beggars, but with great and powerful Kings and Princes, as it is
written, "Kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel
together against the Lord, and against his anointed." Well, on,
said Luther, they will find their counsels altogether vain and
frivolous, for Christ shall win the field. We see also how the
Prophets contended and strove with Kings, as the Kings of Babel and
Assyria, etc. In like manner Daniel, one of the chief Prophets,
wrestled and strove with Kings, and they again resisted the
Prophets. All those Kings are gone, and lie in the ashes, but
Christ remaineth, still, and will remain a King for ever.


That it doth not follow because Christ did this and that, therefore
we must also do the same.

At this time, said Luther, there are those that allege Christ by
force drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple; therefore we
also may use the like power against the Popish bishops and enemies
of God's Word, as Muntzer and other seducers, in the time of the
common rebellion, anno 1525. Christ did many things which we
neither may nor can do after him. He went upon the water, he fasted
forty days and forty nights, he raised Lazarus from death after he
had lain four days in the grave, etc. Such and the like must we
leave undone. Much less will Christ have that we by force should
set against the enemies of the truth, but he commanded the contrary,
"Love your enemies, pray for them that vex and persecute you," etc.
But we ought to follow him in such works where he hath annexed an
open command, as, "Be merciful, as your Father is merciful;"
likewise, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and
humble in heart," etc., also, "He that will follow me, let him deny