Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/451

 The third feature with which the Emperor has defiled the faith of the followers of Christ (consists in the fact) that he uses pagan power arbitrarily and wilfully, with plenty of haughtiness and arrogance, paying ho heed to the circumstance that he is a Christian and that he uses authority over Christians who were redeemed by the blood of Christ and who are, therefore, servants subject to the authority of the highest Lord of lords; the Emperor himself wants to rule over them, to dicatatedictate [sic] to them and to administer them. O, the arrogant pride of the emperors, kings and other lords! If they would ever remember (that they are Christians) they should never dare rule over people so wilfully, just to suit their whims. They would respect and stand in awe before the Lord of this people...; they would know that if they rule wilfully in whatever manner over the people, against the Highest Lord, they and their rule would fall under His judgment

I am not too much concerned about the corpore al wrong-doings which they inflict upon the people, such as the collecting of taxes and the imposition of week work and boon work. These corporeal servitudes are the cause of impoverishment and of a fatiguing burden on their serfdom; still, 121*