Matthew 10 (xxii)

God's holy Christian people can be recognized by the holiness of the Cross. Every sort of misfortune and persecution must be endured, every possible temptation and evil from the Devil, the World and the Flesh. Inwardly God's people must mourn and be stupefied and terrified. Outwardly they must be poor, despised, sick and weak. They must suffer, to become like Christ their Lord. And there must be only one reason for all this: that they are holding on tightly to Christ and to God's word, so that all this suffering is for the sake of Christ. Christians must be devout, peaceful and obedient. They must be ready to serve the government and the entire community with their bodies and their property and must never injure anybody. (...) Where you see and hear people like this, then know that the Christian Church is there.

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