A14136:170
The Obedience of a Christian Man
The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christ[n] rulers ought to govern, where in also (if thou mark diligently) thou shalt find eyes to perceive the crafty conveyance of all jugglers.The obedie[n]ce of a Christen man and how Christe[n] rulers ought to governe, where in also (if thou marke diligently) thou shalt fynde eyes to perceave the crafty conveyance of all iugglers.
At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the second day of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528At Marlborow in the lande of Hesse i.e. Antwerp : the seconde daye of October. Anno. M.CCCCC.xxviii, by me Hans luft i.e. J. Hoochstraten, 1528
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.
What is the cause that lay men can not now rule / as well as in times paste / and as the turks yet do?1 Verily because that Antichrist with the mist of his juggling hath beguiled our eyes and hath cast a superstitious fear upon the w••lde of christen men / and hath taught them to dread / not God and his word / but him self and his word: not Gods law and ordinances / princes and officers which God hath set to rule the world / but his own law and ordinances / traditions and ceremonies and disguised disciples / which he hath set every where to deceive the world and to expel the light of Gods word / that his darkness ⟨p. lxviij⟩may have room. For we see by daily experience of certain hundred years long / that he which feareth nether God nor his word / nether regardeth father / mother / master / or Christ him self / which rebelleth against Gods ordinances / riseth against the kings and resisteth his officers / 2dare not once lay hands on one of the Popes anointed: no though he slay his father before his face or do violence unto his brother or defile his sister / wife or mother. Like honour give we unto his traditions and ceremonies. What devotion have we when we are blessed (as they call it) with the chalice / or when the Bishop lifteth up his holy hand over us? Who dare handle the chalice / touch the altar stone or putt his hand in the fount or his finger unto the holy oil? What reverence give we unto holy water / holy fire / holy bred / holy salt / hallowed belles / holy wax / holy bows / holy candles and holy ashes? And last of all unto the holy candle commit we our souls at our last departing. Ye and of the very clout which the Bishop or his chaplain that stone death by / knitteth about children's necks at confirmation / what lay person durst be so bold as to unloose the knot? Thou wilt say do not such things bring the holy ghost and put away sin and d•yve away sprites ⟨image 69⟩I say that a steadfast faith or belief in Christ and in the promises that God hath sworn to give us for his sake / bringeth the holy ghost as all the scriptures make mention / and as Paul saith (Acts. xix.) have ye received the holy ghost through faith or believing? faith is the rock where on Christ buildeth his congregation / against which saith Christ Mathei. xvj. hell gates shall not prevail.