The Confutatio Pontificia | Page 8

they confess also specifically concerning the
seven sacraments of the Church and take measures for the observance

of them by their subjects.
To Article XIV.
When, in the fourteenth article, they confess that no one ought to
administer in the Church the Word of God and the sacraments unless he
be rightly called, it ought to be understood that he is rightly called who
is called in accordance with the form of law and the ecclesiastical
ordinances and decrees hitherto observed everywhere in the Christian
world, and not according to a Jeroboitic (cf. 1 Kings 12:20) call, or a
tumult or any other irregular intrusion of the people. Aaron was not
thus called. Therefore in this sense the Confession is received;
nevertheless, they should be admonished to persevere therein, and to
admit in their realms no one either as pastor or as preacher unless he be
rightly called.
To Article XV.
In the fifteenth article their confession that such ecclesiastical rites are
to be observed as may be observed without sin, and are profitable for
tranquility and good order in the Church, is accepted, and they must be
admonished that the princes and cities see to it that the ecclesiastical
rites of the Church universal be observed in their dominions and
districts, as well as those which have been kept devoutly and
religiously in every province even to us, and if any of these have been
intermitted that they restore them, and arrange, determine and
effectually enjoin upon their subjects that all things be done in their
churches according to the ancient form. Nevertheless, the appendix to
this article must be entirely removed, since it is false that human
ordinances instituted to propitiate God and make satisfactions for sins
are opposed to the Gospel, as will be more amply declared hereafter
concerning vows, the choice of food and the like.
To Article XVI.
The sixteenth article, concerning civil magistrates, is received with
pleasure, as in harmony not only with civil law, but also with canonical
law, the Gospel, the Holy Scriptures, and the universal norm of faith,
since the apostle enjoins that "every soul be subject unto the higher
powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth
the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves
damnation," Rom. 13:1. And the princes are praised for condemning

the Anabaptists, who overthrow all civil ordinances and prohibit
Christians the use of the magistracy and other civil offices, without
which no state is successfully administered.
To Article XVII.
The confession of the seventeenth article is received, since from the
Apostles' Creed and the Holy Scripture the entire Catholic Church
knows that Christ will come at the last day to judge the quick and the
dead. Therefore they justly condemn here the Anabaptists, who think
there will be an end of punishments to condemned men and devils, and
imagine certain Jewish kingdoms of the godly, before the resurrection
of the dead, in this present world, the wicked being everywhere
suppressed.
To Article XVIII.
In the eighteenth article they confess the power of the Free Will - viz.
that it has the power to work a civil righteousness, but that it has not,
without the Holy Ghost, the virtue to work the righteousness of God.
This confession is received and approved. For it thus becomes
Catholics to pursue the middle way, so as not, with the Pelagians, to
ascribe too much to the free will, nor, with the godless Manichaeans, to
deny it all liberty; for both are not without fault. Thus Augustine says:
"With sure faith we believe, and without doubt we preach, that a free
will exists in men. For it is an inhuman error to deny the free will in
man, which every one experiences in himself, and is so often asserted
in the Holy Scriptures." St. Paul says: "Having power over his own
will." 1 Cor. 7:37. Of the righteous the wise man says: "Who might
offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not done it?"
Eccles. 31:10. God said to Cain: "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be
accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee
shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him," Gen. 4:7. Through the
prophet Isaiah he says: "If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the
good of the land. But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shll be devoured with
the sword." This also Jeremiah has briefly expressed: "Behold, thou
hast spoken and done evil, as thou couldest," Jer. 3:5. We add also
Ezek. 18:31ff.: "Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby
ye have transgressed; and make ye a new heart, and a