A14136:85
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.
There is no power but of God (by power understand the authority of kings and princes) The powers that be / are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth power resisteth God: Ye though he be Pope / Bishop / monk or friar. They that resist shall receive unto them selves damnation. Why? For Gods word is against them which will have all men under the power of the temporal sword. For rulers are not to be feared for good works but for evil. Hereby seest thou that they that resist the powers or seek to be exempt from their authority have evil consciences & seek liberty to sin unpunished & to be free from bearing pain with there brethren. Wilt thou be ⟨image 34⟩without fear of the power? So do well and thou shalt have laud of the same (that is to say of the ruler) With good living ought the spirituality to rid them selves from fear of the temporal sword / & not with craft and with blinding the kings and bringing the vengeance of God upon them and in purchasing licence to sin unpunished. ¶ For he is the minister of God for thy wealth: to defend the from a thousand inconveniences / from thieves / murderers and them that would defile thy wife / thy daughter and take from the all that thou hast:1 ye life and all / if thou did resist.
There is no powere but of God (by power vnderstōde the auctorite of kinges and princes) The powers that be / are ordened of God. Whosoever therfore resisteth power resisteth God: Yee though he be Pope / Bisshope / monke or frere. They that resiste shall receave vnto them selves damnacion. Why? For Gods worde is agaynst them which will have all men vnder the power of the temperall swerde. For rulers are not to be feared for good workes but for evyll. Hereby seist thou yt they yt resiste ye powers or seke to be exēpte frō their auctorite have evyll cōsciēces & seke libertie to sinne vnpunesshed & to be fre frō bearīge payne with ther bretherne. Wilt thou be ⟨image 34⟩without feare of the power? So doo well and thou shalt have laude of the same (that is to saye of the ruler) With good livynge ought the spirituallte to ridde thē selves frō feare of the tēporal swerde / & not with craft and with blindinge the kynges and bringinge the vengeaunce of God apon thē ād in purchasinge licēce to sinne vnpunisshed. ¶ For he is the minister of God for thi welth: to defende the from a thousande inconvenientes / from theves / murderers and them that wolde defile thy wife / thy doughter and take from the all that thou hast: