Page:Chelčický, Molnar - The Net of Faith.djvu/132

 the end she always sings them out of hell… Now this authority has nothing left with which to threaten, because she can redeem the dead souls from hell by her ceremonious acts.

CHAPTER 67

INTERPRETATION OF ROMANS 13:3-4 (CONCLUSION)

[ The Church has completely lost her moral right of judgment. She has become a fortress of authority and her strong ammunition is provided by her learned Doctors and Fathers who – with the cunning use of Biblical texts – sanction her revenges, wars, and murders. ] As if we could not see that she does not follow the law when she busies her self with reprisals and wars; whenever she has some hosts available she fights and murders.

CHAPTER 68

REFUTATION OF THE ARGUMENTS OF AEGIDIUS CARLERII

PRESENTED AT THE COUNCIL OF BASIL

Now let us look at the arguments defending the power of the Church, as they were presented in the dispute between Master Aegidius[466] and Nicholas, the Bishop of Písek,[467] at Basel, concerning the article about the destruction of sins.[468] Master Aegidius gave many reasons based on Church Doctors, and these were the official replies of the Council to Bishop Nicholas. I shall recount some of these (discussions) in order to make better known some of those happenings that were woven so long ago; but not through my will, says the Lord.

Among many arguments, Master Aegidius says that the civil law can punish certain things legally by death and that this does not contradict the law of the gospel.[469] The Explanation[470] says concerning the words “