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to teach the Gospel and to administer the Sacraments。 Let it
not break into the office of another； Let it not transfer the
kingdoms of this world； let it not abrogate the laws of civil
rulers； let it not abolish lawful obedience； let it not
interfere with judgments concerning civil ordinances or
contracts； let it not prescribe laws to civil rulers
concerning the form of the Commonwealth。 As Christ says； John
18； 33： My kingdom is not of this world； also Luke 12； 14： Who
made Me a judge or a divider over you？ Paul also says； Phil。
3； 20： Our citizenship is in heaven； 2 Cor。 10； 4： The weapons
of our warfare are not carnal； but mighty through God to the
casting down of imaginations。
After this manner our teachers discriminate between the duties
of both these powers； and command that both be honored and
acknowledged as gifts and blessings of God。
If bishops have any power of the sword； that power they have；
not as bishops； by the commission of the Gospel； but by human
law having received it of kings and emperors for the civil
administration of what is theirs。 This； however； is another
office than the ministry of the Gospel。
When； therefore； the question is concerning the jurisdiction
of bishops； civil authority must be distinguished from
ecclesiastical jurisdiction。 Again； according to the Gospel
or； as they say； by divine right； there belongs to the bishops
as bishops； that is； to those to whom has been committed the
ministry of the Word and the Sacraments； no jurisdiction
except to forgive sins； to judge doctrine； to reject doctrines
contrary to the Gospel； and to exclude from the communion of
the Church wicked men； whose wickedness is known； and this
without human force； simply by the Word。 Herein the
congregations of necessity and by divine right must obey them；
according to Luke 10； 16： He that heareth you heareth Me。 But
when they teach or ordain anything against the Gospel； then
the congregations have a commandment of God prohibiting
obedience； Matt。 7； 15： Beware of false prophets； Gal。 1； 8：
Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel； let him
be accursed； 2 Cor。 13； 8： We can do nothing against the
truth； but for the truth。 Also： The power which the Lord hath
given me to edification； and not to destruction。 So； also； the
Canonical Laws command （II。 Q。 VII。 Cap。； Sacerdotes； and Cap。
Oves）。 And Augustine （Contra Petiliani Epistolam）： Neither
must we submit to Catholic bishops if they chance to err； or
hold anything contrary to the Canonical Scriptures of God。
If they have any other power or jurisdiction； in hearing and
judging certain cases； as of matrimony or of tithes； etc。；
they have it by human right； in which matters princes are
bound； even against their will； when the ordinaries fail； to
dispense justice to their subjects for the maintenance of
peace。
Moreover； it is disputed whether bishops or pastors have the
right to introduce ceremonies in the Church； and to make laws
concerning meats； holy…days and grades； that is； orders of
ministers； etc。 They that give this right to the bishops refer
to this testimony John 16； 12。 13： I have yet many things to
say unto you； but ye cannot bear them now。 Howbeit when He；
the Spirit of Truth； is come； He will guide you into all
truth。 They also refer to the example of the Apostles； who
commanded to abstain from blood and from things strangled；
Acts 15； 29。 They refer to the Sabbath…day as having been
changed into the Lord's Day； contrary to the Decalog； as it
seems。 Neither is there any example whereof they make more
than concerning the changing of the Sabbath…day。 Great； say
they； is the power of the Church； since it has dispensed with
one of the Ten Commandments！
But concerning this question it is taught on our part （as has
been shown above） that bishops have no power to decree
anything against the Gospel。 The Canonical Laws teach the same
thing （Dist。 IX） 。 Now； it is against Scripture to establish
or require the observance of any traditions； to the end that
by such observance we may make satisfaction for sins； or merit
grace and righteousness。 For the glory of Christ's merit
suffers injury when； by such observances； we undertake to
merit justification。 But it is manifest that； by such belief；
traditions have almost infinitely multiplied in the Church；
the doctrine concerning faith and the righteousness of faith
being meanwhile suppressed。 For gradually more holy…days were
made； fasts appointed； new ceremonies and services in honor of
saints instituted； because the authors of such things thought
that by these works they were meriting grace。 Thus in times
past the Penitential Canons increased； whereof we still see
some traces in the satisfactions。
Again； the authors of traditions do contrary to the command of
God when they find matters of sin in foods； in days； and like
things； and burden the Church with bondage of the law； as if
there ought to be among Christians； in order to merit
justification a service like the Levitical； the arrangement of
which God had committed to the Apostles and bishops。 For thus
some of them write； and the Pontiffs in some measure seem to
be misled by the example of the law of Moses。 Hence are such
burdens； as that they make it mortal sin； even without offense
to others； to do manual labor on holy…days； a mortal sin to
omit the Canonical Hours； that certain foods defile the
conscience that fastings are works which appease God that sin
in a reserved case cannot be forgiven but by the authority of
him who reserved it； whereas the Canons themselves speak only
of the reserving of the ecclesiastical penalty； and not of the
reserving of the guilt。
Whence have the bishops the right to lay these traditions upon
the Church for the ensnaring of consciences； when Peter； Acts
15； 10； forbids to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples；
and Paul says； 2 Cor。 13； 10； that the power given him was to
edification not to destruction？ Why； therefore； do they
increase sins by these traditions？
But there are clear testimonies which prohibit the making of
such traditions； as though they merited grace or were
necessary to salvation。 Paul says； Col。 2； 16…23： Let no man
judge you in meat； or in drink； or in respect of an holy…day；
or of the new moon； or of the Sabbath…days。 If ye be dead with
Christ from the rudiments of the world； why； as though living
in the world； are ye subject to ordinances （touch not； taste
not； handle not； which all are to perish with the using） after
the commandments and doctrines of men！ which things have
indeed a show of wisdom。 Also in Titus 1； 14 he openly forbids
traditions： Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments
of men that turn from the truth。
And Christ； Matt。 15； 14。 13； says of those who require
traditions： Let them alone； they be blind leaders of the
blind； and He rejects such services： Every plant which My
heavenly Father hath not planted shall be plucked up。
If bishops have the right to burden churches with infinite
traditions； and to ensnare consciences； why does Scripture so
often prohibit to make； and to listen to； traditions？ Why does
it call them 〃doctrines of devils〃？ 1 Tim。 4； 1。 Did the Holy
Ghost in vain forewarn of these things？
Since； therefore； ordinances instituted as things necessary；
or with an opinion of meriting grace； are contrary to the
Gospel； it follows that it is not lawful for any bishop to
institute or exact such services。 For it is necessary that the
doctrine of Christian liberty be preserved in the churches；
namely； that the bondage of the Law is not necessary to
justification； as it is written in the Epistle to the
Galatians； 5； 1： Be not entangled again with the yoke of
bondage。 It is necessary that the chief article of the Gospel
be preserved； to wit； that we obtain grace freely by faith in
Christ； and not for certain observances or acts of worship
devised by men。
What； then； are we to think of the Sunday and like rites in
the house of God？ To this we answer that it is lawful for
bishops or pastors to make ordinances that things be done
orderly in the Church； not that thereby we should merit grace
or make satisfaction for sins； or that consciences be bound to
judge them necessary services； and to think that it is a sin
to break them without offense to others。 So Paul ordains； 1
Cor。 11； 5； that women should cover their heads in the
congregation； 1 Cor。 14； 30； that interpreters be heard in
order in the church； etc。
It is proper that the churches should keep such ordinances for
the sake of love and tranquillity； so far that one do not
offend another； that all things be done in the churches in
order； and without confusion； 1 Cor。 14； 40； comp。 Phil。