Rules on efficacy, public call, necessity-case, discipline
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II.Rules: God works salvation not by private suggestions against Scripture but by the ministry of word and sacraments.All Christians must handle and spread the word, yet none may publicly teach and administer sacraments unless specially and lawfully called—except in a case of necessity.
Immediate calling is neither to be sought nor expected today.The ministry is not idle dignity but an arduous office.Call is not of the eldership alone; diverse orders stand; errors must be refuted without chasing obsolete husks; visitations and discipline proceed from private admonition to public rebuke, excommunication only as last resort.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN follows, On faith.
Latin
II. Regulae: 1. Deus non privatis suggestionibus cum scripto verbo pugnantibus, sed ministerio verbi et sacramentorum salutem efficaciter operatur (Acts 9; 10). 2. Omnes Christiani verbum tractare et propagare debent; nemo tamen publice in Ecclesia docere et sacramenta administrare potest nisi specialiter et legitime vocatus—excepto casu necessitatis. 3. Vocatio immediata hodie nec quaeri nec expectari debet (Eph. 4:11). 4. Ministerium non otiosa dignitas sed arduum munus. 5-11. Vocatio non solius presbyterii; ordines diversi; errores refellendi sine putaminibus; visitationes; disciplina—privata monitione, publica correptione, excommunicatio ultimo remedio. CAPUT DECIMUM SEXTUM sequitur, De fide.