The Smalcald Articles | Page 9

comrades, as the ancient councils and the age of St.
Cyprian show.
But to-day none of the bishops dare to address the Pope as brother as
was done at that time [in the age of Cyprian]; but they must call him
most gracious lord, even though they be kings or emperors. This [Such
arrogance] we will not, cannot, must not take upon our conscience
[with a good conscience approve]. Let him, however, who will do it, do
so without us [at his own risk].

Hence it follows that all things which the Pope, from a power so false,
mischievous, blasphemous, and arrogant, has done and undertaken.
have been and still are purely diabolical affairs and transactions (with
the exception of such things as pertain to the secular government,
where God often permits much good to be effected for a people, even
through a tyrant and [faithless] scoundrel) for the ruin of the entire holy
[catholic or] Christian Church (so far as it is in his power) and for the
destruction of the first and chief article concerning the redemption
made through Jesus Christ.
For all his bulls and books are extant, in which he roars like a lion (as
the angel in Rev. 12 depicts him, [crying out] that no Christian can be
saved unless he obeys him and is subject to him in all things that he
wishes, that he says, and that he does. All of which amounts to nothing
less than saying: Although you believe in Christ, and have in Him
[alone] everything that is necessary to salvation, yet it is nothing and all
in vain unless you regard [have and worship] me as your god, and be
subject and obedient to me. And yet it is manifest that the holy Church
has been without the Pope for at least more than five hundred years,
and that even to the present day the churches of the Greeks and of
many other languages neither have been nor are yet under the Pope.
Besides, as often remarked, it is a human figment which is not
commanded, and is unnecessary and useless; for the holy Christian [or
catholic] Church can exist very well without such a head, and it would
certainly have remained better [purer, and its career would have been
more prosperous] if such a head had not been raised up by the devil.
And the Papacy is also of no use 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