Report on Whether Secular Authority Should Suppress the Writings of Enthusiasts

...simple hearts might perhaps be offended thereby, or even entirely led astray.

Therefore, such clever arguments original: 'klügeln'; refers to over-subtle or fallacious reasoning used to excuse the authorities from religious duties are worth nothing at all—as if secular authority secular authority: 'weltliche Obrigkeit', the civil government or magistracy should have absolutely nothing to do with spiritual matters. It is true that the office of preaching office of preaching: 'predigampt', the ecclesiastical ministry and secular government secular government: 'weltlich Regiment', the civil state are distinct; nevertheless, both should serve for the praise of God, as was mentioned above. For this reason, the kings in the Old Testament—and not only the Jewish kings, but also the converted pagan kings—punished those who established false prophets and idolatry original: 'Abgötterey', and even had some of them put to death.

But as for the fact that these words concerning the weeds original: 'vnkraut'; a reference to the Parable of the Tares in Matthew 13:24-30 are also cited—"Let both grow together"—this was not spoken to the secular authority, but to the office of preaching, instructing them that they should not exercise any physical force under the appearance of their office. Thus, it is clear enough that secular authority is duty-bound to resist false teaching (no matter by what means it occurs), even though it cannot force anyone to believe. And those who are displeased by such an ordinance of God and contradict it certainly do not possess a good spirit, even if they outwardly have a fine and great appearance; but by their fruits one shall learn to recognize them, etc.

I say once more: where there are such stubborn original: 'halsstarrige' people who separate themselves from the Church where pure Christian doctrine is found, and set up their own assembly in corners corners: 'winckeln', a reference to 'Winkelpredigt' or 'corner-preaching', the practice of holding unauthorized, secret religious meetings and houses, where they stubbornly, deceitfully, and persistently [misuse] the word of God...