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.

Whether hath the Church authoritie, and full power to interprete the scriptures?

No, but it hath his power from the holy Ghost, speaking pub∣likely and manifestly in the scriptures, and also secretly testifying the same in our heartes, & also in the authoritie of the Scripture, so that the sense of the scripture is to be takē onely out of the scrip∣ture, and the holy Ghost; and the scripture is to be interpreted by scripture. because faith alone doth proceede from the scripture.

2 Because they are to be expounded and vnderstood by the same spirit, wherewith they are written according to that of Ioh. 2 10. The annointing teacheth you of all thingsa 1.1.

3 Because the Church hath not equall authoritie with the scrip∣tureb 1.2.

4 Because those of Berea are commended, for that they did examine Paules doctrine by the scriptures.a 1.3

5 Because the Church may erre.

6 Because he alone hath the greatest authoritie in expoun∣ding the law, which made the law: so we read, Nehem. 8, 8. he read plainly the law vnto the people, and expounding the meaning; he made it plaine by the scripture it selfe: yet notwithstanding we denie not, but that the Church hath power to interpret the scrip∣ture, and that onely in the Church this gift of interpretation doth remaine: but we denie that the interpretation of the scripture is tyed to any certaine seat and succession of men, and that the Pope ought to chalenge to himselfe such power ouer the scripture. For Moses verily did sit as chiefe Iudge in matters controuersallb 1.4, but he was a Prophet indued with singular wisedome, adorned with extraordinarie gifts of God, commended by diuine testimonies from God, and sent immediatly from God himselfe: but the Pope hath no such power. And Deut. 17.8. and in the verses following, all are commaunded to obey the decree of the chiefe Iudge, but

with this condition, If that be iudge according to the law of God, and Mal. 1.7. It is commaunded, that the priests lips, shall keepe knowledge, and that they shall require the law out of his mouth: but they haue no promise that they shall al••aies doe so: for it follow∣eth, but you haue declined out of the way, & haue caused many so to do.

Neyther doe the keyes of the kingdome of heauen committed to Peterc 1.5, signify authority of interpreting the scriptures, but of prea∣ching the Gospell, which was not soly giuen to Peter, but also to the rest of the Apostles,d 1.6, and Mat. 18.17. Christ commandeth the Chuch to be heard, but that is the true Church, and then one∣ly when she doth commaund those things which Christ doth ap∣prooue and commaund, so the Scribes and Pharises were to bee hearde 1.7, so long as sitting in Moses chayre they did follow Moses in his teaching: otherwise Christ gaue his disciples a caueat to take heed of the leauen of the Pharisesf 1.8.

7 In councils many great things haue beene defined, yet not∣withstanding wee see it hath beene determined not accor∣ding to the councill, but by the authority of the scriptures. Act. 15.6.15.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Isa. 50, 16.
• b 1.2

  Gal. 1.18
• a 1.3

  Act. 17.11
• b 1.4

  Ep. 18.13 26
• c 1.5

  Mat. 16.19
• d 1.6

  Mat. 20.18 Ioh. 20.21
• e 1.7

  Mat. 23, 2
• f 1.8

  Mat. 16.6