For since men would have to be subject to this head, not from
God's command, but from their personal good pleasure, it would
easily and in a short time be despised, and at last retain no
member; neither would it have to be forever confined to Rome
or any other place, but it might be wherever and in whatever
church God would grant a man fit for the [taking upon him such
a great] office. Oh, the complicated and confused state of
affairs [perplexity] that would result!

Therefore the Church can never be better governed and
preserved than if we all live under one head, Christ, and all
the bishops equal in office (although they be unequal in
gifts), be diligently joined in unity of doctrine, faith,
Sacraments, prayer, and works of love, etc., as St. Jerome
writes that the priests at Alexandria together and in common
governed the churches, as did also the apostles, and
afterwards all bishops throughout all Christendom, until the
Pope raised his head above all.

This teaching shows forcefully that the Pope is the very
Antichrist, who has exalted himself above, and opposed himself
against Christ because he will not permit Christians to be
saved without his power, which, nevertheless, is nothing, and
is neither ordained nor commanded by God. This is, properly
speaking to exalt himself above all that is called God as Paul
says, 2 Thess. 2, 4. Even the Turks or the Tartars, great
enemies of Christians as they are, do not do this, but they
allow whoever wishes to believe in Christ, and take bodily
tribute and obedience from Christians.