reliance, and I will let
matters take their course in Thy name. Amen. They must ever abide
Thee as the Lord. Amen.

I notice that these poor people are seeking naught else than to
gain renown at my expense. They cling to me like mud to a wheel.
They would rather have questionable honor shamefully acquired
than remain quiet, and the evil spirit uses the designs of such
people only to hinder me from doing more useful things. But I
welcome the opportunity to give the laity[6] some explanation of
the nature of the Church,[7] and to contradict the words of these
seductive masters. Therefore I intend to treat of the
subject-matter directly, rather than to answer their senseless
prattle. I will not mention their names, lest they achieve their
true purpose and boastfully regard themselves capable of arguing
with me in the Scriptures.

THE STATEMENT OF THE CASE

We are discussing a matter which, taken by itself, is
unnecessary, for any one could be a Christian without knowing
anything about it. But these idlers who tread under foot all the
great essentials of the Christian faith, must needs pursue such
things and worry other people, in order to have some object in
life.

[Sidenote: The Foundation of Papal Power]

This then is the question: Whether the papacy at Rome, possessing
the actual power over all Christendom (as they say), is of divine
or of human origin,[8] and this being decided, whether it is
possible for Christians to say that all other Christians in that
world are heretics and apostates, even if they agree with us in
holding to the same baptism, Sacrament, Gospel, and all the
articles of faith, but merely do not have their priests and
bishops confirmed by Rome, or, as it is now, buy such
confirmation with money and let themselves be mocked and made
fools of like the Germans. Such are the Muscovites, Russians,
Greeks, Bohemians, and many other great peoples in the world. For
all these believe as we do, baptise as we do, preach as we do,
live as we do, and also give due honor to the pope, only they
will not pay for the confirmation of their bishops and priests.
They will not, like the drunken, stupid Germans, submit to
extortion and abuse with indulgences, bulls, seals, parchments,
and other Roman stock in trade. They are ready, too, to hear the
Gospel from the pope, or the pope's ambassadors, and yet they are
not sent to them.

Now the question is, whether all these may properly be called
heretics by us Ch