And so that the preaching of the gospel could flourish, he deposited this treasure in the church. Children of God, should give the church the authority it deserves, in short, should act as one of the flock.
The task of the second Elijah was, according to Malachi, to enlighten the minds and “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
The second Elijah's task, according to Malachi, was to enlighten their minds and “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and they.
In mentioning all these things Paul did not intend to credit to himself even a particle apart from God. This he briefly explains elsewhere: “Our
The task of the second Elijah was, according to Malachi, to enlighten the minds and "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and of the mind and the renewing of the heart, warns that it is sacrilegious for a man to claim any part of one for himself. Meanwhile , whoever presents himself with a spirit of teaching before the ministers appointed by God, will know as a result that with reason this manner of teaching was pleasing to God, and also that with good reason this yoke of moderation was imposed upon the believers.
INVISIBLE AND VISIBLE CHURCH
THE LIMITATION OF OUR JUDGMENT
THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH AND OUR APPLICATION OF THEM TO JUDGMENT
Under it, therefore, individual churches are included, distributed in towns and villages according to human needs, so that each has the rightful name and authority of a church. We do not by our vote confirm such persons as members of the church, but leave to them such place as they occupy among God's people, until we legally take it from them.
MARKS AND AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH
If she has the ministry of the Word and honors it, if she has the ministry of the sacraments, she deserves without any doubt the status of a church. He values the authority of the church so highly that when it is violated, he believes his own authority has been diminished.
THE INVIOLABLE VALIDITY OF THE MARKS
With these words, Paul means that the church is the faithful guardian of God's truth so that it does not perish in the world. From this it follows that separation from the church is the denial of God and Christ.
HEEDING THE MARKS GUARDS AGAINST CAPRICIOUS SEPARATION
But again, if, devoid of Word and Sacraments, it advertises the name of the Church, we must as carefully guard against such frauds as we must avoid rashness and pride on the other side. But as all men are somewhat overshadowed by ignorance, we must either leave no church to remain, or else we must tolerate error in those matters which may be unknown without injury to the sum of religion, and without loss of salvation.
SCANDAL IN THE CHURCH NO OCCASION FOR LEAVING IT
But in order that they may know that the church is at the same time mixed with good and bad men, let them hear the parable from the lips of Christ who. But if God declares that the church will labor under this evil—burdened with the admixture of the wicked—until the Day of Judgment, they are looking in vain for a blemished church without any blemish.
PAUL AND THE NEEDS OF HIS CONGREGATIONS But, they cry out, it is intolerable that a plague of vices rages far and wide
Indeed, because they think that there is no church in which there is no perfect purity and integrity of life, they depart in hatred of wickedness from the lawful church, while they think to depart from the faction of the wicked. I ask, what would they have done with the Galatians, all but deserters of the gospel, who rage with such fury against the churches of the present day, among whom the same apostle still knew the church [.
FELLOWSHIP WITH WICKED PERSONS
But it is one thing to flee from the good company of the wicked; another, by hating them, to renounce the fellowship of the church. But in thinking that it is sacrilege to eat of the bread of the Lord with the ungodly, they are much more rigid than Paul.
THE FALSE CLAIM OF PERFECTION COMES FROM DISTORTED OPINION
Because God wanted the community of his church to be maintained in this external society, he who out of hatred of the wicked breaks the sign of that society walks a path that inclines to a fall of the community of the saints. The imperfect holiness of the church does not justify division, but gives rise to the exercise in it of the forgiveness of sins, 17-22).
THE HOLINESS OF THE CHURCH
THE EXAMPLE OF THE PROPHETS
THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST AND OF THE APOSTLES Now what was the world like in the time of Christ and the apostles? Even
First, he is the one who voluntarily leaves the external community of the church (where the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are administered) without excuse. Secondly, neither the vices of the few nor the vices of the many hinder us in any way from properly professing our faith there in ceremonies ordained by God.
FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND THE CHURCH
Therefore, the building of the heavenly Jerusalem must come first, and the goodness of God must have a place in it, so that the. Accordingly, we are initiated into the society of the Church through the sign of baptism, which teaches us that entrance into God's family is not possible for us unless we are first cleansed of our filthiness by His goodness.
LASTING FORGIVENESS FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH!
So also in other places, when he announces that the people whom he scattered in his anger will be gathered again, he says: "I will cleanse them from all the wickedness with which they have sinned against me" [Jeremiah 33: 8, cf. subsection Therefore we must fully believe that by the generosity of God, mediated by the merits of Christ, through the Sanctification of the Spirit, sins have been and are daily forgiven to us who have been received and grafted into the body of the church.
THE POWER OF THE KEYS
Therefore we must fully believe that by the generosity of God, mediated by the merits of Christ, through the Sanctification of the Spirit, sins have been and are daily forgiven to us who have been received and grafted into the body of the church. in this mainly appears the power of the keys which the Lord has given to the community of believers. Therefore let each one of us consider it his own duty to seek forgiveness only where the Lord has placed it.
ALL BELIEVERS ARE TO SEEK FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS
GOD’S ABUNDANT GRACE TO SINFUL BELIEVERS UNDER THE OLD COVENANT: THE LAW
GOD’S ABUNDANT GRACE TO SINFUL BELIEVERS UNDER THE OLD COVENANT: THE PROPHETS
GOD’S ABUNDANT GRACE TO SINFUL BELIEVERS UNDER THE NEW COVENANT
But if we believe in the Bible - which explicitly declares that in Christ the Lord's grace and tenderness appeared in full, the wealth of his mercy was poured out [. Peter, who heard that anyone who does not acknowledge the name of Christ among men will be denied in the presence of God's angels [.
GOD’S ABUNDANT GRACE TOWARD DELINQUENT CHURCHES
Finally, by the Order of the Creed itself F34, we are taught that constant grace for sins remains in the Church of Christ. For when the church has been established, so to speak, absolution is added to it.
ARE ONLY UNCONSCIOUS SINS FORGIVABLE?
THE QUESTION OF “SECOND REPENTANCE” IN THE ANCIENT CHURCH
For the fathers of the church knew well that the saints often wavered in unbelief, sometimes uttered superfluous oaths, now and then flared up in anger, yes, even broke out in an open railing, and were moreover afflicted with other evils which the Lord thoroughly detests . This they did, not because they considered it difficult to obtain forgiveness for their sins before the Lord; rather, with this earnestness they wished to prevent others from plunging hastily into iniquities which would merit their being cut off from the fellowship of the church.
A COMPARISON OF THE FALSE AND THE TRUE CHURCH
- THE BASIC DISTINCTION
- THE ROMAN CHURCH AND ITS CLAIM
- THE FALSE CHURCH, DESPITE ITS HIGH PRETENSIONS, SHOWS THAT IT DOES NOT HEAR GOD’S WORD
- THE CHURCH IS FOUNDED UPON GOD’S WORD In this same way the Romanists vex us today and frighten the uneducated
- DEFENSE AGAINST THE CHARGE OF SCHISM AND HERESY
- CHRIST’S HEADSHIP THE CONDITION OF UNITY Cyprian, also following Paul, derives the source of concord of the entire
- THE CONDITION OF THE ROMAN CHURCH RESEMBLES THAT OF ISRAEL UNDER JEROBOAM
- DESPITE THE IDOLATRY OF THE JEWS, THEIR CHURCH REMAINED
- THE PAPAL CHURCH CORRUPT AND TO BE REPUDIATED Come now, let the papists deny if they can—however much they
- WHY WE MUST SEPARATE FROM THE CORRUPTED CHURCH
- VESTIGES OF THE CHURCH UNDER THE PAPACY Of old, certain peculiar prerogatives of the church remained among the
- THE SOUND ELEMENTS DO NOT MAKE THE CORRUPTED CHURCH A TRUE CHURCH
Thus, many born and raised as slaves boast without hesitation that they are children of God and the church. Those who, by creating discord, break the unity of the church are called heretics and schismatics.
THE DOCTORS AND MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH, THEIR ELECTION AND OFFICE
- WHY DOES GOD NEED MEN’S SERVICE?
- THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MINISTRY FOR THE CHURCH Paul shows by these words that this human ministry which God uses to
- THE PRESTIGE OF THE PREACHING OFFICE IN SCRIPTURE
- THE SEVERAL SORTS OF OFFICERS ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4
- TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT OFFICES
- APOSTLES AND PASTORS
- THE PASTOR IS BOUND TO HIS CHURCH
- THE DESIGNATION OF MINISTERS OF THE WORD: PRESBYTERS
- THE DEACONS
- ORDERLY CALLING IS REQUISITE
- OUTER AND INNER CALL
- WHO CAN BECOME A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH? HOW THIS TAKES PLACE
- WHO SHOULD CHOOSE MINISTERS?
- HUMAN AGENCY
- THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE
- ORDINATION
But the second concerns those who had dedicated themselves to caring for the poor and sick. But it is clear that this happened in the case of the deacons, of Paul and.
THE CONDITION OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH, AND THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT IN USE
BEFORE THE PAPACY F71
- FIDELITY OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH TO THE SCRIPTURAL ARCHETYPE
- THE POSITION OF THE BISHOP
- THE CHIEF DUTY OF BISHOP AND PRESBYTERS But as far as concerns the office with which we are now dealing, both
- ARCHBISHOPS AND PATRIARCHS
- THE OFFICE OF DEACON
- THE USE OF CHURCH POSSESSIONS
- FOURFOLD DIVISION OF REVENUES
- CHURCH TREASURE DISTRIBUTED TO THE POOR At first they spent very little on the embellishment of sacred things;
- THE PREPARATORY STAGES OF THE OFFICE These which we have listed were the ministries of the ancient church
- PAUL’S DIRECTIONS MAINLY FOLLOWED
- CONSENT IN EPISCOPAL ELECTIONS, TO THE TIME OF THEODORET
- BALANCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND CLERGY It was with very good reason, I confess, that the Council of Laodicea
- CLERGY AND POLITICAL RULERS
- THE PROCEDURE IN ORDINATION
- CONSECRATION BY THE METROPOLITAN This was done everywhere without exception. Then a different custom
So we read in the canons attributed to the apostles: "We decree that the bishop has the affairs of the church in his power. For all the bishops of the province generally assembled in the capital to consecrate the archbishop.
THE ANCIENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT WAS COMPLETELY OVERTHROWN BY THE TYRANNY
OF THE PAPACY
- SCANDALOUS NEGLECT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EPISCOPATE
- THE COMMUNITY DEPRIVED OF THE RIGHT TO ELECT ITS BISHOP
- NEGLECT HAS LED TO THE INTERVENTION OF PRINCES But when they say that this was devised as a remedy they are lying. We
- ABUSES IN THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PRESBYTER (“PRIEST”) AND DEACON
- ORDINATION IS TRAVESTIED
- THE NATURE OF BENEFICES
- MONSTROUS ABUSES
- MONKS AS “PRESBYTERS”
- BENEFICED AND HIRED PRIESTS
- PRETENSES OF THE CLERICAL ORDERS
- BISHOPS AND PARISH PRIESTS
- EARLY STAGES OF THIS EVIL: GREGORY AND BERNARD As early as the age of Gregory there existed, evidently, some seeds of this
- CLAIM AND ACTUALITY
- THE PRIESTS’ MORAL CONDUCT
- THE DEACONS
- DISTRIBUTION OF CHURCH INCOME
- FALSE AND TRUE SPLENDOR OF THE CHURCH But here they use a most beautiful deception. They say that the dignity of
- FRAUDULENT AND HONEST EXPENDITURE OF CHURCH FUNDS
- CLERICAL POSSESSIONS AND POWER
Of the priests created in the Roman Church, some are monks, others what they call "seculars." It is certain that the word of Christ and the observance of the ancient church exclude them from the office of elder.
THE PRIMACY OF THE ROMAN SEE F162
- THE REQUIREMENT OF SUBMISSION TO ROME To this point we have reviewed those orders of the church which existed
- THE OFFICE OF HIGH PRIEST OF THE OLD COVENANT CANNOT BE CITED AS EVIDENCE FOR PAPAL SUPREMACY
- JESUS’ WORD TO PETER DID NOT ESTABLISH THIS LORDSHIP OF THE CHURCH
- PERVERSE CLAIM CONCERNING THE KEYS How shamefully they twist those passages which refer to binding and
- HONOR, NOT POWER, ACCORDED TO PETER But we nowhere read that the statement “You are Peter, and upon this
- THE ONE FOUNDATION
- THE PLACE OF PETER AMONG THE APOSTLES ACCORDING TO THE ACCOUNT OF SCRIPTURE
- THE CHURCH CAN HAVE NO HUMAN HEAD
- CHRIST’S HEADSHIP NOT TRANSFERABLE But suppose, as the Romanists would have it, that it were good and
- UNITY IN CHRIST, NOT IN A HUMAN MONARCH Paul several times paints a living image of the church for us. No mention is
- IF PETER HIMSELF HAD HAD SUPREMACY, ROME COULD NOT CLAIM IT
- RANKING OF THE OTHER PATRIARCHATES Let us assume that (as they fancy) the primacy was transferred from
- ON THE SOJOURN OF PETER IN ROME However, I do not see how their account of Peter’s presiding over the
- SLENDER AND INCONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE Paul was later brought to Rome as a prisoner [ <442816>
- THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CHURCH AT ROME DURING THE EARLIEST PERIOD
- The opinion (which had in some manner or other become prevalent) that it was founded and established by Peter’s ministry was of very
- Because Rome was the capital city of the Empire, the men there were probably more excellent in doctrine, prudence, skill, and breadth
- Besides these, there is a third reason: when the churches of the East, Greece, and even Africa were agitated with much dissension among
- ACCORDING TO EARLY CHURCH TEACHING, THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH PLAINLY REQUIRED
I still do not want to admit for that reason that the same should prevail in the government of the church. Christ (says he) is present with us. the men's service, which he has placed over the leadership of the church.
THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE ROMAN PAPACY
POSITION OF THE ROMAN SEE IN THE COUNCILS OF NICAEA AND EPHESUS
What shall I say of the second Council of Ephesus, where Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, although Leo's envoys were present, presided in his own right? The Romanists will object that this was not an orthodox council because it condemned the saints. Flavian acquitted Eutyches and tolerated his impiety. But when the synod was called, when the bishops divided the sees among themselves, there certainly sat the legates of the Roman Church with the others, just as if they were in a holy and lawful council.
IN THE COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON AND THE FIFTH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
So at the Council of Carthage, at which Augustine was present, we notice that not the legates of the Roman see, but Aurelius, the archbishop of the country, presided, even when the authority of the Roman pontiff was in dispute. Ambrose presided, who afterwards had great influence with the emperor; there is no mention of the Roman pope.
THE PROUD TITLES OF THE LATER ROMAN BISHOPS NOT YET KNOWN IN THE EARLY PERIOD
Why do you justify the claims of a handful from whom has arisen an arrogance contrary to the laws of the Church. Wherever a bishop may be, in Rome, or Gubbio, or Constantinople, or Reggio, he is of the same merit and the same priesthood.
GREGORY I REFUSED THE TITLE “UNIVERSAL BISHOP”
But his statement that this honor was offered to Leo at the Council of Chalcedon has not the appearance of truth, for no such thing can be read in the acts of that synod. Gregory was therefore mistaken in thinking that the Council of Chalcedon offered this title to the Roman see.
ORIGIN OF ROMAN JURISDICTION I come now to the jurisdiction which the Roman pontiff asserts he
ORIGIN OF ROMAN JURISDICTIONI come now to the jurisdiction which the Roman Pontiff claims. This misfortune compelled him to come to Rome, that by the authority of the Romans he might both subdue the anger of his enemies and strengthen the pious in their distress.
THE PECULIAR FEATURES OF THE ROMAN POWER OF THAT TIME
MUTUAL ADMONITION
AUTHORITY IN THE CONVENING OF SYNODS As to the convening of synods, it was the duty of each metropolitan to
We do not deny that the bishop of Rome was one of the archbishops, but we refuse to accept what the Romanists now assert—that he had dominion over everything.
USE OF FORGED DOCUMENTS
So childishly do they bear false witness under the pretense of antiquity that even blind men can sense it. So, whether from malice or naivety, I do not know Gratian, in referring to that decree, "That those who appeal across the sea are cut off from communion," adds the exception, "unless perhaps they have a appeal to the Roman see." F216 What can you do with these animals, so lacking in common sense that they besides the law that one thing for whose sake, as everyone sees, the law was made.
CONSTANTINE, BISHOP MELCHIADES, AND THE SYNOD OF ARIES
If the Roman sea has supreme power without appeal, why does Melchiades allow such a terrible humiliation to be inflicted on himself, that the bishop of ArlesF217 is elected over him. It is Constantine, who, they boast, devoted not only all his effort but almost all the resources of his empire to improving the prestige of the Roman sea.
FALSIFICATION AND USURPATION
We see, then, how far the Pope of Rome was then from the supreme dominion which he claims was given to him by Christ over all the churches, and which he falsely asserts that he held in all times by the consent of the whole world. Thus he appoints Hormisdas, Bishop of Seville, as his vicar in Spain: but everywhere he makes this exception, that he gives appointments of this kind on condition that the ancient privileges of the metropolis remain intact.
PAPAL POWER AT THE TIME OF GREGORY I By Gregory’s time that ancient method was already much changed. For
Besides, he speaks there of the Byzantine primate, who, after being condemned by a provincial synod, rejected the whole decision. THE LIMITATIONS OF THE OFFICE IN GREGORY This, then, was all the power of the Roman bishop to hold.
LIMITATIONS OF THE OFFICE UNDER GREGORY This, then, was the entire power of the Roman bishop, to take a stand
He takes upon himself the right to correct those who have sinned; if everyone does their duty, it equals the rest. However, since he cannot simply fully devote himself to the episcopal ministry, he seems to be in a labyrinth.
ROME AND CONSTANTINOPLE IN CONFLICT OVER SUPREMACY
HOW LEO RESENTED THE RECOGNITION OF CONSTANTINOPLE
When his followers saw themselves defeated, they quietly desisted from that obstinacy; for they granted that he should be regarded as second patriarch.
PRIDE OF JOHN THE FASTER, AND MODESTY OF GREGORY
THE EVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PAPAL SUPREMACY
Yet this advantage of the emperor would avail the Roman nothing, except for what happened afterwards. Now, though it is probable that churches had already everywhere degenerated, it is evident that in Gaul and Germany the old form of the church was at that time entirely obliterated.
THE DECAY OF THE CHURCH UNTIL THE TIME OF BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX
DECLINE OF THE CHURCH IN THE TIME OF BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX. zealously as they should have. Few," says he, "heed the mouth of the lawgiver; everything into his hands.
THE PRESENT-DAY PAPACY IN ITS CLAIMS TO POWER But now, though we today grant the Roman pontiff that eminence and
THE MODERN PAPASHIP IN ITS CLAIMS TO POWER But now, even though today we grant to the Roman Pope that eminence and... In order that these kinds of edicts might have more weight, they have wrongly substituted the names of ancient Popes, as if things were so established from the very beginning; while it is perfectly certain that everything more attributed to the Pope than what we are said to have attributed to him by ancient councils, is new and recently invented.
GREGORY CONDEMNED WHAT POPES NOW ALARM I shall not deal with them with utmost rigor, as I might. Against this great
THE CORRUPTION OF THE PRESENT-DAY PAPACY But that I may not be compelled to pursue and examine individual points,
THE CORRUPTION OF THE MODERN PAPASHIP But that I should not be forced to pursue and investigate individual points. For they act like all those who, in order to establish the monarchy of the Caesars, would praise the ancient state of the Roman republic; that is to say, that they would borrow the praises of liberty to embellish their tyranny.
DOES THERE EXIST IN ROME ANY CHURCH OR BISHOPRIC AT ALL?
The first task of the bishop's office is to teach the people from the word of God. The third is to exhort and exhort, also to correct those who sin, and to keep the people under holy discipline.
THE APOSTASY
He will not be the head of the church, who, cutting and severing the church from Christ, its true head, tears and corrodes it in itself. Once upon a time, Rome was indeed the mother of all churches; but after it began to be the seat of Antichrist, it ceased to be what it once was.
THE KINGDOM OF ANTICHRIST
THE PAPACY FAR REMOVED FROM A TRUE CHURCH ORDER
THE WICKED BEHAVIOR AND THE HERETICAL TEACHINGS OF THE POPES STAND IN STARK CONTRAST
As if there were any doubt what kind of religion the popes, with the whole college of cardinals, professed long ago, and profess to-day. This is the first article of that secret theology which reigns among them: there is no God.
APOSTASY OF JOHN XXII
Although it is well known to all who know Rome, the Romanist theologians do not cease to boast that it was provided by Christ's prerogative that the pope could not err, for it was said to Peter: "I have prayed for you that your faith does not fail” [. Because if they want to apply everything that was said to Peter to Peter's successors, it will follow that they are all Satanic, since the Lord also said this to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan.
MORAL ABANDONMENT OF THE POPES
It will be as easy for us to turn this last saying back upon them, as for them to throw the other against us.
THE CARDINALS
THE POWER OF THE CHURCH WITH RESPECT TO ARTICLES OF FAITH;
- TASK AND LIMITS OF THE CHURCH’S DOCTRINAL AUTHORITY
- THE DOCTRINAL AUTHORITY OF MOSES AND THE PRIESTS
- THE DOCTRINAL AUTHORITY OF THE PROPHETS Ezekiel felicitously describes the general character of the prophets’ power
- THE DOCTRINAL AUTHORITY OF THE APOSTLES Now if you look upon the apostles, they are indeed commended with
- UNITY AND MULTIPLICITY OF REVELATION
- SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION OF THE WORD OF GOD IN THE OLD COVENANT
- THE APOSTLES AUTHORIZED TO TEACH WHAT CHRIST COMMANDED
- NOT EVEN THE APOSTLES WERE FREE TO GO BEYOND THE WORD: MUCH LESS THEIR SUCCESSORS
- THE ROMAN CLAIM
- THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH DOES NOT ANNUL ITS BOND TO THE WORD
- THE CHURCH NOT INFALLIBLE
- WORD AND SPIRIT BELONG INSEPARABLY TOGETHER That my readers may better understand the pivotal point of this question,
- TRADITION SUBORDINATE TO SCRIPTURE?
- CONTRADICTION IN DOCTRINAL DECREES OF THE CHURCH
- FEEBLENESS OF OUR OPPONENTS’ EXAMPLES The examples that our opponents use help them not one bit. They say
They assume that a universal council is the true image of the church. Here too they mutter that the church had to add something to the writings of the apostles, or that the apostles themselves had to add something afterwards.
COUNCILS AND THEIR AUTHORITY
- TWO PREFATORY REMARKS
- TRUE AND FALSE COUNCILS
- THE TRUTH CAN ALSO SUPPORT AND ASSERT ITSELF IN THE CHURCH WITHOUT AND AGAINST THE “PASTORS”
- DEJECTION OF THE PASTORS FORETOLD This, someone will say, may have prevailed among the Jews: our age,
- THE NEED TO JUDGE THEM WITH DISCRIMINATION Still, let no one understand these words as if I meant to undermine the
- THE TRUTH CAN ALSO STAND AGAINST COUNCILS Hence it is easy to answer that other objection concerning general councils
- THE VALIDITY OF CONCILIAR DECISIONS
- COUNCILS AGAINST COUNCILS
- HUMAN FAILINGS IN THE COUNCILS
- HUMAN FALLIBILITY IN THE COUNCILS Leo, the Roman pontiff, does not hesitate to charge the Council of
- NO BLIND OBEDIENCE
- THE ACTUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF COUNCILS FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
- FALSE EVALUATION OF CONCILIAR DECISIONS ON THE PART OF THE ROMAN CHURCH
Therefore, we must by no means admit that the church consists of the assembly of pastors, whom God nowhere supposes to be good forever, but has declared that they will sometimes be bad. Christ asks everyone to drink from the cup that he offers at the Supper [.
THE POWER OF MAKING LAWS, IN WHICH THE POPE, WITH HIS SUPPORTERS, HAS EXERCISED
UPON SOULS THE MOST SAVAGE TYRANNY AND BUTCHERY
THE BASIC QUESTION
I assert the one point that necessity ought not to be imposed on consciences in those matters from which they have been freed by Christ; and unless they are delivered, as we have before taught, they cannot rest with God. They must acknowledge one King, their savior Christ, and ought to be governed by one law of liberty, the holy Word of the gospel, if they would retain the grace they once obtained in Christ.
THE ROMAN CONSTITUTIONS ENSLAVE CONSCIENCES These Solons even fancy that their constitutions are laws of freedom, a
I do not now discuss the great impiety with which they approve the observance of their laws, while they teach men to seek forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and salvation from this observance, and while they put the whole religion and the sum of piety into It. THE ROMAN CONSTITUTIONS REPORT LAWS These Solons even think that their constitutions are laws of liberty, a.
THE NATURE OF CONSCIENCE
BONDAGE AND FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE
THE MEANING OF HUMAN LAWS FOR THE CONSCIENCE Now let us return to human laws. If they were passed to lay scruples
THE CHURCH HAS NO RIGHT TO SET UP INDEPENDENT CONSTITUTIONS TO BIND CONSCIENCES
For every obligation to observe laws is directed to the general purpose, not to the things commanded. Since this right was not known to the apostles, and since the servants of the Lord often denied it to the ministers of the church, I wonder that anyone, contrary to the example of the apostles and against the clear prohibition of God, dared to take advantage of this right and dare to defend it today.
ALL ARBITRARY LORDSHIP IS AN ENCROACHMENT UPON GOD’S KINGDOM
DIRECTIONS TO DETERMINE WHICH HUMAN CONSTITUTIONS ARE INADMISSIBLE
We therefore regard all constitutions as impious, in the observance of which the worship of God rules to consist. Sufficiently clear are the passages in the letter to the Galatians, where Paul urges that consciences (which should be governed by God alone) should not be entangled in snares - especially chapter 5 [Galatians 5:1-12].
THE ROMAN CONSTITUTIONS ARE, ACCORDING TO THE FOREGOING PRINCIPLES, TO BE REJECTED
In contradicting them, we make common cause with Paul, who under no circumstances allows faithful consciences to be reduced to human servitude. THE PAPAL CONSTITUTIONS deny GOD'S LAW Moreover to this evil thing is added, that when religion once begins to be.
THE PAPAL CONSTITUTIONS DENY GOD’S LAW Moreover, this evil thing is added, that when religion once begins to be
First, it is a grave offense for a man to despise, judge, and cast out another because of trivial and (in God's eyes) indifferent things. But now, as if this were but a slight evil, those unimportant elements of this world (as Paul calls them in the Galatians [Galatians 4:9]) are valued more than the heavenly oracles of God.
ROMAN CONSTITUTIONS MEANINGLESS AND USELESS In these same constitutions there are also two other considerable faults of
Again, the fact that these constitutions seem to afford a suitable education in self-abasement, and keep the spirit of man pinned to the ground by its yoke, is another compliment. Finally, they appear to be wisely conceived, as they apparently seek to restrain the pleasures of the flesh, and to subject them to the rigors of abstinence.
THEIR MYSTERIES ARE MOCKERIES
he tears off these masks, so that the simple will not be deceived by false pretenses. Indeed, Paul knew that all counterfeit worship in the church was condemned, and that the more it pleases human nature, the more it is suspected by believers; he knew that the false image of outward humility is so far from true humility that it is easily distinguished from it; finally he knew that elementary discipline is worth no more than physical training.
THE ROMAN CHURCH CONSTITUTIONS, THROUGH THEIR SENSELESS ACCUMULATION, BRING JEWISH VEXATIONS
Likewise, the hypocrites attached great importance to these new-fangled canons, which overthrow discipline rather than preserve it.
CEREMONIES TO SHOW FORTH CHRIST, NOT TO HIDE HIM
Shall no ceremonies then (you will ask) be given to the ignorant to help them in their inexperience. I only claim that the means used should show Christ, not hide Him. F340 Therefore God has given us a few ceremonies, not at all annoying, to show Christ present.
CORRUPTION OF CEREMONIES REGARDED AS EXPIATORY SACRIFICES
He was absent, I say, not in power, but in the means by which he might be made known. Finally (since the stomach is a cunning craftsman), many ceremonies seem to have been invented by greedy priests as snares to catch money.
GENERAL APPLICATION OF COMMON INSIGHTS Though I may not seem to be teaching a permanent doctrine concerning
Our adversaries can therefore in no way excuse that they let the poor people seek in the external trifles a righteousness which they can offer to God, and which will support them before the tribunal of heaven. Moreover, this is not an error that deserves censure, that they show ceremonies that are not understood, as a scene on the stage or a magical one.
THE ROMAN CONSTITUTIONS CANNOT, AS THEY ASSUME, COUNT AS CHURCH CONSTITUTIONS
There is nothing involved, nothing obscure, nothing ambiguous in these words which forbid the universal church to add to or take away from God's Word as it concerns the worship of the Lord and the precepts of salvation. But this (they assert) was spoken only of the law, which was followed by prophecies, and the whole ministry of the gospel.
THE ROMAN CONSTITUTIONS DO NOT REACH BACK TO THE APOSTLES, OR EVEN TO THE “APOSTOLIC TRADITION”
Indeed, children and jesters so aptly imitate these that they may seem the most suitable preachers of such sacred rites. POST-APOSTOLIC ACCUMULATION OF USELESS RITES Not to be too prolix in making a complete list of these "traditions," we.
POST-APOSTOLIC ACCUMULATION OF USELESS RITES Not to be too prolix in making a complete list of these “traditions,” we
The later each one was, the more he struggled in stupid rivalry with his predecessors not to be surpassed in the invention of novelties. How different is this from what the Roman masters would extort from men—that every little ceremony among them should be regarded as apostolic.
AUGUSTINE INTERPRETED
Examples of these include the annual ritual celebration of the Lord's Passion and resurrection, his ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, and any similar event that has occurred, which is celebrated by the whole church, wherever it spreads. F350 Since Augustine enumerated so few examples, who does not see that he intended to refer to authors worthy of credit and reverence of the rites then in use, that is, only those simple, rare, and soberly useful rites to maintain church order.
THE DECREE OF <441520> ACTS 15:20
OBLIGATION TO WEAK BRETHREN
THE APPEAL TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH CONTRADICTS THE EVIDENCE OF SCRIPTURE
The Babylonians who were to live in Samaria were torn and devoured by wild animals because they were ignorant of the judgments and statutes of the god of that land. And pious kings are often praised because they acted according to all precepts and did not turn aside either to the right or to the left [.
PERVERSE WORSHIP AN ABOMINATION TO GOD Many marvel why the Lord so sharply threatens to astound the people
From this we understand that part of the homage paid to him consists simply in worshiping him as he commands, without mixing in any inventions of our own. 2 Kings 16:10], might seem to enhance the adornment of the Temple, as it was Ahaz. intended to offer sacrifices there to the one God, which he would do more magnificently than at the original old altar.
REFUTATION OF ROMANIST COUNTEREVIDENCE The supporters of superstitions also allege that Samuel sacrificed in
It is certainly true that our own wisdom and that of all men must become foolish, that we may let him alone be wise. For what could the human mind produce but all carnal and foolish things that really resemble their authors?
CHRIST’S WARNING AGAINST THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES
In short, every accidental invention by which men attempt to worship God is nothing but a pollution of true holiness.
NECESSITY OF CHURCH CONSTITUTIONS
They are not to be considered necessary for salvation, and thus bind the conscience by scruples; nor are they to be connected with the worship of God, and piety is thus to be accommodated in them.
THE PROBLEM OF RIGHT CHURCH CONSTITUTIONS We therefore have a most excellent and dependable mark to distinguish
TRUE DECORUM IN WORSHIP, NOT THEATRICAL SHOW As a consequence, we shall not say that decorum exists where there is