man lies in a
dream he deals with images, and thinks he has something real, but
when he wakes up it is nothing at all,--but he sees then that it was
a dream, and counts it of no importance,--so, too, what these say is
nothing else than a mere dream; for when once their eyes shall be
opened, they shall see that it is nothing at all. As when they go
about pretending that their tonsure and cowl, obedience, poverty and
chastity are well-pleasing to God, they have this before their eyes;
yet, in God's sight it is nothing but a mere dream. So he has given
them a truly fitting name, inasmuch as they deal with dreams, by
which they cheat themselves and the world.

But especially do the Apostles ascribe to the clerical order the vice
of leading an unchaste life; and God long ago foretold that they
should have no wives. Now it is scarcely possible that God should
work as many miracles as there are persons in the order, so that it
cannot be that they are chaste. So, likewise, has the prophet Daniel
spoken, chap. xi., of the Pope's rule: "He shall not regard women (in
marriage)." This is the external characteristic, as the inward is
that they are dreamers.

_Who despise government, and speak evil of dignities._ Their third
characteristic is, that they will not be subject to civil authority.
Yet we have been taught, while we live on earth, that we are all
under obligation; that we are to be subject and obedient to the
sovereignty; for the Christian faith does not do away with civil
rule,--therefore no one can except himself from it, because the
Pope's decree concerning the Church's freedom is a mere devil's law.

V. 9. _But Michael the archangel, when he contended with the devil,
and disputed about the body of Moses, durst not let drop against him
a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee._ This is one of
the reasons why this Epistle was formerly rejected, because here an
example is adduced which is not found in Scripture, to the effect
that the angel Michael and the devil contended with one another about
the body of Moses. But this should have been found there, since so
much is written about Moses in the last of Deuteronomy, of God's
burial of him, and yet no one knew his grave. Besides, Scripture
testifies in regard to him, that no other prophet has arisen in
Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, &c. But it has
been said, in reference to the same text also, that his body was left
concealed, so tha