Abridgment of Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of the true Churche with which wee ought to keepe vnitie.
1 WE hauehave taught that Chriſte is made ours by the faith of the goſpel. But becauſe our rudenes is great, faith needeth outwarde helpes wherby it may both be ingendered in vsus, and alſo increaſed. Therfore he hath appointed Paſtours and Doctours* to teach vsus with mouth,Eph. 4.21. and confirme vsus by the adminiſtration of the ſacraments. Wherefore order of teaching doth require, that we intreat now of the church, to which God hath committed this treaſure, and alſo of the gouernment, orders, and power therof: alſo of the ſacraments, and laſt of all,The diuiſion of the booke of politike order.
What it is to beleue the church.2 In the Creede where wee profeſſe that wee beleeue the Church, that is referred not only vntounto the viſible Church whereof we now ſpeake, but alſo vntounto the inuiſible. We beleeue, becauſe oftentimes there is no difference between the children of god and profane men: Againe, it doth ſomtimes not appeare in the eies of men, but as wheat comes are hid vnderunder an heape of chaffe, ſo is it onlie knowen to God alone.… Kin. 19.16. That hapned in the time of Elias*. But we do not ſay, In the church as in God, becauſe our confidence reſteth in him, which ſhould not ſo agree to the church. It is called catholike or vniuerſall, becauſe as there is but one head,The Catholike Church. Chriſte, ſo alſo there is but one bodie, whereof there be many mē bers, liuing together by one faith, hope, louelove, and through one ſpirite of God.
VnderUnder the Catholike Church the viſible is comprehended.3 VnderUnder the catholike and vniuerſall churche we comprehend the viſible church. The communion of ſaints is added better to expreſſe the qualitie of ye church, as if it were ſaid, that they are gathered togeather vntounto the fellowſhip of Chriſt vppon this condition,Act. 4.32. Eph. 4.4. that they may mutuallie impart whatſoeuer benefites God beſtoweth vppon them*. From thence we hauehave manie fruites. For vponupon this condition we beleeue the church, that we may be aſſuredlie perſwaded that we are members thereof.Saluation is ſure becauſe election is ſure So long as our ſaluation hath ſuch a ſtay, it ſhall neuer fall down: For it ſtandeth with Gods election & eternal prouidence. Secondly it is ioyned with the firmenes and certaintie of Chriſt who is neuer pluckt from the members of his bodie. Moreouer we know that the truth ſhall neuer faile vsus.Pſal. 46.6 Ioel. 2.32. Abd. 17. Finallie the promiſes appertaine vntounto vsus For there ſhall bee ſaluation in Sion*. Alſo there is great argument of conſolation in the verie imparting of good thinges: For wee knowe that all that appertaineth vntounto vsus,Conſolation drawen from the cōmunicating of eccleſiaſticall goodes whatſoeuer the Lorde beſtoweth vppon his members and ours.
4 But becauſe we are now purpoſed to intreat of the viſible church, let vsus learne euen by this one title of mother, how neceſſarie the knowledge therof is, ſeeing there is none entrance into life,A ſimilitude. vnleſſe ſhe conceiue vsus in her wombe, vnleſſe ſhe bring vsus forth vnleſſe ſhe nouriſh vsus with her breaſts. That done, vnleſſe ſhe defend vsus vnderunder her cuſtodie & gouernment, vntill hauing put of this mortall fleſh,Mat. 22.30. Ieſa 37.32 Ioel. 2.32. wee be like to angels*. Moreouer there is no ſaluation to be hoped for without her boſome*.
5 And to the ende wee may be nouriſhed, and kept in the Church, God hath giuen vsus paſtours*,Paſtours Eph. 4.11. Aſſemblies. to whom is committed the preaching of the heauē lie doctrine. For this purpoſe woulde he hauehave onlie aſſemblies to be kept, that doctrine might nouriſhe the conſent of faith.
Obiect. The beholding of a mortall man doth debaſe the word of God.A ſimilitude.
An. An vneſtimable treaſure muſt not therfore be caſt away, becauſe it is brought vntounto vsus in earthlie veſſels. For by this meanes our obedience is tried, & our infirmitie is prouided.
6 Obiect. That is falſlie tranſlated to mortall man, which is proper to the ſpirit.
An. God who is the authour of preaching, ioyning his ſpirit with it, promiſeth fruite therof*:Mal. 4.6. Ioh. 15.16. or againe when he ſeperateth himſelfe from outwarde helpes, he challendgeth to him ſelfe alone, as well the beginninges of faith, as the whole courſe therof*1 Cor. 3.7. 1. Cor. 15.10..
7 Furthermore in the viſible Churche there be manie hypocrites intermingled, who hauehave nothing of Chriſt beſides the onlie title, who are ſuffered for a time,*1 Cor. 3.7. 1 Cor. 15.10. Why the wicked are ſuffered in the Church either becauſe they cannot lawfully be conuict by iuſt iudgement, or els becauſe there is not alwaies ſuche ſharpe diſcipline vſed as ought to be.
8 Therefore the Lord hath ſet it out vntounto vsus by certaine markes, ſo farre as was expedient for vsus to know it.
9 Namelie by the miniſterie of the worde, & the adminiſtration of the ſacraments.
The markes of the true Church.10 For whereſoeuer the preaching of the goſpel is reuerentlie heard, and the ſacraments are not neglected, there appeareth neither deceitful, ne yet a doubtfull face of the church: whoſe authoritie no man may deſpice, nor yet refuſe her admonitions: for it is the piller and ſtrong ſtay of truth, and the houſe of God*:1 Tim. 3.15. therfore to depart from the church is to denie God and Chriſt.
Satan attempteth to tak away the markes of the Church.11 Wherfore let vsus keep diligentlie theſe marks imprinted in our minds. For there is nothing which Sathan doth more goe about, thē to take away the one of theſe or els both: ſometimes, that hauing aboliſhed theſe markes, hee may take away the true diſtinction of the church: ſometimes that hauing brought in contempt thereof, hee may carrie vsus away from the Churche by manifeſt falling away.
12 But although there creepe in ſomtimes ſome fault either in the adminiſtration of doctrine, or of the ſacraments, yet it may not eſtrange vsus from the communion thereof. For all points of true doctrine hauehave not one forme. In the meane ſeaſon, if we endeuour to amend that which miſliketh vsus, wee doe that, according to our duetie.
13 And our ſufferance muſt go far farther in tolerating the imperfection of life. For it is an eaſie matter to ſlip here.
Obiect. The Church is not there where there is not perfect pureneſſe of life.Putitanes. Donatiſts. Anabaptiſts Eph 5.26 Becauſe the Church muſt be holie*.
An. Chriſt taught by manie parables, that the Church will be mixed of good & euill vntill the day of iudgement*.Mar 13.47. & 3.12.
14 Obiect. It is an vntollerable thing that the plague of vices, doth ſo raigne euerie where.
An. I graunt: & yet Paule confeſſeth the church of the Corinthians to be the fellowſhip of Chriſt & the Sainctes, though a filthie blot had beſmeared almoſt all the whole bodie, not onelyonly in corruption of manners, but alſo of doctrine *.1 Cor. 1.11. &. 3.3. &. 5.1. &. 6.7 &. 9. &. 15.12. And among the Galathians the Apoſtle founde Churches which were forſakers of the Goſpell*Gal. 1.6..
15 Obiect. If it be not lawfull as Paul witneſſeth*1 Cor. 5.2, to eate common bread with wicked men, much leſſe ſhall it be lawfull to eate the Lords bread.
An. It is ſurely a great reproche and ſhame, if dogges and ſwine hauehave a place among the children of God.Swyne and dogges are not to be admitted And much more if the ſacred bodie of Chriſt be made common to them. Let the Paſtors be circumſpect in that poynt. But it is one thing to auoyde the companie of the wicked, and an other thinge to forſake the fellowſhip of the Church through hatred of euill men. But Paule doeth exhort them which come to the Lordes Table, that euerie man examine him ſelfe, not another, or the whole Church. He which eateth vnworthelie, eateth damnation to him ſelfe,1 Cor 11.28.29 and not to others*.
16 And although this temptation do ſometimes aſſault euen good men, through raſh zeale of righteouſneſſe: yet we ſhall finde this,Tentation through raſh zeale of righteouſnes. that too much churliſhneſſe ſpringeth rather from pride and hautineſſe, then from meere holineſſe, and the true deſire thereof. Notwithſtanding if any be moued with this temptation, let them thinke with them ſelues, that in a great multitude there be manie holy in the ſight of God, whō they ſee not: that of thoſe which ſeeme diſeaſed there be manie which being awaked with the feare of God, do deſire to attaine to greater integritie: and that they muſt not geue iudgement vponupon a man for one fact: moreouer that there is greater force both in the miniſterie of the word, and alſo in the participation of holy myſteries, then that all that force can vaniſh away through the default of certaine wicked men: Firſt of all that in iudging the Church, the iudgement of God is of greater force, then the iudgement of men.
17 Obiect. Chriſt hath cleanſed his Church thorough the waſhing of water, in the word of life, that he might make it to him ſelfe a glorious bride, not hauing ſpot or wrinkle &c*.Eph. 5.25.
An. The Lord worketh dayly in publiſhing her wrinkles, and in wiping away her blots. Wherupon it followeth that her holineſſe is not yet perfect.
18 There was great corruption in the Church of Iſraell*,Iſ. 1.10. and yet for all that the Prophets did not therefore erect to them ſelues newe churches, or build newe altars.
19 What maner age was that of Chriſt and the Apoſtles? And yet the deſperat impietie of the Phariſees could not be letted, neither yet that diſſolute kind of life which raigned euerie where at that time but they would be partakers of the ſame ſacrifices with the people, and would come together with the reſt into one temple vntounto the publike exerciſes of religion.The church muſt not be forſaken Therefore let both theſe continue firme & certaine: that they are not to be excuſed who forſake the Church: Secondly that the faultes of men do not hinder but that we may rightly profeſſe our faith there: becauſe the godly conſcience is not hurt euen with the vnworthineſſe of the Paſtor: neither are the Sacramentes leſſe wholeſome for an holie man, becauſe they are handled of vncleane men.
20 Obiect. When the Paſtors exhort the people to go forward, and to flie to pardon, they leade thē away from perfection.
An It is a deuelliſh deuiſe, to infect our mindes with confidence of perfection,Confidence of perfection is vaine. whiles we are yet in the courſe. And therfore in the Creed remiſſion of ſinnes is annexed: and we are entred into the ſocietie of the Church by the ſigne of waſhing.
21 Neither doth the Lord onelyonly once receiue vsus into the Church by remiſſion of ſinnes,Remiſſion of ſinnes. but alſo he keepeth vsus in it by the ſame.
22 To make vsus partakers of this good thing the keyes of the Church are committed and giuen,Why the keys wer geuin to the Church. not onelyonly that they might be looſed from their ſinnes, which ſhould be conuerted from vngodlineſſe, vntounto the faith of Chriſt, but rather, that the Paſtours might continually execute this office among the faithfull. Therefore we muſt marke three things in this place. Firſt, that how great ſoeuer the holines of the Sainctes be here, yet can they not ſtande before God without remiſſion of ſinnes. Secondly that no man can enioy this benefite of the Church, vnleſſe he continue in the fellowſhip thereof. Thirdly that it is diſtributed by the miniſters of the Church, either by preaching the Goſpell, or adminiſtringe the Sacraments.
23 Obiect. The people of God is regenerate by Baptiſme vntounto a pure and angelicall life.Anabaptiſts Nouatianes. But if anie man ſinne after Baptiſme, there is no longer anie hope of pardon.
An. By the commaundement of the Lorde the Sainctes do dayly ſay,Mat. 6.17 Mat. 18.22 Forgiue vsus our treſpaſſes*, and he promiſeth pardon. Whome will he hauehave vsus to pardon ſeauentie times ſeauen times*, not our bretheren? God pardoneth not once or twiſe, but ſo often as a ſinner ſigheth and groneth vntounto him.
The infirmitie of the Saintes Gen. 36.18 Ih. 2824 The Patriarkes were circumciſed, and diligently taught righteouſneſſe: and yet they conſpired to put their brother to death*. Simeon & Leui did rage cruelly againſt the Sichemites*. What ſhal we ſay of Ruben, Iuda, Dauid and manie other: being regenerate they fell filthily: and yet they obtained pardon.
25 What offence is greater then rebellion? For it is called a diuorcement betweene God and his Church:Rebellion a great offence but this is ouercome by the goodneſſe of God*, Returne vntounto me ſaith the Lorde, and I will receaue thee,Ier. 3.1.12 Returne thou turne away, & I will not turne away my face from thee. Neither was it in vaine, that he ordained in the Lawe, dailie ſacrifices for ſinnes.
26 Is this benefite taken away from the faithfull by the comming of Chriſt, that they dare not pray for forgiueneſſe of ſinnes? He ſhould hauehave come to the deſtruction, and not to the ſaluation of his. Peter denyed Chriſt, and that not without curſinge*,Mat. 26.35. Gal. 1.6. &. 3.1 &. 4.9 and yet hee is not excluded from pardon.
27 The falling away of the Galathians was no ſmal ſinne*.1 Cor. 12.21. The Corinthians did ſwarme with more and no lighter offences*. And yet neither of them is excluded from the merciemercy of God.
28 Obiect. Euerie fault is not an vnpardonable ſinne, but the voluntarie tranſgreſſinge of the Lawe.
An. Why did God then commaund in the Lawe ſacrifices to be offered for purging the voluntarie ſinnes of the faithfull*?Leuit. 4. Who can excuſe Dauid by ignorance? Did the Patriarkes thinke the murthering of their brother a lawfull thing?
29 Obiect. The ſinnes which are forgiuen the faithfull dayly are light faults,The ſharpe Cenſure of the olde fathers which come vponupon thē through infirmitie of the fleſh: but ſolemne repentance for more hainous offences, ought no more to be repeated then Baptiſme.
An. Whereas the men of olde did ſo hardly pardon thoſe who had committed anie thing worthy to be puniſhed by the Church, they did it not for this cauſe, becauſe they thought that the Lord would hardly pardon it: but they meant by this ſharpneſſe to terrifie others that they might not runne headlong into wickedneſſe: for which they ſhould be eſtranged from the fellowſhip of the Church.