A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis

The secular power doth also serve to this might and authority / ¹and is called the secular arm. For the Pope exalted and set up above all princes / powers and empires If he can not oppress them that resist him with his faces / riddles / judgments and curses (nether doth he contend / with reason / wit / or scriptures sith it is re most unnatural and rudest best given all to the belly / and much less with faith / patience / prayer / which are the true Apostolic armour) then will he command them to the secular power. And sometime he stirreth kings / princes / realms / and nations to war one against the other wrapping the world in blood and murder until he obtain (not that the faith and gospel would) but that his own faces and cloaks desire. And he prevaileth in these things so prosperously. Blessing them that obey him with the Apostolic ⟨image 53⟩benediction / and cursing them that rebel with the apostolic malediction. I pray the how could this abomination prosper / except Satan's subtlety reigned in the midst of it? Some have stablished kingdoms with wit and scripture. Some with riches and strength / how be it this weak & wretched monster / is mighty / nether with wit nor weapon / But only with faces with the which he so prevaileth that all mens wits / learnings / riches / and strength be subject to his pleasure with such honour and obedience / that he may play / mock / and order them as he will. Nether yet doth he nourish them with his own stipends / nor feedeth them with the true doctrine / But only keepeth them in bondage / by the false illusions of his faces / In so much that they think them self to obey god / and the holy Church of God / Not perceiving that they serve a wretched hog / and the abomination of the hole earth.

The seculare power doth also serve to this might and authorite / ¹and is called the secvlare arme. For the Pope exalted and set vpe above all princes / powers and imperyes Yf he can not appresse them that resist him with his faces / rydles / iudgmētes and curses (nether doth he contend / with reason / witte / or scriptures sith it is re most vnnaturall and rudest best geven all to the bely / and moch lesse with faith / pacience / prayer / which are the true Apostolike armure) thē will he commaund them to the seculare power. And somtime he sturreth kinges / princes / realmes / and nations to warre one against the other wropping the worlde in bloude and murther vntill he obtaine (not that the faith and gospell wold) but that his awne faces and clokes desier. And he prevaileth in these thīges so prosperously. Blissinge them that obey him with the Apostolike