A14136:204
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.
Moreover the law of love which Christ left among us / is to give and not to receive. What prayer is it then that thus robbeth all the world contrary to that great commandment which is the end of all commandments and in which all other are contained.1 If men should continue to bye prayer four or five hundred years moo / as they have done / there would not be a foot of ground in Christendom nether any worldly thing which they that will be called spiritual only should not possess. And thus all should be called spiritual.
Moareover the lawe of love which Christe left amonge vs / is to geve and not to receave. What prayar is it then that thus robbeth all the world contrary to that great cō maundmente which is the ende of all commaundmentes and in which all other are conteyned.1 Yf men shulde contynue to bye prayer foure or fyve hundred yeres moo / as they have done / there wold not be a foote of grounde in Christēdome nether any worldly thinge which they that wilbe called spirituall only shulde not possesse. And thus all shulde be called spirituall.
- 1Their prayer breaketh the great commandment of God. It is time that hit were tied up therefore.Their prayar breaketh the greate cō maundmēt of God. It is tyme that hyt were tyed vp therefore.
Woe be to you lawyers / for ye lade men with burdens which they are not able to bear / and ye your selves touch not the packs with one of your fingers saith Christ Luke. xj. Our 1lawyers verily have laden us a thousand times more. What spiritual kindred have they made in baptism / to let matrimony / besides that they have added certain degrees unto the law natural for the same purpose. What an unbearable burden of chastity do they violently thrust on other mens backs / and how easily bear they it them selves? How sore a burden? How cruel an hangman? How grievous a torment? ye and how painful an hell is this ear confession unto mens consciences?