One preacher preaches a sermon in order to show himself, to receive glory and praise from his listeners and to gain a high degree. Another preaches in order to benefit people. He has a good intention, and the other has an evil one.

You do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not slander your neighbor because you are afraid of civil judgment – you are a politician, not a Christian. You are afraid of man, not God. And therefore you count among the unbelievers, although you also bear the name of Christ.

You do not do evil because God has forbidden and you are afraid to anger God – there is a matter of the Christian faith.

You go into battle in order to gain gain from the enemy, to enrich yourself – you are not much and almost no different from a robber who attacks people in order to enrich himself. You go against the enemy in order to defend your Church and Fatherland – this intention is praiseworthy.

You look at your wife simply, without any lust, as a creature of God – there is no sin. If you look with unclean lust, you commit adultery in your heart, as the Lord teaches (Matt. 5:28).

If you dress in a dress befitting your rank, you do it without sin. You adorn yourself with clothes in order to show pomp and receive reverence from those who do not know – you are a lover of peace and have a proud heart.

You ask your neighbor's forgiveness for an insult and offense, fearing civil judgment – this is human wisdom.

You humble yourself before your brother with regret that you have offended him – this is a sign of love.

You are not drunk, because you have nothing to drink, you are drunk in your heart. You do not get drunk, because it is sinful – this is a matter of abstinence, you are a true abstinent.

Whoever weeps that he has lost wealth or honor is the sorrow of this world and therefore useless. Another cries that he cannot take revenge on his neighbor – this is the action of malice and pernicious sorrow. A third weeps that he has angered God, a lover of mankind – such sorrow for God's sake (2 Corinthians 7:10) is soul-saving.

If you weep over a dead father, or brother, or friend, that you have separated from your loved one, sorrow is useless. Weeping over the dead, thinking that sin has brought us to such a poor state – this is Christian weeping.

The commander punishes a subordinate who is not respected or dishonored by him – this is the fulfillment of anger and malice, not punishment. He punishes as a transgressor, and in order to behave more properly in the future – this punishment is correct and the Christian intention.

You give alms to the beggar in order to get some benefit from it – this is buying and bargaining, and not almsgiving.

To revere the king or those sent by him, fearing punishment for disrespect, is a human cunning. You revere because God commanded to revere – this is a Christian deed.