ARTICLE 18
Lutherans, as they have in their favor an appearance of truth, and press us with strong arguments.
ANTIDOTE TO ARTICLE 18
That there is an universal Church, that there has been, from the beginning of the world, and will be even to the end, we all acknowledge. The
appearance by which it may be recognized is the question. We place it in the word of God, or, (if any one would so put it,) since Christ is her head, we maintain that, as a man is recognised by his face, so she is to be beheld in Christ: as it is written,
“Where the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together,”
(<402428>Matthew 24:28.)
Again,
“There will be one sheepfold, and one Shepherd,”
(<431016>
John 10:16.)
But as the pure preaching of the gospel is not always exhibited, neither is the face of Christ always conspicuous, (<461119>
1 Corinthians 11:19.) Thence we infer that the Church is not always discernible by the eyes of men, as the examples of many ages testify. For in the time of the
prophets, the multitude of the wicked so prevailed, that the true Church was oppressed; so also in the time of Christ, we see that the little flock of God was hidden from men, while the ungodly usurped to themselves the name of Church. But what will those, who have eyes so clear that they boast the Church is always visible to them, make of Elijah, who thought that he alone remained of the Church? (<111910>
1 Kings 19:10.) In this, indeed, he was mistaken, but it is a proof that the Church of God may be equally concealed from us, especially since we know, from the prophecy of Paul, that defection was predicted, (<530203>2 Thessalonians 2:3.) Let us hold, then, that the Church is seen where Christ appears, and where his word is heard; as it is written,
“My sheep hear my voice,” (<431027>
John 10:27 ;) but that at the instant when the true doctrine was buried, the Church vanished from the eyes of men. This Church, we acknowledge with Paul,
to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3,) because she is the guardian of sound doctrine, and by her ministry propagates it to posterity, that it may not perish from the world. For, seeing she is the spouse of Christ, it is meet that she be subject to him. And, as Paul declares,
(<490524>Ephesians 5:24; <471102>2 Corinthians 11:2, 3,) her chastity
consists in not being led away from the simplicity of Christ. She errs not, because she follows the truth of God for her rule; but if she recedes from this truth, she ceases to be a spouse, and becomes an adulteress. Let those who tie down the Church to power in its ordinary sense, and to other external pomp, hear what Hilary says on that subject: “We do wrong in venerating the Church of God in roofs and edifices. Is it doubtful that in these Antichrist will sit? Safer to me are mountains, and woods, and lakes, and dungeons, and whirlpools; for in these, either hidden or immersed, did prophets prophesy.”
ARTICLE 19
That to the visible Church belong definitions in doctrine. If any
controversy or doubt arises with regard to any thing in the Scriptures, it belongs to the foresaid Church to define and determine.
PROOF. —Horrible confusion would arise, if the Church had not the power of pronouncing a definitive sentence on disputed doctrines, as in the present day the Lutherans would fain have a voice in the Chapter, and would boast the word of the Lord, did we not oppose to them this reply, which has no exception, — That it belongs to the Church to determine ultimately, without contradiction. In no other way could we shut their mouth. Then we ought to know that Scripture is like a nose of wax, because it can be bent hither and thither. But the determination of the Church is fixed and stable. For if the heretics choose to cavil at one, the next day another more stringent can be adopted.
ANTIDOTE TO ARTICLE 19
A definite rule as far as regards particular Churches is prescribed to us by Paul, when he says,
“Let the prophets speak two or three and let the others judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.” (<461429>
1 Corinthians 14:29)
If any dissension arise among the Churches, we acknowledge that the legitimate method of establishing concord, which has always been
observed, is for the pastors to assemble, and define from the word of God what is to be followed. But if we are to hold the determinations of the visible Church for oracles, it was the visible Church which Micah stood alone in resisting, (<112210>
1 Kings 22:10.) It was also the visible Church which said,
“Come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor the counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet,” (<241818>
Jeremiah 18:18.)
In short, in the time of Christ, the visible Church was represented by the high priest and his council, (<431828>
John 18:28.) For their hierarchy was much better founded, and was confirmed by a surer testimony than that on which those who in the present day usurp the title of Church plume themselves. Those, therefore, who will have their definition of the visible Church to be received indiscriminately, and without exception, lay the faithful under the necessity of denying Christ, abandoning the truth of God, and oftentimes adhering to impiety.