ter testimony from God than they, besides being more
ancient, tells me so and so, therefore I will hold with him. The
passage, moreover, needs no gloss, for he speaks in express words of
those that believe. Now those are not the only believers who are
anointed and wear the tonsure; therefore we will readily grant them
that they call themselves by this name, for the question is not what
they permit themselves to do; but the dispute is here,--whether they
are styled priests in Scripture, and whether God calls them by this
name. There may be some selected out of the Church, who are its
officers and ministers, and appointed to this end, that they should
preach in the Church and administer the sacraments; but we are all
priests before God if we are Christians. For since we are built upon
this stone, which is our high priest before God, we must also possess
all that He has.

Therefore I would be glad to find this word priests becoming as
common as it is for us to be called Christians. For it is all the
same,--priest, baptized, Christian. As little as I would suffer that
those who are anointed and shorn should call Christians un-baptized,
so little would I endure that they only should be regarded as
priests. Yet have they arrogated it entirely to themselves. So too
they have named _that_ the church which the Pope and his cardinals
rule over, but Scripture refutes this. Therefore mark this well, that
you may know how to establish the distinction as to how God names us
priests, and how men call themselves such.

For we must yet again state that this word _priest_ should become as
common as the word Christian. For to be a priest belongs not to an
office that is external, it is only such a service as has to do with
God's presence.

So we conclude that we are all kings. Priests and kings are all
spiritual names, as Christians, saints, the Church. And just as you
are not called a Christian because you have much gold or wealth, but
because you are built upon this stone and believe on Christ, so you
are not called a priest because you wear a tonsure or long robe, but
for this reason, that you come into God's presence. Likewise you are
not a king because you wear a gold crown, and have many lands and
people subject to you, but because you are lord over all things,
death, sin, and hell. For you are as really a king as Christ is a
king, if you believe on Him. Still He is not a king as the kings of
this world are, wears no crown of go