Report on Whether Secular Authority Should Suppress the Writings of Enthusiasts

and desecrate the Sacrament, and on the contrary, wish to introduce and defend false articles articles: 'Artickel', specific points of religious doctrine or belief against the clear and public Word of God. Likewise, this also applies to those who deal with fanatical fanatical: 'schwermerisch', referring to the 'Schwärmer' or radicals who claimed direct spiritual inspiration outside of Scripture books, through which our Christianity is blasphemed. Toward such people, the authority authority: 'Obrigkeit', the governing officials or magistrates should certainly not say, "mercy, my Lord and Gentleman" original: 'gnad Herr vnd Juncker'; an idiomatic way of saying the authorities should not be overly lenient or deferential to those spreading heresy. Rather, one is duty-bound to resist them however one can, in season and out of season original: 'oportune & importune'; a Latin reference to 2 Timothy 4:2, meaning at all times, whether convenient or not, gently and harshly, whether one likes it or not. For in such a case, one must consider the whole body the 'body' refers to the entire Christian community or commonwealth more than a few particular, unruly, misshapen, and withered limbs. One must regard the honor of God and His Church more highly than the favor and love of men.

Let this be enough for now concerning this matter in this brief space. And whoever is willing to take counsel from this will also easily be helped; but whoever is unclean and wishes to remain so, let him be and remain unclean a reference to Revelation 22:11. What I have written, I have written and intended faithfully; if there is someone who despises it, I must let God be the judge. Even the holy Apostle Paul himself had to see and hear many improper things that were contrary to the Lord Christ, His teaching, and the Sacraments. Therefore, he often cried out against the lying teachers, against the dogs, against the false brothers, etc. Regardless of the fact that the Christian Church at that time was not populous, she nonetheless had to experience quarreling, strife, divisions, sectarian factions, and soul-murdering deceivers. Why should we then, in this present time when the Church is more populous by God's grace, wonder or be so aggrieved if the good-hearted must also see and hear things from fanatics original: 'Schwermern' that displease them?