Article XIV: _Of Ecclesiastical Order._
The Fourteenth Article, in which we say that in the Church the
administration of the Sacraments and Word ought to be allowed no one
unless he be rightly called, they receive, but with the proviso that
we employ canonical ordination. Concerning this subject we have
frequently testified in this assembly that it is our greatest wish to
maintain church-polity and the grades in the Church [old
church-regulations and the government of bishops], even though they
have been made by human authority [provided the bishops allow our
doctrine and receive our priests]. For we know that
church-discipline was instituted by the Fathers, in the manner laid
down in the ancient canons with a good and useful intention. But the
bishops either compel our priests to reject and condemn this kind of
doctrine which we have confessed, or, by a new and unheard-of cruelty,
they put to death the poor innocent men. These causes hinder our
priests from acknowledging such bishops. Thus the cruelty of the
bishops is the reason why the canonical government, which we greatly
desired to maintain, is in some places dissolved. Let them see to it
how they will give an account to God for dispersing the Church. In
this matter our consciences are not in danger, because since we know
that our Confession is true, godly, and catholic, we ought not to
approve the cruelty of those who persecute this doctrine. And we
know that the Church is among those who teach the Word of God aright,
and administer the Sacraments aright and not with those who not only
by their edicts endeavor to efface God's Word, but also put to death
those who teach what is right and true towards whom, even though they
do something contrary to the canons, yet the very canons are milder.
Furthermore we wish here again to testify that we will gladly
maintain ecclesiastical and canonical government, provided the
bishops only cease to rage against our Churches. This our desire
will clear us both before God and among all nations to all posterity
from the imputation against us that the authority of the bishops is
being undermined, when men read and hear that, although protesting
against the unrighteous cruelty of the bishops, we could not obtain
justice.