The Third Work Is to Subdue the Proud

He puts down the mighty from the seat.

This work with the other following may easily be perceived by the two works above rehearsed. For like as he destroys the wise and subtle in their imaginations and good meanings: (to which they stick, and use their pride against such as fear God, who must suffer wrong, and their wit and righteousness must be condemned, which all is chiefly done for the love of God's word.) Even so he destroys and puts down the mighty and great men with all their power and dominion, upon which leaning, they used their cruelty and pride upon their inferiors, and on the good lowly ones, who must suffer punishment, death and all evil of them. And as he comforts them that must suffer wrong and shame for righteousness, the truth, and his word's sake, even so strengthens he them, that suffer hurt and wrong: but the more he comforts those that must suffer wrong, so much the more frightens he the other. But this all must be perceived and looked for in faith. For he destroys not the mighty, as soon as they have deserved it, suffering them sometimes until their power or authority be finished: for then does God keep them no more, nor can they keep themselves, but do vanish and fade of their own swing without any rumor or sedition: and then such as are oppressed come forth and rejoice without any uproar or noise. For the power of God is in them, which only abides.

Mark that she says not, he destroys the [reconstructed: seats] or thrones, but he puts the mighty down from the seats: nor does she say, that he leaves the oppressed underfoot, but sets them up. For as long as this world does endure, so long must Superiority, Rule, Power and the Thrones continue. But that they are evilly used, contrary to the will of God, in doing injury and wrong to such as are good, and that they do also delight in it, and exalt themselves in it, and use it not with the fear of God, to his praise, and defense of justice: that can he not suffer long. As experience of this may be seen in all stories, how that God sets up one kingdom and puts down another: how he raises one province, and puts down another, how he multiplies one nation, and destroys another: as may be seen in the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans, which nevertheless imagined their reigns to endure ever. Even so likewise does he not destroy reason, wisdom and laws, for they must be had, if the world shall be maintained: but pride, and the high-minded, who serve themselves with these gifts, fear not God, persecute the good and God's law, and abuse such beautiful gifts of God against him.

God's business is in that case now, that the wise and proud meaners, (if I may so call them) do most commonly join themselves with men of authority, and steer them against the truth, as David witnesses in Psalm 2, saying: The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers are come together, against the LORD and against his anointed. Because the law and right have always the wise, mighty and rich against them, that is: the world, with his great and valiant powers: therefore does the Holy Ghost comfort them by the mouth of his mother, that they be not abashed nor doubt, but let these wise, mighty and rich alone, seeing they shall not long endure. If the holy ones and learned, taking to them the mighty, wise, rulers, governors and the rich should all not stand against the truth, but be of her side, where should unrighteousness remain? Who should suffer wrong or evil? Not so. For the holy ones, mighty, superiors, the rich and the best of the world, must fight against God and his righteousness, and be the Devil's darlings, as witnesses the prophet Habakkuk in the first chapter, saying: His meat is picked and dainty. That is: the wicked spirit has a dainty tooth, he loves to eat of the sweetest, most daintiest and costliest dishes, as the Bear also does honey. Therefore are the learned, the holy Pharisees, the Herods and the rich even the Devil's dainties. Again whatever the world does refuse, as the poor, lowly, simple, vile, and despised, that does God choose, (as Saint Paul witnesses (1 Corinthians 1)) that he may suffer the vilest of the world to be mishandled of the best of the same: that so it be evidently known, that our salvation does not stand in man's power, but only in the power and hands of God, as Paul does also testify. From this comes that these bywords are commonly used: They that are learned, are perverted. And a ruler is venison in heaven. And here rich, there poor. For the learned allay not their heart's pride: the mighty their oppressing: nor do the rich despise their pleasures, and finally is it done that may be done.