Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/545

 (:Here Chelc̄icky̍ begins a new section. In the preceding chapters he analyzed the evils of the temporal power. In the following chapters he will look closer to the evils of the Church of Rome.:)

The things which we have said heretofore are a laughing matter and a blasphemy and a cause of anger to the great men of the Church of Rome

The Church of Rome intoxicated as it is by poison, wants to lead wars, to squeeze blood out of men, and to render evil for evil; for all this it needs the strong secular power.

(:It misinterprets the Scriptures in order to justify its warfare. They Church misinterprets even the answer which St. John gave to the soldiers who asked him, "What shall we do?" "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages." The next chapters will deal with the interpretation of this text.:) Luke 3:14. 168*