e Scriptures do not call temporal authority
"feeding," and in the New Testament there is no instance where
God publicly appointed any one to temporal power, although no
such power arises without His secret ordering. For this reason
St. Peter calls such powers "ordinances of men," [1 Peter 2:13]
because they rule not by God's word, but by God's governance, and
it is not needful, therefore, that such rulers should be
righteous. But inasmuch as we here have God's word, "Feed my
sheep," neither the shepherd nor the sheep can fulfil this word
except by obedience to God and righteousness of life. Therefore I
let bishop, pope, priest be what they may; unless they love
Christ and are righteous, this term, "feeding," is not for them,
and they are something entirely different from the shepherds and
feeders of sheep who alone are meant in this word. For this
reason it cannot be tolerated that this word of Christ shall be
made to cover external power, which has nothing to do with
obedience or disobedience to Him; "feeding" can mean naught else
but to be obedient.

And this is what Christ desired. For before saying three times to
Peter: "Feed My sheep," He asked him thrice if he loved Him, and
Peter thrice answered that he loved Him. [John 21:15 ff.] It is
evident, therefore, that there is no "feeding" where there is no
love. Therefore, the papacy either must be love, or it cannot be
a feeding of the sheep, and if the word "Feed My sheep"
establishes the papal chair, it follows that all are popes who
love Christ and feed the sheep. And this is perfectly true: for
aforetime all bishops were called popes, which title is now
restricted to the one at Rome.

[Sidenote: A Distinction in Love]

But here look you what our Romanists do when they cannot overcome
these words of Christ, and must admit, though with great
reluctance, that no one can feed except he love Christ, as the
clearly expressed words of Christ declare. Gladly they would give
Him the lie, or deny Him; but now that they are hit squarely
between the eyes, so that their heads swim, hear what they say.
They say that Christ indeed demands love in the office of the
pope, but not that high love, which, they say, is meritorious
unto eternal life; but the ordinary love is quite sufficient,
such as a servant has toward his master.[73] Now see, this lying
explanation[74] of love they bring forth entirety out of their
own heads, without warrant of the Scriptures, and yet they wou