(This is part 2/2. Read part 1. )
The next day, the discussion resumes. Farel alluded to his observations the previous day and showed that Sunday was introduced according to the divine commandment, but with true freedom of spirit, without superstitious notions. Fuerbity objected that if only what Jesus had commanded had been observed, he would not have told Jesus. The Apostles: “I still have a lot to say to you. ” These words,” Farel replied, “do not prove at all that Jesus authorized the Apostles to create new ordinances or laws. On the contrary, he commanded them to teach what Jesus’ commandments are the only ones to be observed, not those of ecclesiastical officials, of whom no mention is made in the scriptures, and for which corruption and even the annihilation of authentic Christianity had been practiced.
- The puzzled monk asked if Farel wished to do away with the Church.
- The Pope and the Councils.
- Whose authority was deduced from the Apostles and Councils of Nicea.
- Antioch and Constantinople.
- In which the heretics were defeated by the Word.
- Of God.
- Indeed.
- Attacks on the church could be expected at a time when so many prelates have neglected their duties and neglected the work of the ministry.
- Farel pointed out the difference between what took the title of church.
- Whose final argument was the executioner.
- And the apostolic church.
- Of which there was no trace in the Roman communion.
- “Wasn’t it like this before?” He said.
- “and it shouldn’t be like this now; but you arbitrarily submit princes to yourselves.
- Instead of submitting to them.
- Nothing is more evidently without the sanction of the Holy Spirit than his various offices.
- Advantages.
- Dignities and orders.
- Of which the Pope is more numerous than any monarch since the beginning of the world.
- The dominance of the popes surpasses that of each monarch in its pride.
- Splendor and luxury.
- These dignities and privileges were brought in not by the gentle.
- Gracious.
- And merciful Spirit of Christ.
- But by the spirit of the antichrist.
Farel then begins to describe in more detail the teachers of the early Church and, as Fuerbity himself refers to 1 Timothy 3. 2, proves that the Word of God was set aside in matters of celibacy, and that the Roman Church, deeply stained with impurity. corruption, could not be under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Officials present asked the monk to talk about the ban on eating meat. He immediately acknowledged that he could not prove this point with the scriptures. “This fulfills his promise admirably,” Farel said, “that he will care every last sigh and before everyone, according to the scriptures, what you have preached. Although the monk humbly apologized, representatives would be content with nothing less than a public retraction in the cathedral and demanded that he be arrested after that.
But as soon as he climbed into the pulpit, instead of retracting, he began to complain about injustice. He was again urged to retire; when he refused, people began to assault him and would probably have lost his life if the authorities did not intervene. Guy Fuerbity was taken to prison; but he did not retract or continue to argue. It was two years before he was released.