each,
wells, as the ones from whom should flow that wholesome doctrine by
which souls are to be quickened. To this office are they anointed and
set apart. But what do they do? Nothing, as a general thing; for they
have nothing else but just the bare name, just as they are called
shepherds, and yet are wolves.

Besides, they are the clouds which the wind drives about--not like
the thick, black and lowering clouds which are wont to give us rain,
but like those fleecy ones which move about and fly in the air, and
are very light, which the wind drives wherever it will, after which
no rain can follow. So our teachers also sweep about and move high in
Christendom, like the clouds in heaven, but let themselves be driven
about wherever the devil chooses, to whom they are ready to yield in
all kinds of lusts. But yet they preach not a word of God, like true
teachers and preachers, who are called clouds in Scripture (as Is.
v.),--as also by all that gives forth water, preachers are typified
in Scripture.

_For whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever._ They live
now at their ease, and things go with them just as they themselves
would have them. But there shall come an eternal darkness upon them,
although they do not believe nor apprehend it.

V. 18. _For they speak in swelling words, which have nothing back of
them._ If you ask how they may be called wells without water, and
clouds without rain, while they yet preach throughout the whole
world, St. Peter answers: they rain and preach, alas! altogether too
much; but they are only vain, swollen and puffed-up words, by which
they blow the poor people's ears full, so that men think it is
something fine; and yet it is nothing but show. Just as the monks,
with high, bold words, set forth their obedience, poverty and
chastity, so that men think they are a holy people, while yet it is
nothing but mere trickery, and certainly no faith nor love can be
found among it. Like this, also, is their pretence that the estate of
bishops is a more perfect estate, while these yet do nothing else but
ride about pompously on their fine horses, and now and then
consecrate churches and altars, and baptise bells. Such puffed-up and
swollen words are the whole spiritual law of the Pope, throughout.

_And they allure, through guile, to the lust of the flesh, those who
had well-nigh escaped, and now they walk in error._ This is what
these wells and teachers do, so that they who were almo