what they say their cross and passion is greater than Christ's and more to be prized. . . .
The sole reason for my inditing this letter to your Graces is that I have gathered from the writings of these people, that this same spirit will not be satisfied to make converts n ^^ by word only, but intends to betake himself to arms and set himself with power against the government, and forthwith raise a riot. Here Satan lets the cat out of the bag, that is, makes public too much. What will this spirit do, when he has won the support of the mob? Truly here at Wittenberg I have heard from the same spirit that his business must be carried through with the sword. I then marked that their plans would come out, namely, to overturn the civil govern- ment and themselves become lords of the world. But Christ Co*'*-* ^^ says His kingdom is not of this world, and teaches the apostles - «* t ;»^ not tolbe as the rulers of the earth. So, although I am aware that your Graces will understand how to act in this matter better than I can advise you, nevertheless it is my humble duty to do my part, and humbly to pray and warn your Graces to fulfill your duty as civil governors by preventing <-^.\ *. mischief and forestalling rebellion. Your Graces may rest L* ^ii^ assured in your consciences that your power and rule was given and commended to you by God, that you might preserve the peace and punish those who break it, as St. Paul teaches <.' > -- " "- in Romans.^ Therefore your Graces should neither sleep nor be idle, for God will demand an answer and reckoning from you for a careless or spiritless use of the sword. Moreover your Graces could not excuse yourselves before the people and the world if you allowed rebellion and crimes of violence to make headway.
If they give out, as they are wont to do with their swelling words, that the spirit drives them on to atempt force, then I answer thus: It is a bad spirit which shows no other fruit than burning churches, cloisters, and images^ for the worst rascals on earth can do as much.
Secondly, their boasting about the spirit counts for nothing, for we have the saying of St. John,* bidding us "prove the qnrits, whether they be of God." Now this spirit has not yet
s Romans xiK. 4. •! John !▼, i.
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