se in the Church, because it exercises
no Christian office; and therefore it is necessary for the
Church to continue and to exist without the Pope.

And supposing that the Pope would yield this point, so as not
to be supreme by divine right or from Gods command, but that
we must have [there must be elected] a [certain] head, to whom
all the rest adhere [as their support] in order that the
[concord and] unity of Christians may be preserved against
sects and heretics, and that such a head were chosen by men,
and that it were placed within the choice and power of men to
change or remove this head, just as the Council of Constance
adopted nearly this course with reference to the Popes,
deposing three and electing a fourth; supposing, I say, that
the Pope and See at Rome would yield and accept this (which,
nevertheless, is impossible; for thus he would have to suffer
his entire realm and estate to be overthrown and destroyed,
with all his rights and books, a thing which, to speak in few
words, he cannot do), nevertheless, even in this way
Christianity would not be helped, but many more sects would
arise than before.

For since men would have to be subject to this head, not from
God's command, but from their personal good pleasure, it would
easily and in a short time be despised, and at last retain no
member; neither would it have to be forever confined to Rome
or any other place, but it might be wherever and in whatever
church God would grant a man fit for the [taking upon him such
a great] office. Oh, the complicated and confused state of
affairs [perplexity] that would result!

Therefore the Church can never be better governed and
preserved than if we all live under one head, Christ, and all
the bishops equal in office (although they be unequal in
gifts), be diligently joined in unity of doctrine, faith,
Sacraments, prayer, and works of love, etc., as St. Jerome
writes that the priests at Alexandria together and in common
governed the churches, as did also the apostles, and
afterwards all bishops throughout all Christendom, until the
Pope raised his head above all.

This teaching shows forcefully that the Pope is the very
Antichrist, who has exalted himself above, and opposed himself
against Christ because he will not permit Christians to be
saved without his power, which, nevertheless, is nothing, and
is neither ordained nor commanded by God. This is, properly
speaking to exalt himself above all that is called Go