"I come now to our doctrine. Many people condemn it out of prejudice, without hearing or exploring it. They are too occupied with some opinion or other that totally dulls the sharp edge of their minds. I am not going to mention the insults and even criminal acts that are imputed to us in an effort to keep everyone from tasting our doctrine. Only one thing can be charged against us, that we strive to call back to their own banner (namely, the Word of God) all those who are counted as belonging to Christ but who have been wandering about wretchedly. We are also bringing it about that all controversy over the worship of God is settled on the basis of his Word, so that each person may believe what is established as being from God... We acknowledge a church that rests on the sure foundation of prophetic and apostolic doctrine, whose single and unchanging head is and remains Christ. The church in which God's Word does not rule is adulterous. On this basis we conclude that the worship of God must be instituted in accordance with his command. Nothing handed down or introduced by men can be tolerated. It is for God alone to fix the law in our consciences. Only he has the right to ordain what he wants us to do." - John Calvin, "A Letter of Exhortation and Defense, Addressed to a Certain Pontiff," Corpus Reformatorum, vol. 38, part I, pp. 181-184, as translated and cited in Calvin's Ecclesiastical Advice (Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991), pp. 55-56.