Note.—Every one, therefore, who acts as master in Christ's church, or lords it over God's heritage (1 Peter 5:3), puts himself in the place of Christ.
7. To whom, then, as servants, are we responsible in matters of faith and worship?
“Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.” Rom. 14:4.
8. Whose servants are we not to be?
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Cor. 7:23.
Note.—“Satan's methods ever tend to one end,—to make men the slaves of men,” and thus separate them from God, destroy faith in God, and so expose men to temptation and sin. Christ's work is to set men free, to renew faith, and to lead to willing and loyal obedience to God. Says Luther: “It is contrary to the will of God that man should be subject to man in that which pertains to eternal life. Subjection in spirituals is a real worship, and should be rendered only to the Creator.”—D'Aubigne's “History of the Reformation,” edited by M. Laird Simons, book 7, chap. 11.
9. Where must all finally appear to render up their account?
“For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10.
Note.—Inasmuch, then, as religion is an individual matter, and each individual must give account of himself to God, it follows that there should be no human constraint nor compulsion in religious affairs.