A Golden Chain

The second question is, wherein stands the dignity and excellency of the Church. Ans. It stands in subjection and obedience unto the will and word of his spouse and head, Christ Jesus. And hence it follows, that the Church is not to challenge unto her self authority over the Scriptures, but only a ministry or ministerial service whereby she is appointed of God to preserve and keep, to publish and preach them, and to give testimony of them. And for this cause,¹ it is called the pillar and ground of truth. The church of Rome not content with this, saith further that the authority of the Church in respect of us is above the authority of the Scripture, because (say they) we can not know Scripture to be Scripture but by the testimony of the Church. But indeed they speak an untruth. For the testimony of men that are subject to error can not be greater and of more force with us, then the testimony of God who can not err. Again, the Church hath her beginning from the word: (for there can not be a Church without faith, & there is no faith without the word, & there is no word out of the Scriptures) and therefore the Church in respect of us, depends on the Scripture, and not the Scripture on the Church. And as the lawyer which hath no further power but to expound the law, is under the law: so the Church which hath authority only to publish and expound the Scriptures, can not authorize them unto us, but must submit her self unto them. And whereas it is alleged that faith comes by hearing, ²and this hearing is in respect of the voice of the Church, and that therefore faith comes by the voice of the Church: the answer is, that the place must be understood not of that general faith whereby we are resolved that Scripture is Scripture, but of justifying faith, whereby we attain unto salvation. And faith comes by hearing the voice of the Church; not, as it is the Churches voice, but as it is a ministry or means to publish the word of God, which is both the cause and object of our believing. Now on the contrary we must hold, that as the carpenter knows his rule to be straight, not by any other rule applied unto it, but by it self: for casting his eye upon it, he presently discerns whether it be straight or no:

The second question is, wherein stands the dignitie and excellencie of the Church. Ans. It stands in subiection and obedience vnto the will and word of his spouse and head, Christ Iesus. And hence it followes, that the Church is not to chalenge vnto her selfe authoritie ouer the Scriptures, but onely a ministerie or ministeriall seruice whereby shee is appointed of God to preserue and keepe, to publish and preach them, and to giue testimonie of them. And for this cause,