The Institution of Christian Religion

Whereas they see themselves convinced by most clear experiments, that they do without choice loose and bind the worthy and unworthy, they usurp a power without knowledge. And although they dare not deny that knowledge is requisite for a good use, yet they write that the very power is given to evil disposers of it. But this is the power, whatsoever thou bindest or loosest in earth, shall be bound or loosed in heaven. Either the promise of Christ must lie, or they that have this power do well bind and loose. Neither may they dally and say, that the saying of Christ is limited according to the deservings of him that is bound or loosed. And we also confess, that none can be bound or loosed, but they that are worthy to be bound or loosed. But the messengers of the Gospel and the Church have the word, by which they measure this worthiness, in this word the messengers of the Gospel, may promise to all men forgiveness of sins in Christ by faith,¹ they may proclaim damnation into all and upon all that embrace not Christ. In this word the Church pronounceth that fornicators, adulterers, thieves, manslayers, covetous men, unjust men, have no part in the kingdom of God, and bindeth such with most sure bonds. With the same word the Church looseth them whom it comforteth being repentant. But what power shall this be, not to know what is to be bound or loosed, and not to be able to bind or loose without knowledge? Why then do they say that they loose by authority given unto them, when the loosing is uncertain? What have we to do with this imaginative ⟨p. 145⟩power, if there be no use of it? But I have it already prouch that either there is no use of it, or so uncertain an use as may be accounted for none at all. For whereas they confess that there is a great part of priests that do not rightly use the keys, and that the power without lawful use is of no effect. Who shall assure me that he of whom I am loosed is a good user of the keys? if he be an evil user of it, what hath he else but such a void disposing of them, as to say, what is to be found or loosed in thee I know not, forasmuch as I lack the right use of the keys, but if thou deserve I loose thee. But so much might do, I will not say a lay man (for they could not bear that with patient ears) but a Turk, or a Devil.

Whereas thei see themselues conuinced by most clere experimentes, that thei do without choise loose and binde the worthy and vnworthy, thei vsurpe a power without knowledge. And although they dare not denie that knoweledge is requisit for a good vse, yet thei write that ye very power is geuen to euel disposers of it. But this is ye power, whatsoeuer thou bindest or loosest in earthe, shalbe bounde or loosed in heauen. Either the promise of Christ must lie, or thei that haue this power do well binde and loose. Neither may thei dallye and saie, that the saieng of Christe is limited according to the deseruings of him yt is bound or loosed. And we also confesse, that none can be bounde or loosed, but thei yt are worthy to be bound or loosed. But ye messingers of the Gospell and the Churche haue the woorde, by whyche thei measure this worthinesse, in thys woorde the messangers of the Gospell, maye promise to all men forgeuenesse of sinnes in Christe by faythe,