A01279:100
A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis
A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis, wherein are compared to gather Christs acts and our holy father the Popes.A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis, wherin are compared to geder Christes actes and oure holye father the Popes.
At Malborow in the land of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the. xij. day of July, anno. M.CCCCC.xxix. by me Hans luft i.e. Johannes Hoochstraten, 1529At Malborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the. xij. day of Iulye, anno. M.CCCCC.xxix. by me Hans luft i.e. Johannes Hoochstraten, 1529
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is a marvellous thing how aptly Peter calleth them / 1presumptuous and stubborn for after they have obtained this it they them self only are called spiritual / and all the other secular and temporal (as even now they abuse the words at their own pleasure) there is nothing but they dare behold to take it upon them under the name of this spiritual sect / furthermore if they have ⟨image 57⟩presumed to take any thing on hand / how invincible / stiff / and hard hearted they are / until they have prevailed so fare that they may with full authority and with out regard blaspheme the glories and powers Doth not the pope being but a small worm of the earth (how be it inflamed with the spirit of Satan) Curse / excommunicate / & rebuke with all kinds of checks the highest kings and rulers when he list? All though he was ordained only to bless them. Nether yet doth he that by cause the kings resist the Gospel and the faith. But because they can not suffer and maintain the superfluous riches of these shavelings and holy church of Rome with their most wicked manners and intolerable tyranny / or else that they resist the Popes ungodliness and iniquity. And this meaneth the Apostle when he sayeth / they fear not to speak evil of them that are in authority.2 Nether is the Popedom counted in the name of power and majesty. Nether yet (if it were so counted) hath it suffered any such thing. Sith that no power hither to hath prevailed against him. But contrary he hath so prospered against the powers / that he may sport and play him not only in the matters of inferior people / but also in the powers and majesties as is will lieth / transposing them. Putting in and out / ad Chaungeinge them as ⟨p. lvj⟩often as he thinketh best. Do not the stories of the kingdoms / of France / Greece / Germany / Naples / Sicily and such other empires thus resufye? Did not l•• the tenth (which of him self was a good man) being deceived by the counsels and examples of his adherents Assault with this tyranny the dukedoms of Italy / which was expulsed from urbine / and often besieged Ferraria? And the Cardinals and Bishops do counterfeit him full nobly / for the Cardinals are made superiors to kings / & Bishops to princes.