ThefifthisActs，15。28，“IthathseemedgoodtotheHolySpirit，andtous，tolayuponyounogreaterburdenthanthesenecessarythings，thatyeabstainfrommeatsofferedtoidols，andfromblood，andfromthingsstrangled，andfromfornication。“Herehenotestheword“layingofburdens“forthelegislativepower。Butwhoistherethat，readingthistext，cansaythisstyleoftheApostlesmaynotasproperlybeusedingivingcounselasinmakinglaws？Thestyleofalawis，“wecommand“：but，“wethinkgood，“istheordinarystyleofthemthatbutgiveadvice；andtheylayaburdenthatgiveadvice，thoughitbeconditional，thatis，iftheytowhomtheygiveitwillattaintheirends：andsuchistheburdenofabstainingfromthingsstrangled，andfromblood，notabsolute，butincasetheywillnoterr。IhaveshownbeforeChaptertwenty-fivethatlawisdistinguishedfromcounselinthis，thatthereasonofalawistakenfromthedesignandbenefitofhimthatprescribethit；butthereasonofacounsel，fromthedesignandbenefitofhimtowhomthecounselisgiven。Buthere，theApostlesaimonlyatthebenefitoftheconvertedGentiles，namely，theirsalvation；notattheirownbenefit；forhavingdonetheirendeavour，theyshallhavetheirreward，whethertheybeobeyedornot。Andthereforetheactsofthiscouncilwerenotlaws，butcounsels。
ThesixthplaceisthatofRomans，13，“Leteverysoulbesubjecttothehigherpowers，forthereisnopowerbutofGod“；whichismeant，hesaith，notonlyofsecular，butalsoofecclesiasticalprinces。TowhichIanswer，first，thattherearenoecclesiasticalprincesbutthosethatarealsocivilsovereigns，andtheirprincipalitiesexceednotthecompassoftheircivilsovereignty；
withoutthosebounds，thoughtheymaybereceivedfordoctors，theycannotbeacknowledgedforprinces。ForiftheApostlehadmeantweshouldbesubjectbothtoourownprincesandalsotothePope，hehadtaughtusadoctrinewhichChristhimselfhathtoldusisimpossible，namely，toservetwomasters。AndthoughtheApostlesayinanotherplace，“Iwritethesethingsbeingabsent，lestbeingpresentIshouldusesharpness，accordingtothepowerwhichtheLordhathgivenme“；*itisnotthathechallengedapowereithertoputtodeath，imprison，banish，whip，orfineanyofthem，whicharepunishments；butonlytoexcommunicate，which，withoutthecivilpower，isnomorebutaleavingoftheircompany，andhavingnomoretodowiththemthanwithaheathenmanorapublican；whichinmanyoccasionsmightbeagreaterpaintotheexcommunicantthantotheexcommunicate。
*IICorinthians，13。10
TheseventhplaceisICorinthians，4。21，“ShallIcomeuntoyouwitharod，orinlove，andthespiritoflenity？“Buthereagain，itisnotthepowerofamagistratetopunishoffenders，thatismeantbyarod；butonlythepowerofexcommunication，whichisnotinitsownnatureapunishment，butonlyadenouncingofpunishment，thatChristshallinflict，whenheshallbeinpossessionofhiskingdom，atthedayofjudgement。Northenalsoshallitbeproperlyapunishment，asuponasubjectthathathbrokenthelaw；butarevenge，asuponanenemy，orrevolter，thatdenyeththerightofoursaviourtothekingdom：andthereforethisprovethnotthelegislativepowerofanybishopthathasnotalsothecivilpower。