The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

And the papists are doltish who go about out of these words to prove, that the Church hath some authority of her own: yea they are contrary to themselves. For under what colour do they avouch that the Church cannot err: save only because it is grounded immediately by the holy spirit? Therefore they cry out with open mouth that those things be the oracles of the spirit, which we prove to be their own inventions. Therefore they do foolishly urge this clause, It seemed good to us, because if the Apostles decreed any thing apart from the Spirit, that principal maxim shall fall to ground, That Councils decree nothing but that which is indited by the Spirit.

And the papistes are doltish who go about out of these words to proue, that the Church hath some authoritie of her owne: yea they are contrarie to themselues. For vnder what colour do they auouch that the Church cannot erre: saue onely because it is grounded immediatlie by the holy spirit? Therefore they crie out with open mouth that those thinges bee the oracles of the spirit, which wee proue to be their owne inuentions. Therefore they do foolishly vrge this clause, It seemed good to vs, because if the Apostles decreed any thing apart from the Spirit, that principall maxime shall fall to ground, That Councels decree nothing but that which is indited by the Spirit.

Besides these necessary things. The Papists do frowardly triumph under colour of this word, as if it were lawful for men to make Laws which may lay necessity upon the conscience. That (say they) which the church commandeth must be kept under pain of mortal sin: because the Apostles say that that must necessarily be observed which they decree. But such a vain cavil is quickly answered. For this necessity reached no farther than there was any danger least the unity should be cut a sunder. So that to speak properly, this necessity was accidental or external: which was placed not in the thing it self, but only in avoiding of the offence, which appeareth more plainly by abolishing of the decree. For Laws made concerning things which are of themselves necessary, must be continual. But we know that this Law was foredone by Paul, so soon as the tumult and contention was once ended,¹