¶ Of the authority of generall Counsailes.
The Authority of General Councils
General councils may err, so their decrees have authority only when they are drawn from holy Scripture.
General councils can't be assembled without the command and will of princes; and when they are assembled—since they're an assembly of human beings, not all of whom are governed by the Spirit and word of God—they may err, and sometimes have erred, not only in worldly matters but also in things that pertain to God. Therefore, things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither force nor authority, unless it can be shown that they are taken from holy Scripture.
Read the original English
GEnerall counsailes maye not bee gathered together, withoute the commaundemente, and wyll of Prynces: and whan they be gathered (for as muche as they bee an assemblie of menne, whereof all be not gouerned with the spirite▪ and word of God) they may erre▪ and sometyme haue erred: not only in worldly matters▪ but also in thynges pertaynynge vnto God. Wherefore thyngs ordeyned by them, as necessarye to Saluation, haue neither strēgth, nor auctoritye, onlesse it maye be declared, that they be taken oute of holye scrypture.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit