as just and good as long as they live up to the standards of the civil courts and offices. But righteousness by law has nothing in common with righteousness in the eyes of God:) The truth of Jesus is nothing but foolishness to proud men, an oddity, an offense, a pain and a shame.

Here it is necessary to ask: in what consists the superiority of the law of Christ over pagan civil laws? In this, that a (Christian) man adjusts his conduct in accordance with his conscience keeping in mind the grace of God and the reward of salvation; a subject of the state adjusts his conduct in accordance with the advantageous protection of his temporal legal honor and property. A pagan fights to protect his rights and his property in court or in field; a Christian conducts his life with love, patiently enduring injustice, as he will be rewarded by an eternal gain He refuses to have any dealings with commercial enterprises and with any profitable speculations, lest he harm his soul And this is foolishness to the pagan (world).

Wyclif,, Chap. XVIII.

1-Cor. 2:14 & 3:19.

1-Cor. 2:14 & 3:19.