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debt； and this should not be。 But spiritual authority should look
to it； that adultery； unchastity； usury； gluttony； worldly show；
excessive adornment； and such like open sin and shame might be
most severely punished and corrected； and they should properly
manage the endowments； monastic houses； parishes and schools； and
earnestly maintain worship in them； provide for the young people；
boys and girls； in schools and cloisters； with learned； pious men
as teachers； that they might all be well trained； and so the
older people give a good example and Christendom be filled and
adorned with fine young people。 So St。 Paul teaches his disciple
Titus； that he should rightly instruct and govern all classes；
young and old； men and women。 But now he goes to school who
wishes； he is taught who governs and teaches himself； nay； it
has； alas！ come to such a pass that the places where good should
be taught have become schools of knavery； and no one at all takes
thought for the wild youth。
VIII。 If the above order prevailed； one could say how honor and
obedience should be given to the spiritual authority。 But now the
case is like that of the natural parents who let their children
do as they please； at present the spiritual authority threatens；
dispenses； takes money； and pardons more than it has power to
pardon。 I will here refrain from saying more； we see more of it
than is good； greed holds the reins； and just what should be
forbidden is taught； and it is clearly seen that the spiritual
estate is in all things more worldly than the worldly estate
itself。 Meanwhile Christendom must be ruined； and this
Commandment perish。
If there were a bishop who would zealously provide for all these
classes； supervise； make visitations and be faithful as he ought；
truly； one city would be too much for him。 For in the time of the
Apostles； when Christendom was at its best estate； each city had
a bishop； although the smallest part of the inhabitants were
Christians。 How may things go when one bishop wants to have so
much； another so much； this one the whole world； that one the
fourth of it。
It is time that we pray God for mercy。 Of spiritual power we have
much； but of spiritual government nothing or little。 Meanwhile
may he help who can； that endowments； monastic houses； parishes
and schools be well established and managed； and it would also
be one of the works of the spiritual authority that it lessen the
number of endowments； monastic houses and schools； where they
cannot be cared for。 It is much better that there be no monastic
house or endowment than that there be evil government in them；
whereby God is the more provoked to anger。
IX。 Since； then； the authorities so entirely neglect their work；
and are perverted； it must assuredly follow that they misuse
their power； and undertake other and evil works； just as parents
do when they give some command contrary to God。 Here we must be
wise； for the Apostle has said； that those times shall be
perilous in which such authorities shall rule。 For it seems as
if we resisted their power if we do not do and leave undone all
that they prescribe。 Therefore we must take hold of the first
three Commandments and the First Table； and be certain that no
man； neither bishop； nor pope； nor angel； may command or
determine anything that is contrary to or hinders these three
Commandments； or does not help them； and if they attempt such
things； it is not valid and amounts to nothing； and we also sin
if we follow and obey； or even tolerate such acts。
From this it is easy to understand that the commands of fasting
do not include the sick； the pregnant women； or those who for
other reasons cannot fast without injury。 And； to rise higher；
in our time nothing comes from Rome but a fair of spiritual
wares； which are openly and shamelessly bought and sold；
indulgences； parishes； monastic houses； bishoprics； provostships；
benefices； and every thing that has ever been founded to God's
service far and wide； whereby not only is all money and wealth
of the world drawn and driven to Rome （for this would be the
smallest harm）； but the parishes； bishoprics and prelacies are
torn to pieces； deserted； laid waste； and so the people are
neglected； God's Word and God's Name and honor come to naught；
and faith is destroyed； so that at last such institutions and
offices fall into the hands not only of unlearned and unfit men；
but the greater part into the hands of the Romans； the greatest
villains in the world。 Thus what has been founded for God's
service； for the instruction； government and improvement of the
people； must now serve the stable…boys； mule…drivers； yea； not
to use plainer language； Roman whores and knaves； yet we have no
more thanks than that they mock us for it as fools。
X。 If then such unbearable abuses are all carried on in the Name
of God and St。 Peter； just as if God's Name and the spiritual
power were instituted to blaspheme God's honor； to destroy
Christendom； body and soul： we are indeed in duty bound to resist
in a proper way as much as we can。 And here we must do like pious
children whose parents have become insane； and first see by what
right that which has been founded for God's service in our lands；
or has been ordained to provide for our children； must be allowed
to do its work in Rome； and to lapse here； where it ought to
serve。 How can we be so foolish？
Since then bishops and spiritual prelates stand idle in this
matter； offer no opposition or are afraid； and thus allow
Christendom to perish； it is our duty first of all humbly to call
upon God for help to prevent this thing； then to put our hand to
work to the same end； send the courtesans and those who bear
letters from Rome about their business； in a reasonable； gentle
way inform them that； if they wish to care for their parishes
properly； they shall live in them and improve the people by
preaching or by good example； or if not； and they do live in Rome
or elsewhere； lay waste and debauch the churches； then let the
pope feed them； whom they serve。 It is not fitting that we
support the pope's servants； his people； yes； his knaves and
whores； to the destruction and injury of our souls。
Lo！ these are the true Turks； whom the kings； princes and the
nobility ought to attack first： not seeking thereby their own
benefit； but only the improvement of Christendom； and the
prevention of the blasphemy and disgracing of the divine Name；
and so to deal with the clergy as with a father who has lost his
sense and wits； who； if one did not restrain him and resist him
（although with all humility and honor）； might destroy child； heir
and everybody。 Thus we are to honor Roman authority as our
highest father； and yet； since they have gone mad and lost their
senses； not allow them to do what they attempt； lest Christendom
be destroyed thereby。
XI。 Some think； this should be referred to a General Council。 To
this I say： No！ For we have had many councils in which this has
been proposed； namely； at Constance； Basel and the last Roman
Council； but nothing has been accomplished； and things have grown
ever worse； Moreover； such councils are entirely useless； since
Roman wisdom has contrived the device that the kings and princes
must beforehand take an oath to let the Romans remain what they
are and keep what they have； and so has put up a bar to ward off
all reformation； to retain protection and liberty for all their
knavery； although this oath is demanded； forced and taken
contrary to God and the law； and by it the doors are locked
against the Holy Spirit； Who should rule the councils。 But this
would be the best； and also the only remedy remaining； if kings；
princes； nobility； cities and communities themselves began and
opened a way for reformation； so that the bishops and clergy； who
now are afraid； would have reason to follow。 For here nothing
else shall and must be considered except God's first three
Commandments； against which neither Rome； nor heaven nor earth
can command or forbid anything。 And the ban or threatening with
which they think they can prevent this； amounts to nothing； just
as it amounts to nothing if an insane father severely threatens
the son who restrains him or locks him up。
XII。 The third work of this Commandment is to obey the temporal
authority； as Paul teaches； Romans xiii； and Titus iii； and St。
Peter； I。 Peter ii： 〃Submit yourselves to the king as supreme；
and to the princes as his ambassadors； and to all the ordinances
of the worldly power。〃 But it is the work of the temporal power
to protect its subjects； and to punish thievery； robbery； and
adultery； as St。 Paul says； Romans xiii： 〃It beareth not the
sword in vain； it serves God with it； to the terror of evil
doers； and to the protection of the good。〃
Here men sin in two ways。 First； if they lie to the government；
deceive it； and are disloyal； neith