The Institution of Christian Religion

But such babblers are well confu•ed even with one word of the Apostle. He testifieth that the church is builded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles.¹ If the doctrine of the Prophets, and ⟨p. 14⟩Apostles be the foundation of the church: then must it needs be, that the same doctrine stood in steadfast certainty, before that the church began to be. Nether can they well cavil, that although the church take her first beginning thereof, yet it remaineth doubtful what is to be said the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, unless the judgement of the church did declare it. For if the Christian church were at the beginning builded upon the writings of the Prophets and preaching of the Apostles: wheresoever that doctrine shall be found, the allowed credit thereof was surely before the church, without which the church it self had never ben. Therefore it is a vain forged devise, that the church hath power to judge the Scripture, so as the certainty of the scripture should be thought to hang upon the will of the church. Wherefore when the church doth receive the Scripture and sealeth it with her consenting testimony, she doeth not of a thing doubtful, and that otherwise should be in controversy, make it authentic and of credit: but because she acknowledgeth it to be the trueth of her God, according to her duty of godliness without delay she doth honour it. Whereas they demand, how shall we be persuaded that it came from god, unless we resort to the decree of the church? This is all one as if a man should ask, how shall we learn to know light from darkness, white from black, or sweet from sower. For the Scripture showeth in it self no less apparent sense of her trueth, than white and black things do of their colour, or sweet and sower things of their taste.

But such babblers are wel confu•ed euen with one worde of the Apostle. He testifieth that the churche is builded vpon the foundacion of the Prophetes and Apostles.¹ If the doctrine of the Prophetes, and ⟨p. 14⟩