r," while there is not one who has
preached anything of faith or love; but they have taught nothing
except what they have themselves imagined.

V. 10, 11. _And those who despise governments, presumptuous,
self-conceited, tremble not to revile dignities, whereas the angels,
who are greater in power and might, bring not a railing accusation
against them before the Lord._ He calls kings, princes and lords, and
all civil magistracy, governments; and not the Pope and bishops, for
these are not to be lords at all; since Christ, in the New Testament,
is represented only as a servant--so that one Christian is to serve
another, and hold him in honor. Wherefore _this_ is St. Peter's
meaning: that they should be subject and obedient to civil
magistracy; as the sword is introduced by God's ordinance, stand thou
in fear. Yet they do the very reverse of this. They have excepted
themselves, and say they are not subject to the civil magistracy;
yea, they have not only excepted themselves, but have even subjected
those to themselves, and trampled on them with their feet, and permit
themselves shamelessly to be called lords, even by kings and princes,
just as the Pope writes of himself that he is a lord of heaven and
earth, and has in his hand both the civil and spiritual sword, and
that every one must fall at his feet.

Besides, St. Peter says that they do not tremble to blaspheme
dignities; for it has become to the Pope a small and slight thing to
put kings and princes under ban, to curse them, and depose them, and
moreover excite mischief among them, and stir them up one against
another. And as to those who have opposed themselves, these he has
quickly overthrown and trodden on, not because they have done
anything against faith or love, but only because they have not been
willing to be subject to the Romish See, or kiss the Pope's foot,
because, forsooth, his power was as much greater than that of secular
princes as the sun is than the moon, or as the heaven is high above
the earth; so they lyingly blasphemed, while yet they are bound to be
subject and obedient to them, and should bless them and pray for
them, as Christ our Lord subjected Himself to Pilate, and gave to the
Emperor the penny tribute. They ought, therefore, to tremble at
reviling against dignities; yet are they unaffrighted and
presumptuous in regard to it, and they revile with all zeal and
recklessness, while yet if even the strongest angels cannot endure
judgment