A14136:197
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.
1More over when the spiritual officers have excommunicate any man or have condemned any opinion for heresy: Let not the king nor temporal officers punish and slay by and by at their commandment. But let them look on Gods word / and compare their judgement unto the scripture and see whether it be right or no / and not believe them at the first chop / what so ever they say namely in things that pertain unto their own authorities and power. For no man is a right judge in his own cause. 2Why doeth christ command the scripture to be preached unto all creatures / but that it pertaineth unto all men to know them? Christ referreth him self unto the scriptures John ⟨p. lxxx⟩v. And in the .xj. Chapter of Matthew / unto the question of John Baptists disciples he answered. The blind see / the lepers are cleansed / the deed arise again &c. meaning that if I do the works which are prophesied that Christ should do when he cometh / why doubt ye whether I be he or no as who should say / axe the scripture whether I be Christ or no and not my self. How happeneth it then that our prelates will not come to the light also that we may see whether their works be wrought in God or no? Why fear they to let the lay men see what they do? Why make they all their examinations in darkness?3 Why examine they not their causes of heresy openly / as the lay men do their felons and murderers? Wherefore did Christ and his Apostles also warn us so diligently of Antichrist and of false Prophets that should come? Because that we should slumber or sleep careless • or rather that we should look in the light of the scripture with all diligence to spy them when they came / and not to suffer our selves to be deceived and led out of the way? John biddeth judge the spirits. Whereby shall we judge them but by the scripture? How shalt thou know / whether the Prophet be true or false or whether he speak gods word or of his own heed if ⟨image 81⟩thou wilt not see the scriptures? Why said David in the second psalm be learned ye that judge the earth lest the lord be angry with you and ye perish from the right way?