A most necessary & fruitful dialogue, between [the] seditious libertine or rebel Anabaptist, &…A most necessary & frutefull dialogue, betwene [the] seditious libertin or rebel Anabaptist, &…

JOIADA. Christ came not to take away the public magistrates, much less to execute their office, but to redeem the world, with his blood. Wherefore he doth run away, not consenting to the affections of the people, for he could not have taken upon him the office of a king, without commotion, the Romans not permitting it, which were then rulers But who ever so gathered his argument Christ was never a baker, ergo, no Christian,¹ can be a baker? Why then do ye make this argument: Christ never executed the office of a magistrate, ergo, it is not lawful for a christian, to be a magistrate or bear rule. In the .xxii. of Luke Christ doth warn the apostles of their duty & ⟨image 33⟩forbiddeth that they should not be busy in other mens matters, for they had stryued by the way, who should be greatest among them after the death of Christ. For they did imagine, that there should be such a power and rule among them, as the bishop of Rome hath usurped in the latter days in the church. He doth pluck from the minds of his disciples this sour disease of ambition, & desire of honour, knowing well that this should be the chief destruction of Ecclesiastical prelates. Therefore he useth these words: The princes of nations, &c. As if he should say: The princes & governors of nations, are appointed to rule & to govern, as for you, ye have an other office given you. Yet notwithstanding, the office of a magistrate is not abolished by these words, but it may very well stand by the apostleship, as it is most manifest by the words of Christ. But this doth beguile & deceive thee, that thou doest take this word, Gentium for the heathen & infidels. For they are here, by a manner of speaking, called princes, and kings of nations, which do govern and bear rule in the world, which power (as the apostles do testify) is ordained ⟨image 34⟩of god, which thing Christ doth express by these words.² They are called Evergetae, that is to say, beneficial, because that they are ordained to do good to them that are good & virtuous.

IOIADA. Christ came not to take awaye the publyke magistrates, much lesse to execute their office, but to redeme ye world, wt hys bloud. Wherfore he doth runne away, not consenting to the affections of ye people, for he could not haue taken vpon hym the offyce of a king, without commotion, the Romains not permitting it, which were thē rulers But who euer so gathered his argument Christ was neuer a baker, ergo, no Christyan,