The Institution of Christian Religion

whereby every man may easily gather, that the holy man had not this meaning, to hang the credit that we have to the Scriptures upon the will and awardemente of the church, but only to show this, (which we our selves also do confess to be true) that they which are not yet lightened with the spirit of god, are brought by the reverence of the church unto a willingness to be taught, so as they can find in their hearts to learn the faith of Christ by the gospel: and that thus by this mean the authority of the church is an introduction, whereby we are prepared to believe the gospel. For, as we see, his mind is that the assurance of the godly be stayed upon a far other foundation. Otherwise I do not deny but that he often presseth the Manichees with the consent of the whole church, when he seeketh to prove the same Scripture which they refused.¹ And from hence it came, that he so reproached Faustus for that he did not yield himself to the trueth of the gospel so grounded▪ so stablished, so gloriously renowned, & from the very time of the Apostles by certain successions perpetually commended. But he never travaileth to this end, to teach that the authority which we acknowledge to be in the Scripture, hangeth upon the determination or decree of men. But only this, which made much for him in the matter that he disputed of, he bringeth forth the universal judgement of the church, wherein he had the advantage of his adversaries. If any desire a fuller proof hereof, let him read his book concerning the profit of believing.² Where he shall find that there is no other readiness of belief commended unto us by him, but that which only giveth us an entry, and is unto us a convenient beginning to enquire, as he termeth it: and yet not that we ought to rest upon bare opinion, but to lean to the certain and sound trueth.

wherby euery man may easely gather, that the holy man had not this meaning, to hang the credite that we haue to the Scriptures vpon the wil and awardemente of the churche, but onely to shewe this, (which we our selues also do confesse to be true) that they which are not yet lightened with the spirite of god, are brought by the reuerence of the churche vnto a willyngnesse to bee taught, so as they can finde in their hartes to learne the faith of Christ by the gospel: and that thus by this meane the authoritie of ye church is an introduction, wherby we are prepared to beleue ye gospel. For, as we see, his minde is that the assuraunce of the godly be staied vpon a farre other foundacion. Otherwise I do not deny but that he often presseth ye Manichees with the consent of the whole churche, when he seketh to proue the same Scripture which they refused.