A14136:174
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.
1All this cometh to pass to fulfil the prophesy which Christ prophesied. Mark. xiij And Luke. xxj. that there shall come in his name which shall say that they them selves are Christ. That do verily the Pope and our holy orders of religion. For they under the name of Christ preach them selves their own word and their own traditions / and teach the people to believe in them. The pope giveth pardons of his full power / of the treasure of the church and of the merits of saints. The friars like wise make their benefactors (which only they call their brethren and sisters) partakers of their masses / fasting / watchings / prayings and woolward goings / 2Ye and when a novice of the observants is professed the father a•eth him / will ye keep these rules of holy saint Frances? and he saith ye: will ye so in dead saith he? the other answereth: ye forsooth father. Then faith the father / and I promise you again everlasting life. O blasphemy. If eternal life be due unto the pilled traditions of lousy friars / where is the testament become that God made unto us in Christs blood? Christ saith Math. xxiiij. ⟨p. lxx⟩And Mark. xiij. that there shall come pseudo christi.3 Which though I / for a consideration have translated false christs keeping the greek word: yet signifieth it in the english false anointed and ought so to be translated There shall come (saith Christ) false anointed and false prophets and shall do miracles and wonders / so greatly that / if it were possible / the very elect or chosen should be brought out of the way. Compare the Popes doctrine unto the word of God and thou shalt find that there hath bin and yet is a great going out of the way / and that evil men and deceivers (as Paul prophesied .ij. Timothy. iij.) have prevailed and waxed worse and worse / beguiling other as they are beguiled them selves. Thou tremblest and quakest saying: shall God let us goo so sore out of the right way? 4I answer it is Christ that warneth us / which as he knew all that should follow / so prophesied he before and is a true prophet / and his prophecy must needs be fulfilled.