‘I have abstained from speaking till this moment,’ he said, ‘and it was my intention to abstain to the end, perceiving that any speech of mine was unnecessary, because my brethren Farel and Viret have made sufficient reply. But the reproach which you have uttered against us with regard to the ancient doctors compels me to show again briefly how grievously you err in accusing us on this point. ‘We despise them and reject them altogether, you say, and that because we find them opposed to our cause. Verily, all the world, we own, might esteem us not only rash men, but arrogant beyond measure, if we held in derision such servants of God, and considered them _asses_, as you say we do. Those who make pretence of holding them in great reverence, frequently honor them less than we do, and would not deign to employ in reading their works the time which we gladly devote to it. But we do not exalt their authority to such a height as to allow it to lessen the dignity of the Word of the Lord, to which, exclusively, entire obedience ought to be given in the Church of Christ. We should fear being found rebels against that Word of the Lord which asks whether his people ought not to be content with _his voice_, and which adds, _without hearing either the living or the dead_. Yes, we do rest in his sacred Word, and we fasten on it our hearts, our understandings, our eyes, our ears, without turning aside to the right hand or to the left. _If any one speak_, says Peter, _let him speak as the oracles of God_; we therefore teach the people of Jesus not human doctrines, but heavenly wisdom. With the ancient doctors, we seek for God’s truth, with them we listen to it and keep it with all reverence, reserving to the Lord this glory, _that his mouth alone be opened in the Church, to speak with authority_. Let every ear then hear him, and let every soul be ready to obey him! ‘As to your assertion that we despise the fathers because they are not on our side, it would be easy for me to show that whatever matters are in controversy between us, that assertion is no more true than your reproach. But, to confine myself to the subject before us, I will lay before you only a small number of passages of such a character that there will be nothing left for you to reply to.’