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| Concerning Military Service.
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Chapter 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
| 315
“Sacramentum” in Latin is, among other meanings, “a
military oath.” | 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
| 317 To fasten the ephod;
hence the buckle worn by soldiers here referred to would probably be
the belt buckle. Buckles were sometimes given as military rewards
(White and Riddle). | 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
| 319 Matt. xxvi. 52; 2 Cor. x. 4; John xviii.
36. | 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, unbe**d every soldier. No dress is
lawful among us, if assigned to any unlawful action.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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