A word in season

Vers. 3. Not as though ye were Lords over Gods heritage.

Vers. 3. Not as though yo were Lords over Gods heritage.

Such are they that are willing to take the office upon them, for dignity sake, because they would live pompously and bear great sway and authority in the World. He therefore exhorteth Bishops, Eiders and Pastors, that they practise not any Lordly Tyranny over the Flock, as though the people were their Slaves and Underlings, or as though they had such authority and Lordship over them, to command what they list. For we have but one Lord, which is Christ; and he it is ⟨p. 55⟩which governeth our Souls. Elders and Pastors have no further charge then to feed. And here in one word, Saint Peter utterly overthroweth all the Ringdoms of the Pope; and concludeth that no Bishop hath any authority, so much as in one word to clog and tie the conscience of the faithful to the observation of their Precepts. For they themselves ought to be Servants and Ministers, and to say, Thus saith the Lord, and these be the words of Christ; it is not we, the words are none of ours; and therefore ye ought to do that which is here commanded. According to that which Christ saith; Luke 32. The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them, and they that bear rule over them, are called gracious Lords, but ye shall not be so. Contrary whereunto the Pope boasteth and braggeth saying, We ought to be Lords, and to us only belongeth to exercise chief Rule and Supreme Authority.

Sueh are they that are willing to take the office upon them, for dignity sake, because they would live pompously and bear great sway and authority in the World. He therefore exhorteth Bishops, Eiders and Pastors, that they practise not any Lordly Tyranny over the Flock, as though the people were their Slaves and Underlings, or as though they had such authority and Lordship over them, to command what they list. For we have but one Lord, which is Christ; and he it is