Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/603

197* Pagans. How then could they be able to distinguish between good and bad deeds? (:The Roman rulers and princes knew legal goodness only. That is, they were concerned with checking crass injustices, violence, theft, disputes, murders, robber bands, bandits, adulteries. They checked these evils by their authority of compulsion. If they did not do so, their kingdom would perish.:)

For even among pagans peacefulness is a great virtue. The gospel praises the saintly people Zechariah ani Elizabeth that they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. They lived virtuously, for no one sued them am they in turn did not dispute with anyone. Therefore, nobody could bring complaint against them, unless it were done by false witness and jealousy. That is what Saint Paul means when he says, "the rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad."

Rom.13: 3–4,.

Luke 1:6.

Luke 1:6.