The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reverend father, M. John Calvin, compendiously…The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously…

21 In that they say they usurp power without knowledge, & define their keys to be the authority of deserving, and the power of execution: not professing knowledge, but to have it as a counsellor to good use (that by this means they may deliver their boldness & rashness from hatred, because without difference they lose and unbind both by it self too odious) if it happen to be as though they should say they have an imagination, power, and a frivolous disposing. How so ever peradventure they will deny that they otherwise limit Christ, saying then according to the merits of him which is bound & loosed, but contrariwise the messengers of the gospel, have a sure and certain dispensation, who being instructed in the Word, ⟨image 130⟩have knowledge, whereby they may measure every mans worthiness as need shall require.¹ In this word the Church pronounceth that fornicators, adulterers, &c. have no part in the kingdom of heaven, which the same word the Church looseth, whom it comforteth being repentant.

21 In that they say they vsurpe power without knowledge, & define their keyes to be the authoritie of deseruing, and the power of execution: not professing knowledge, but to haue it as a coū sellour to good vse (that by this meanes they may deliuer their boldnesse & rashnesse from hatred, because without difference they lose and vnbinde both by it selfe too odious) if it happen to bee as though they shoulde say they haue an imagination, power, and a friuolous disposing. How so euer peraduenture they will deny that they otherwise limitte Christ, saying then according to the merits of him which is bound & losed, but cōtrariwise the messēgers of the gospel, haue a sure and certaine dispensation, who béeing enstructed in the Worde, ⟨image 130⟩haue knowledge, whereby they may measure euery mās worthines as néed shall require.¹ In this word the Church pronounceth that fornicatours, adulterers, &c. haue no parte in the kingdome of heauen, which the same worde the Church looseth, whome it comforteth being repentant.