Institutes 4.2.12 — COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FALSE CHURCH AND THE TRUE.

**COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FALSE CHURCH AND THE TRUE.**

Therefore, while we are unwilling simply to concede the name of Church to the Papists, we do not deny that there are churches among them. The question we raise only relates to the true and legitimate constitution of the Church, implying communion in sacred rites, which are the signs of profession, and especially in doctrine. French, “Mais nous contendons seulement du vrai etat de l’Eglise, qui emporte communion, tant en doctrine, qu’en tout qui appartient à la profession de notre Chretienté;”—but we contend only for the true state of the Church, implying communion, as well as everything which pertains to the profession of our Christianity. The French adds, “pour le moins en l’Eglise Occidentale;”—at least in the Western Church.

Source

• source-manifest/institutes — Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, tr. Beveridge 1845 (PD)
• evidence_grade: D_doctrinal_textbook