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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。 2；
14； but so that consciences be not burdened to think that they
are necessary to salvation； or to judge that they sin when
they break them without offense to others； as no one will say
that a woman sins who goes out in public with her head
uncovered provided only that no offense be given。
Of this kind is the observance of the Lord's Day； Easter；
Pentecost； and like holy…days and rites。 For those who judge
that by the authority of the Church the observance of the
Lord's Day instead of the Sabbath…day was ordained as a thing
necessary； do greatly err。 Scripture has abrogated the
Sabbath…day； for it teaches that； since the Gospel has been
revealed； all the ceremonies of Moses can be omitted。 And yet；
because it was necessary to appoint a certain day； that the
people might know when they ought to come together； it appears
that the Church designated the Lord's Day for this purpose；
and this day seems to have been chosen all the more for this
additional reason； that men might have an example of Christian
liberty； and might know that the keeping neither of the
Sabbath nor of any other day is necessary。
There are monstrous disputations concerning the changing of
the law； the ceremonies of the new law； the changing of the
Sabbath…day； which all have sprung from the false belief that
there must needs be in the Church a service like to the
Levitical； and that Christ had given commission to the
Apostles and bishops to devise new ceremonies as necessary to
salvation。 These errors crept into the Church when the
righteousness of faith was not taught clearly enough。 Some
dispute that the keeping of the Lord's Day is not indeed of
divine right； but in a manner so。 They prescribe concerning
holy…days； how far it is lawful to work。 What else are such
disputations than snares of consciences？ For although they
endeavor to modify the traditions； yet the mitigation can
never be perceived as long as the opinion remains that they
are necessary； which must needs remain where the righteousness
of faith and Christian liberty are not known。
The Apostles commanded Acts 15； 20 to abstain from blood。 Who
does now observe it？ And yet they that do it not sin not； for
not even the Apostles themselves wanted to burden consciences
with such bondage； but they forbade it for a time； to avoid
offense。 For in this decree we must perpetually consider what
the aim of the Gospel is。
Scarcely any Canons are kept with exactness； and from day to
day many go out of use even among those who are the most
zealous advocates of traditions。 Neither can due regard be
paid to consciences unless this mitigation be observed； that
we know that the Canons are kept without holding them to be
necessary； and that no harm is done consciences； even though
traditions go out of use。
But the bishops might easily retain the lawful obedience of
the people if they