Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

VVhat is the power of the Church concerning Doctrine?

It is of two sorts. Common, and Speciall, Common is the com∣mon right belonging to the whole Church, not to the Pastors onely, but to euerie member thereof. 1 To keepe and preserue the scriptures with verie great faithfulnesse, like a Notarie or Register; diligently to read them, and not by way of authority to iudge of the scriptures, for the Church it selfe is subiect to the scriptures, but to iudge according to the scriptures, and to distinguish and discerne like a Moderator, the true, naturall, and right scriptures, from the false, imaginarie, and counter∣feit, the spirit of God being their guide, for the sheepe know the voyce of the shepheard, Iohn. 10.4 2. To know, admit, and ap∣prooue, true Doctrine out of the scriptures. Iohn. 5.39. Search the Scriptures. And to reproue false doctrine. Mat, 7.15 Beware of false Prophets. And Luke, 12.1. Take heede of

the leauen of the Pharises. And Galat. 1.8. If any man teach ano∣ther doctrine, let him be accursed. Whereupon Augustine lib. 11. Contra Faustum, cap. 5. The scripture is set in a seat on high, where∣unto euerie faithfull and godly vnderstanding must stoope. And in a∣nother place, lib. de Religione, cap. 31. It is lawfull with pure hearts to know the eternall Law, but to iudge it is altogether vnlawfull and wicked.

Speciall power the Church hath none to frame new Articles of faith, or to teach any thing beside the word of God written, but, like a Cryer, to publish and preach the scriptures, to propound onely the word of the Prophets and Apostles, to omit nothing, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alter nothing, to adde or inuent nothing of their ownea 1.1, and to referre all things (according to the word) to Gods glorie, and the edification of the Church: Furthermore, so to expound and prooue the Principles out of the Canonicall scriptures, and to interptete the same Scriptures not out of any preiudicate o∣pinion, or the priuate sense of any one man, but out of the fountaines and originals, by examination of euerie se∣uerall word, by obseruation of the style, and phrase of the scrip∣ture, by consideration of the state of the question and matter in hand, and of the things going before and comming after, and by conference of one scripture with another, that they may agree with the Analogie, rule, and square of faith, briefly comprehen∣ded in the Apostles Creeda 1.2. Lastly, to take away all ordinances, or rather phantasies of all men, of what degree soeuer they bee, that the decrees of God alone may remaine firme and establi∣shed. 2. Cor. 4.7. These are those spirituall weapons, mightieb 1.3 through God to cast downe strong holds, whereby the faithfull soul∣diers of God may cast downe the imaginations, and euerie high thing, which is exalted against the knowledge of God; wherby they may build the house of Christ, ouerthrow Sathan, feed the sheep, driue away the Wolues, instruct them that are apt to learne, to proue them that are stubborne and froward; lastly whereby they may lighten, and if neede be thunder; and resting them∣selues vpon the power of Christ, may rule and gouerne all, from the highest to the lowest; but all things according to the word of God, and so, as no man must take vnto him∣selfe any authoritie to teach in the Church, eyther by writing,

or word, without a lawfull calling, where indeede Order preuaileth, which no man with a good conscience can despise, (for this were to open a window to the Anabaptistical furie) and that The Spirits of the Prophets may be subiect to the Prophets. 1. Cor. 14.30.31. Albeit that all Christians ought mutually to teach, exhort, reprehend, and comfort one another in the Lord: and that all hous∣holds should so be gouerned of the maisters and mistresses of the family, that they should beare a representation of so many priuate Churches, no man will denie.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Deut. 4.2 & 12, 32 Reue. 22.18 19
• a 1.2

  Mat. 23.8, &. 28.20. Rom. 12.6 1 Pet. 4.11
• b 1.3

  2 Cor. 10 4.5