Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/149

 Course of the Protestant Revolt in Germaity 1 1 1 violence to their conscience if they live in marriage. They hear that mendicants only are perfect ; therefore they outrage their conscience if they keep their possessions and buy and sell. Others think that all magistracy and civil offices are un- worthy a Christian man. We read of examples of men who, forsaking wedlock and leaving the government of the com- monwealth, have hid themselves in monasteries. This they called flying from the world and seeking a kind of life which is more acceptable to God ; neither do they see that God is to be served in those commandments which he himself hath delivered, not in the commandments which are devised by men. That is a good and perfect kind of life which hath the commandment of God for it. . . . There have been great controversies touching the power of bishops ; in which many have improperly mingled to- gether the ecclesiastical power and the power of the sword. And out of this confusion there have sprung very great wars and tumults ; while that the pontiffs, trusting in the power of the keys, have not only appointed new kinds of service, and burdened men's consciences by reserving of cases and by violent excommunications, but have also endeavored to transfer worldly kingdoms from one to another, and to de- spoil emperors of their power and authority. These several faults did godly and learned men long since reprehend in the Church ; and for that cause our teachers were compelled, for the comfort of men's consciences, to show the difference between the ecclesiastical power and the power of the sword. And they have taught that both of them, because of God's commandment, are dutifully to be reverenced and honored as the chiefest blessings of God upon earth. . . . Wherefore the ecclesiastical and civil powers are not to be confounded. The ecclesiastical power hath its own com- mandment to preach the gospel and administer the sacra- ments. Let it not by force enter into the office of another; let it not transfer worldly kingdoms ; let it not abrogate the magistrates' laws ; let it not withdraw from them lawful Of the temporal power of the clergy. The Protes- tants demand that civil and ecclesiastical concerns be carefully dis tinguished.