The first virtue of all exercises of authority in this life is mercy. Following Christ, who (quoting Hosea) urged us to “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’” (Matt. 9:13), mercy is a crucial part of the vocation of political authority in this world. Yet this is not because of fear on the authorities' part of “blowback” from God—not, that is, because of fear of one’s own judgment by God—but because this is the central truth about God’s judgment of the world. God is merciful, first and foremost. Therefore, if authorities want their action to conform to the “author” of that authority, the actions of that authority must manifest mercy as well. This is a persistent theme in Augustine’s writings: again and again, in his treaties, in his sermons, and above all in his letters to political authorities, he underscores the need to recognize the preeminence of mercy in judging.