by the spiritual leaders of the church to fight against the bodies of men but by the secular soldiery, whose chief business it is to defend the law of Christ and his church. The distinction between the soldiery—militia—and the clergy is clearly made, as also the distinction between the two swords. The spiritual sword is the Word of God, Eph. 6. The material sword is referred to in Romans 13: 4. “He beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.” He who uses the spiritual sword does not draw the blood of the sinner.
From Deut. 17: 8 the people in their ignorance have the idea that all commands emanating from the pope are to be obeyed. They are certainly wrong. The pope is not to be obeyed when he calls for a crusade for the extermination of his enemies, whom he has before damned. Assuredly Christ did not proceed upon this principle. He rebuked James and John for wanting to call down fire from heaven upon his enemies. Let the pope ask himself why he summons Christians to exterminate, not Samaritans but fellow Christians. Would that the clergy might make the life of Christ and the Apostles their example, and by patience and forbearance follow the Lamb who taketh away the sin of the world! It behooves not the priest to strive or enter into litigation.
The barter of pardons is contrary to the Scriptures. Peter did not sell Simon Magus the forgiveness of sins. The sale of remissions for sin by the papal commissioners is simony. Sins are to be remitted without money and without price. Prayer, fasting, and other good works the bulls make no mention of—only money. Why does the pope not have refuge in prayer rather than in gold and silver? Christ prayed for Peter that his faith fail not. And it is clear that he taught Peter, and through him his vicars, to have recourse in times of necessity to God by prayer and not to depend on money or corporal battle. Would that the pope followed Christ in interceding for his enemies, saying in the name of the church,
