Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chronology 1521–1528
- Bibliographical note
- 1 Thomas Müntzer, The Prague Protest
- 2 Thomas Müntzer, Sermon to the Princes (or An Exposition of the Second Chapter of Daniel)
- 3 Andreas Karlstadt, Letter from the Community of Orlamunde to the People of Allstedt
- 4 Conrad Grebel, Letter to Thomas Müntzer
- 5 Andreas Karlstadt, Whether One Should Proceed Slowly
- 6 Thomas Müntzer, A Highly Provoked Defense
- 7 Felix Manz, Protest and Defense
- 8 Anonymous, To the Assembly of the Common Peasantry
- 9 Hans Denck, On the Law of God
- 10 Hans Hut, On the Mystery of Baptism
- 11 Michael Sattler, The Schleitheim Articles
- 12 Balthasar Hubmaier, On the Sword
- 13 Hans Hergot, On the New Transformation of the Christian Life
- Appendices: Programs of the Peasants' War
- a The Eleven Mühlhausen Articles
- b The Twelve Articles of the Upper Swabian Peasants
- c The Memmingen Federal Constitution
- d The Document of Articles of the Black Forest Peasants
- e The Forty-six Frankfurt Articles
- f Michael Gaismair's Territorial Constitution for Tyrol
- Biographical notes
- Index of subjects
- Index of proper names
- Index of biblical references
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
b - The Twelve Articles of the Upper Swabian Peasants
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Chronology 1521–1528
- Bibliographical note
- 1 Thomas Müntzer, The Prague Protest
- 2 Thomas Müntzer, Sermon to the Princes (or An Exposition of the Second Chapter of Daniel)
- 3 Andreas Karlstadt, Letter from the Community of Orlamunde to the People of Allstedt
- 4 Conrad Grebel, Letter to Thomas Müntzer
- 5 Andreas Karlstadt, Whether One Should Proceed Slowly
- 6 Thomas Müntzer, A Highly Provoked Defense
- 7 Felix Manz, Protest and Defense
- 8 Anonymous, To the Assembly of the Common Peasantry
- 9 Hans Denck, On the Law of God
- 10 Hans Hut, On the Mystery of Baptism
- 11 Michael Sattler, The Schleitheim Articles
- 12 Balthasar Hubmaier, On the Sword
- 13 Hans Hergot, On the New Transformation of the Christian Life
- Appendices: Programs of the Peasants' War
- a The Eleven Mühlhausen Articles
- b The Twelve Articles of the Upper Swabian Peasants
- c The Memmingen Federal Constitution
- d The Document of Articles of the Black Forest Peasants
- e The Forty-six Frankfurt Articles
- f Michael Gaismair's Territorial Constitution for Tyrol
- Biographical notes
- Index of subjects
- Index of proper names
- Index of biblical references
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
Summary
The basic and just articles of the whole peasantry and the subjects of spiritual and secular lords, by whom they feel themselves burdened.
To the Christian reader, the peace and grace of God through Christ.
Because the peasants are assembled, there are many antichristians who now find reason to disparage the gospel, saying, “These are the fruits of the new gospel: to be obedient to no one, to rise up and rebel everywhere, to form infantry units with great violence, to band together to reform spiritual and temporal authorities, to expel them, perhaps even to kill them.” The following articles reply to all these godless, superficial critics, first, to stop them from disparaging the word of God, and second, to justify on Christian grounds the disobedience, indeed the rebellion, of all the peasants (Romans 1).
First, the gospel is not a cause of rebellions or insurrections, because it speaks of Christ the promised Messiah, whose words and life teach nothing but love, peace, patience, and unity, so that all who believe in Christ become loving, peaceful, patient and united. If the basis of all the peasants' articles (as will be clearly seen) is directed toward hearing the gospel and living according to it, how can antichristians call the gospel a cause of rebellion and disobedience?
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Radical Reformation , pp. 231 - 238Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1991