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.

[Sidenote: The Hopelessness of General Councils]

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;[43] 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.[44] 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.[45]

[Sidenote: Obedience to the Temporal Authorities]

XII. The third work of this Commandment is to obey the temporal
authority, as Paul teaches, Romans xiii [Rom. 13:1], and Titus
iii [Tit. 3:1], and St. Peter, I. Peter ii [1 Pet. 2:14 f.]:
"Submit yourselves to the king as supreme, an