5. The Church and not the State is the arbiter of heresy.
had to do all that worldly government demands, it would be to no purpose to say, "We must obey God rather than men."
If, then, your prince or temporal lord commands you to hold with the pope, to believe this or that, or commands you to give up certain books, you should say, "It does not befit Lucifer to sit by the side of God. Dear Lord, I owe you obedience with life and goods; command me within the limits of your power on earth, and I will obey. But if you command me to believe, and to put away books, I will not obey; for in this case you are a tyrant, and overreach yourself, and command where you have neither right nor power," etc. Should he take your property for this, and punish such disobedience, you are blessed. Thank God that you are worthy to suffer for the sake of the divine Word; and let him rave, fool that he is. (1Pet 4:14,
16) (Acts 5:41)1 He will meet his judge. For I tell you, if you do not resist him, but give him his way, and let him take your faith or your books, you have really denied God.
Let me illustrate. In Meissen, Bavaria, in the Mark,2 and other places, the tyrants have issued an order that the New Testaments be delivered to the courts everywhere. In this case their subjects ought not to deliver a page or a letter, at risk of their salvation. For whoever does so, delivers Christ into Herod's hands, since they act as murderers of Christ, like Herod.
But if their houses are ordered to be searched, and books or goods are taken by force, they should allow it to be done. Outrage is not to be resisted, but endured; yet they should not sanction it, nor serve, obey, or follow it by moving foot or finger. For such tyrants act as worldly princes should act— "worldly" princes they are; but the world is God's enemy.
Therefore they also must do what is opposed to God and in accord with the world, that they may by no means lose all honor, but remain worldly princes. Hence do not wonder that they rage and mock at the Gospel; they must live up to their name and title.
5. The Church and not the State is the arbiter of heresy.
You must know that from the beginning of the world a wise prince is a rare bird indeed; still more so a pious prince. They are usually the greatest fools or the worst knaves on earth; therefore one must constantly expect the worst from them and look for little good from them, especially in divine matters which concern the salvation of souls. They are God's jailers and hangmen, and His divine wrath needs them to punish the wicked and preserve outward peace. Our God is a great Lord, and therefore he must have such noble, honorable and rich hangmen and beadles, and desires that they shall have riches, honor, and fear, in full and plenty from everyone. It pleases His divine will that we call His hangmen gracious lords, fall at their feet, and be subject to them in all humility — so long as they do not ply their trade too far and desire to become shepherds instead of hangmen. If a prince becomes wise, pious, or a Christian, it is one of the great wonders, and one of the most precious tokens of divine grace on that land. For the usual course is according to the saying in Isa 3:4,
"I will give children to be their princes and babes shall rule over them," and in Hosea 13:11,
"I will give you a king in my anger and take him away in my wrath." The world is too wicked, and does not deserve to have many wise and pious princes. Frogs need storks.3 Again you say, Temporal power does not force men to believe, but simply prevents them from being misled by false doctrine; otherwise how could heretics be prevented from preaching? This, I
1 1Pet 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified... 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Acts 5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
2 For Meissen, see SEIDEMANN, Erlauterungen; for Bavaria, see Winter, Schicksale der evangelischen Lehre, ii,
189; for the Mark, see A. Muller, Gesch. d. Reform. in der M. Brandenburg.
3 Cf. the well-known fable of Aeesop, "The Frogs Who Desired a King."