Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same

Saint John in his Gospel¹ biddeth men to attribute no more unto them selves, than they have received from above. Therefore tell us where the professors of the Gospel did at any time take upon them authority or ⟨image 106⟩power, to make of bread and wine the body and blood of Christ? No they never received any such authority from God. But we are not ignorant what the Church of Rome teacheth of this matter, and how those which are consecrated by that church, & of their Bishops, into priests, shorne & anointed with oil, have these words by their Bishops pronounced over them: O Lord vouchsafe to consecrate and sanctify these hands by this Ointment, and through our blessing, that what soever they bless, may be blessed, and what so ever they consecrate or hallow, may be consecrated or hallowed. &c. And again: Receive thou power to offer sacrifice to God, and to say Mass aswell for the living, as for the dead. &c. But we beseech them of their courtesy to tell us who gave them this authority or power? Did they receive it of Christ? If they did, then let them tell us where, and with what words he commanded them to do it? But had the Apostles trow you this power, and gave the same in like manner to others, and ⟨p. 96⟩so after this sort did consecrate and ordain Ministers in the Church? For the thing it self whereof they speak, is very great, and the power and authority such and so wonderful, that it is Divine. Wherefore it is necessary, that they show some commandment or ordinance of the word of GOD, to ratify this their ordinance, consecration, and power. But as touching any one of these hynges, it is undoubted true, that they have no manner of commandment, nor sufficient warrant from the word of God. And therefore we may not allow or ratify their ordinance. In deed there are certain thines written in the old Testament touching the anointing of Priests, but ll men know that the Levitical priesthood with all his ceremonies was abrogated, and so detested of God, and forbidden to be renewed in the Church of Christ. We know that the Apostles did in e making or ordering of ministers use only prayers and putting on of their ds. And in the new Testament there