Melanchthon.
'As a bishop presides over several Churches, no one can think it wrong for a pontiff to preside at Rome over several bishops. The Church must have leaders to examine those who are called to the ministry, to judge in ecclesiastical causes, and watch over the teaching of the ministers.... If there were no such bishops, they ought to be created.[639] One sole pontiff may even serve to maintain harmony of faith between the different nations of christendom.'
Francis was delighted; but the more decided evangelicals looked upon this idea of an evangelical pope as a dream to be consigned to the Utopia described by Sir Thomas More. An accessory declaration of another kind was to please the king even more.
Melanchthon.
'As for the Roman pontiff's claim to transfer kingdoms from one prince to another, that concerns neither the Gospel nor the Church; and it is the business of kings to combat that unjust pretension.'
Now that these concessions were granted, the reformers were about to make the loud voice of the Reformation heard.
~JUSTIFICATION AND THE MASS.~
Bucer.
'The first of doctrines is the justification of sinners.'