The Institution of Christian Religion

But before I go any further, it is needful to say somewhat of the authority of the Scripture, not only to prepare mens minds to reverence it, but also to take away all doubt thereof. Now, when it is a matter confessed that it is the word of God that is there set forth, there is no man of so desperate boldness, unless he be void of all common sense and natural wit of man, that dare derogate the credit of him that speaketh it. But because there are not daily oracles given from heaven, and the only Scriptures remain wherein it hath pleased the Lord to preserve his truth to perpetual memory, the same Scripture by none other means is of full credit among the faithful, but in that they do believe that it is as verily come from heaven as if they heard the lively voice of God to speak therein. This matter in deed is right worthy both to be largely entreated of & diligently weighed. But the readers shall pardon me if herein I rather regard what the proportion of the work which I have begun may bear, than what the largeness of the matter requireth. There is grown up among the most part of men a most hurtful error, that the Scripture hath only so much authority as by common consent of the church is given unto it: as if the eternal and inviolable trueth of God did rest upon the pleasure of men. For so, to the great scorn of the holy ghost, they ask of us who can assure us that these Scriptures came from God: or who can ascertain us that they have continued unto o•r age safe and uncorrupted: who can persuade us, that this one book ought to be reverently received, and that other to be stricken out of the number of Scripture, unless the church did appoint a certain rule of all these things? It hangeth therefore (say they) upon the determination of the church, both what reverence is due to the Scripture, and what books are to be reckoned in the canon thereof. So these robbers of gods honour, while they seek under colour of the church to bring in an unbridled tyranny, care nothing with what absurdities they snare both themselves and other, so that they may enforce this one thing to be believed among the simple, that the church can do all things. But if it be so:

BUt before I go any further, it is nedeful to say somwhat of the authoritie of the Scripture, not onely to prepare mens mindes to reuerence it, but also to take away al dout therof. Now, when it is a matter confessed that it is the worde of God that is there sette forth, there is no mā of so desperate boldnesse, vnlesse he be voide of all common sense and naturall wit of man, that dare derogate the credit of him that speaketh it. But because there are not daily oracles geuen from heauen, and the onelye Scryptures remaine wherin it hath pleased the Lord to preserue his truth to perpetual memory, the same Scripture by none other meanes is of ful credit among the faythful, but in that they doe beleue that it is as verely come from heauen as if they heard the liuely voyce of God to speake therin. This matter in dede is ryght worthy both to bee largely entreated of & diligently weyed. But the readers shall pardō me if herein I rather regarde what the proporcion of the woorke which I haue begon may beare, thā what ye largenesse of the matter requireth. Ther is growen vp among the most part of men a moste hurteful erroure, yt the Scripture hath onely so much authoritie as by common consent of the churche is geuen vnto it: as if the eternall and inuiolable trueth of God did rest vpon the pleasure of men. For so, to the great scorne of the holy gost, they aske of vs who cā assure vs that these Scriptures came from God: or who can assertaine vs that they haue continued vnto or age safe and vncorrupted: who can perswade vs, that thys one booke ought to be reuerently receiued, and that other to be stryken out of the number of Scripture, vnlesse the churche did appoint a certaine rule of al these thinges? It hangeth therfore (say they) vpon the determinaciō of the churche, both what reuerence is due to the Scripture, and what bokes ar to be reckened in the canon therof. So these robbers of gods honor, whyle they seke vnder color of the church to bring in an vnbridled tyranny, care nothing with what absurdities they snare both themselues and other, so that they may enforce thys one thyng to be beleued among the symple, that the churche can do al thynges. But if it be so: