Why, I beseech you, except a council will and command, shall not truth be
truth, and God be God? If Christ had meant to do so from the beginning,
as that He would preach or teach nothing without the bishop's consent,
but refer all His doctrine over to Annas and Caiaphas, where should now
have been the Christian faith? or, who at any time should have heard the
Gospel taught? Peter verily, whom the Pope hath oftener in his mouth,
and more reverently useth to speak of than he doth of Jesus Christ, did
boldly stand against the holy council, saying, "It is better to obey God
than men." And after Paul had once entirely embraced the Gospel, and had
received it, "not from men, nor by man, but by the only will of God, he
did not take advice therein of flesh and blood," nor brought the case
before his kinsmen and brethren, but went forthwith into Arabia, to
preach God's Divine mysteries by God's only authority.
Yet truly, we do not despise councils, assemblies, and conference of
bishops and learned men; neither have we done that we have done
altogether without bishops or without a council.
Pages:
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142