Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/133

 Course of the Protestant Revolt in Germany 95 and lay ? " The articles below shall answer these godless and criminal fault-finders, and serve, in the first place, to remove the reproach from the word of God and, in the sec- ond place, to give a Christian excuse for the disobedience or even the revolt of the entire peasantry. In the first place, the gospel is not the cause of revolt and disorder, since it is the message of Christ, the promised Messiah ; the word of life, teaching only love, peace, patience, and concord. Thus all who believe in Christ should learn to be loving, peaceful, long-suffering, and harmonious. This is the foundation of all the articles of the peasants (as will be seen), who accept the gospel and live according to it. How then can the evil reports declare the gospel to be a cause of revolt and disobedience ? That the authors of the evil reports and the enemies of the gospel oppose themselves to these demands is due, not to the gospel, but to the devil, the worst enemy of the gospel, who causes this opposition by raising doubts in the minds of his followers, and thus the word of God, which teaches love, peace, and concord, is overcome. In the second place, it is clear that the peasants demand that this gospel be taught them as a guide in life, and they ought not to be called disobedient or disorderly. Whether God grant the peasants (earnestly wishing to live according to his word) their requests or no, who shall find fault with the will of the Most High ? Who shall meddle in his judg- ments or oppose his majesty ? Did he not hear the children of Israel when they called upon him and save them out of the hands of Pharaoh ? Can he not save his own to-day ? Yea, he will save them and that speedily. Therefore, Chris- tian reader, read the following articles with care and then judge. Here follow the articles : The First Article. First, it is our humble petition and Pastors to be desire, as also our will and resolution, that in the future we ^° s ^ [ e should have power and authority so that each community should choose and appoint a pastor, and that we should have the right to depose him should he conduct himself improperly. The pastor thus chosen should teach us the