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benefices； and every thing that has ever been founded to God's
service far and wide； whereby not only is all money and wealth
of the world drawn and driven to Rome （for this would be the
smallest harm）； but the parishes； bishoprics and prelacies are
torn to pieces； deserted； laid waste； and so the people are
neglected； God's Word and God's Name and honor come to naught；
and faith is destroyed； so that at last such institutions and
offices fall into the hands not only of unlearned and unfit men；
but the greater part into the hands of the Romans； the greatest
villains in the world。 Thus what has been founded for God's
service； for the instruction； government and improvement of the
people； must now serve the stable…boys； mule…drivers； yea； not
to use plainer language； Roman whores and knaves； yet we have no
more thanks than that they mock us for it as fools。
X。 If then such unbearable abuses are all carried on in the Name
of God and St。 Peter； just as if God's Name and the spiritual
power were instituted to blaspheme God's honor； to destroy
Christendom； body and soul： we are indeed in duty bound to resist
in a proper way as much as we can。 And here we must do like pious
children whose parents have become insane； and first see by what
right that which has been founded for God's service in our lands；
or has been ordained to provide for our children； must be allowed
to do its work in Rome； and to lapse here； where it ought to
serve。 How can we be so foolish？
Since then bishops and spiritual prelates stand idle in this
matter； offer no opposition or are afraid； and thus allow
Christendom to perish； it is our duty first of all humbly to call
upon God for help to prevent this thing； then to put our hand to
work to the same end； send the courtesans and those who bear
letters from Rome about their business； in a reasonable； gentle
way inform them that； if they wish to care for their parishes
properly； they shall live in them and improve the people by
preaching or by good example； or if not； and they do live in Rome
or elsewhere； lay waste and debauch the churches； then let the
pope feed them； whom they serve。 It is not fitting that we
support the pope's servants； his people； yes； his knaves and
whores； to the destruction and injury of our souls。
Lo！ these are the true Turks； whom the kings； princes and the
nobility ought to attack first： not seeking thereby their own
benefit； but only the improvement of Christendom； and the
prevention of the blasphemy and disgracing of the divine Name；
and so to deal with the clergy as with a father who has lost his
sense and wits； who； if one did not restrain him and resist him
（although with all humility and honor）； might destroy child； heir
and everybody。 Thus we are to honor Roman authority as our
highest father； and yet； since they have gone mad and lost their
senses； not allow them to do what they attempt； lest Christendom
be destroyed thereby。
XI。 Some think； this should be referred to a General Council。 To
this I say： No！ For we have had many councils in which this has
been proposed； namely； at Constance； Basel and the last Roman
Council； but nothing has been accomplished； and things have grown
ever worse； Moreover； such councils are entirely useless； since
Roman wisdom has contrived the device that the kings and princes
must beforehand take an oath to let the Romans remain what they
are and keep what they have； and so has put up a bar to ward off
all reformation； to retain protection and liberty for all their
knavery； although this oath is demanded； forced and taken
contrary to God and the law； and by it the doors are locked
against the Holy Spirit； Who should rule the councils。 But this
would be the best； and also the only remedy remaining； if kings；
princes； nobility； cities and communities themselves began and
opened a way for reformation； so that the bishops and clergy； who
now are afraid； would have reason to follow。 For here nothing
else shall and must be considered except God's first three
Commandments； against which neither Rome； nor heaven nor earth
can command or forbid anything。 And the ban or threatening with
which they think they can prevent this； amounts to nothing； just
as it amounts to nothing if an insane father severely threatens
the son who restrains him or locks him up。
XII。 The third work of this Commandment is to obey the temporal
authority； as Paul teaches； Romans xiii； and Titus iii； and St。
Peter； I。 Peter ii： 〃Submit yourselves to the king as supreme；
and to the princes as his ambassadors； and to all the ordinances
of the worldly power。〃 But it is the work of the temporal power
to protect its subjects； and to punish thievery； robbery； and
adultery； as St。 Paul says； Romans xiii： 〃It beareth not the
sword in vain； it serves God with it； to the terror of evil
doers； and to the protection of the good。〃
Here men sin in two ways。 First； if they lie to the government；
deceive it； and are disloyal； neither obey nor do as it has
ordered and commanded； whether with their bodies or their
possessions。 For even if the government does injustice； as the
King of Babylon did to the people of Israel； yet God would have
it obeyed； without treachery and deception。 Secondly； when men
speak evil of the government and curse it； and when a man cannot
revenge himself and abuses the government with grumbling and evil
words； publicly or secretly。
In all this we are to regard that which St。 Peter bids us regard；
namely； that its power； whether it do right or wrong； cannot harm
the soul； but only the body and property； unless indeed it should
try openly to compel us to do wrong against God or men； as in
former days when the magistrates were not yet Christians； and as
the Turk is now said to do。 For to suffer wrong destroys no one's
soul； nay； it improves the soul； although it inflicts loss upon
the body and property； but to do wrong； that destroys the soul；
although it should gain all the world's wealth。
XIII。 This also is the reason why there is not such great danger
in the temporal power as in the spiritual； when it does wrong。
For the temporal power can do no harm； I since it has nothing to
do with preaching and faith and the first three Commandments。 But
the spiritual power does harm not only when it does wrong； but
also when it neglects its duty and busies itself with other
things； even if they were better than the very best works of the
temporal power。 Therefore； we must resist it when it does not do
right； and not resist the temporal power although it does wrong。
For the poor people believe and do as they see the spiritual
power believing and doing； if they are not set an example and are
not taught； then they also believe nothing and do nothing； since
this power is instituted for no other reason than to lead the
people in faith to God。 All this is not found in the temporal
power； for it may do and leave undone what it will； my