Institutes of the Christian Religion Abridged by Edmond Bunnie, Book · Book 4 · Chapter 9
Cap. 9. Of Councels and their authoritie.
HEere becauſe he is ſomewhat more rough, it is not eyther becauſe hée woulde diminiſhe the authoritie of the olde Councels, or for that he is afrayde of them, as though they made for the aduerſaries ſide, and were againſt vsus.
2 From whence the Councels hauehave their authoritie, that is,Mat. 18.20. if they be gathered together in Chriſtes name: and what it is, they are not gathered together in Chriſtes name, which caſting away Gods commaundement, wherein he forbiddeth to adde and take from it, decrée what they will. God requireth of the Prophets to teach out of his mouth.
3 Againſt them, which the more they affirme their tyrannie by counſels, they thinke there remaineth no trueth in the Church,Eſai. 56.10. vnles it be among the Prieſts: firſt it is ſhewed, that the Paſtours among the Iſraelites were voide of the Spirite of knowledge and trueth.
4 Moreouer, in the newe Teſtament it was foretold, that our age ſhould not be frée from that euill.
5 Not that he woulde eueryevery where, and that raſhly without any choyce, diminiſh the authoritie of Miniſters: but that no man be ignorant,Ier. 18.18. al are not Paſtors which bragge them ſelues to bée Paſtors, as the Papiſts do, which prepare them ſelues againſt the truth, ſaying as the Prophet mentioneth, Come, we will imagine, &c.
6 An other thing alſo which they imagine to the ſame ende, yt the Church can not ſtande,Ier. 4.9. Eze. 7.26. vnleſſe it ſhewe her ſelfe in generall councels, it is ſhewed by examples; firſt out of the old Teſtament, that notwithſtanding it may erre from the trueth.
7 Moreouer out of the newe Teſtament,Ioh. 11.47. 2. The. 2.3. in the councel which the Scribes and Phariſies held againſt Chriſt.
8 There is no abſolute power to bée graunted to Councelles, becauſe they hauehave brought foorth many thinges very wickedly: and in what ſtate and condition they are to be counted, according to Auguſtine.
9 Councelles hauehave bene diſagréeing from Councels, as is proued by the examples of Conſtantinople, and Nicen about Images, & of Calcedon alſo, and the ſecond of Epheſus, about the impietie of Eutyches.
10. 11 Some infirmitie maye bée founde in the purer Councels, and they ſuch, as therin may be gathered, yt they are not ſo gouerned by the holy Ghoſt, but that ſome thing happeneth to them according to the manner of men, leaſt we giuegive too much credite to men.
12 The Romaniſtes are miſerably deceiued, when they reſorte to that extreme & miſerable ſhift, that although the men them ſelues be blockiſhe in wit and counſel, and moſt wicked in minde and will; yet the worde of God remayneth, which commaundeth to obey rulers, but the rulers ought to take no more vppon them, than Ioſua had, they ſhall therefore be ſpirituall rulers to vsus that bowe not from the Lord, neither on the one ſide nor to the other: as for the falſe rulers wee néede not,Ier. 23.16. Mat. 7.15. neither ought we to obey.
13 That which is hitherto ſpoken, doeth chiefly tende to this ende, to ſhew howe muche the authoritie of Councels is of force in the former Chapter of doctrine,1. Cor. 14.29. that is, in erecting new doctrines: but nowe hée ſheweth what force they hauehave in the laſt, that is, in the interpretation of the Scripture.
14 To whome although hée graunt very muche herein, yet he denieth that the Romaniſts can ouercome ye which they woulde, whether they belong to interpretatiō or approbation of Scripture. Chriſte commaunded all ſhoulde drinke of one Cupp,Mat. 26.26. 1. Tim. 4.1. but the Councel of Conſtance forbadde it, and willed the Prieſt only to drinke of it. Paule calleth the forbidding of mariage,Hebr. 13.4. the hypocriſie of Deuils, and pronounceth it holie among all men, but they forbid it.