CHAPTER XLI
INTERPRETATION OF LUKE 3:14
REFUTATION OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S ARGUMENT ON PERMISSIBLE WARFARE (CONTINUED)
The soldiers who came to John with their question were not of the Christian faith. And John, seeing they were people accustomed to serve commanders and rulers, gave them an answer that was in agreement with the Law of Moses, "rob no one by violence and be content with your wages.". . . For those sins come easiest to them that rely on the power of compulsion. . . John did not dissuade them from soldiering, since the Jews were allowed to perform military service and to conduct defensive wars against enemies. . . He only tried to restrain them from evils they might easily succumb to in their profession. . .
John could not have said, "leave soldiering and follow me." But Lord Jesus had the authority to say to the ruler: "Sell all that you possess and give it to the poor, and follow me."1 He had even power to change his claim to nobility, to ask him to leave his wife and to follow Jesus. He did not order him to defend the church by the sword lest she be blown down by a contrary wind. . .
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