A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…

but it shall not be so among you I grant unto them, that the office of the Apostles, & of the worldly principalities, be not both one, and that in their office is no domination. Now Jesus Christ would there none other thing, but discern between the one & the other. For the occasion of those words of our saviour, came of that the Apostles had already contention among them selves who should be the chieffest, & as it were governor of the rest in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. To take away such ambition, he declareth unto them, that his kingdom is spiritual: & therefore, that it doth not stand in worldly dignity, pomp & lordship: but that all the preeminence which his ministers & officers should have, should be in service. Seeing then that this place, doeth not make mention, whether kings may be christen men or no, but only showeth that the Apostles & ministers of the church: shall not be as kings to have dominion. it is a very beastliness to infer out of this, ye Christ hath forbidden us all superiority. It is as much as one would say. It is not lawful for a king to do the office of a minister, unto which he is not called: ergo the estate of a minister is an ill & unlawful thing. I pray you doth the distinction & difference of estates make, that the one should be condemned, because the other is praised? Let kings therefore contain them selves within their limits, & likewise let the spiritual shep: ⟨image 37⟩perdes be contented to exercise there office, without usurpation of that which appertaineth not unto them, and then all shall go well▪ And the Lord Jesus, will allow the one, and the other. Therefore these power fantasticals do evilly expound this place, to say that in place the power of the sword is forbidden. ☞ To make up a great help of witnesses, they do also allege, that Saint Paul doeth say: that those which God knew before, he hath preordained to be made like unto the example of his Son. I grant unto them, that following the exhortation which Saint Paul maketh in that place, behoveth us to bear the mortification of Jesus Christ in our bodies, and indewer those tribulations and miseries, by which God will try us. But doeth it follow of this, that a faithful man, may not govern the people which are committed unto him? They say yea, because that Jesus Christ did suffer, and not rule. As touching the first, that he did suffer, I say so did David:

but it shal not be so amōg you I graunt vnto thē, that the office of the Apostles, & of the worldely principalities, be not both one, and yt in their office is no dominatiō. Now Iesu Christ wold ther none other thīge, but decerne betwen the one & the other. For the occasiō of those words of our sauiour, came of that the Apostles had alredy cōtētion amōg thē selues who should be the chieffest, & as it were gouerner of the rest in the kingdome of Iesu Christ. To take away such ambitiō, he declareth vnto thē, yt his kingdome is spirituall: & therfore, yt it doth not stāde in worldly dignitie, pompe & lordship: but that all the preheminēce whiche his ministers & officers should haue, shold be in seruice. Seynge then yt this place, doeth not make mētiō, whether kings may be christē mē or no, but only sheweth yt the Apostles & ministers of the churche: shal not be as kings to haue dominiō. it is a very beastlines to infer out of this, ye Christ hath forbidē vs al superioriti. It is asmuch as one wold say. It is not lawful for a king to do the office of a minister, vnto whiche he is not called: ergo ye estate of a minister is an yl & vnlawful thing. I pray you doth the destinctiō & differēce of estates make, yt the one shold be cōdēned, bicause ye other is praised? Let kings therfore cōteine thē selues within their limets, & likewise let the spiritual shep: