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。
TheeighthplaceisTimothy，3。2，“Abishopmustbethehusbandbutofonewife，vigilant，sober，“etc。，whichhesaithwasalaw。I
thoughtthatnonecouldmakealawintheChurchbutthemonarchoftheChurch，St。Peter。ButsupposethispreceptmadebytheauthorityofSt。Peter；yetIseenoreasonwhytocallitalaw，ratherthananadvice，seeingTimothywasnotasubject，butadiscipleofSt。Paul；northeflockunderthechargeofTimothy，hissubjectsinthekingdom，buthisscholarsintheschoolofChrist。
IfallthepreceptshegivethTimothybelaws，whyisnotthisalsoalaw，“Drinknolongerwater，butusealittlewineforhealth’ssake“？Andwhyarenotalsothepreceptsofgoodphysicianssomanylaws，butthatitisnottheimperativemannerofspeaking，butanabsolutesubjectiontoaperson，thatmakethhispreceptslaws？
Inlikemanner，theninthplace，ITimothy，5。19，“Againstanelderreceivenotanaccusation，butbeforetwoorthreewitnesses，“isawiseprecept，butnotalaw。
ThetenthplaceisLuke，10。16，“Hethathearethyou，hearethme；
andhethatdespisethyou，despisethme。“AndthereisnodoubtbuthethatdespiseththecounselofthosethataresentbyChristdespiseththecounselofChristhimself。ButwhoarethosenowthataresentbyChristbutsuchasareordainedpastorsbylawfulauthority？Andwhoarelawfullyordainedthatarenotordainedbythesovereignpastor？AndwhoisordainedbythesovereignpastorinaChristianCommonwealththatisnotordainedbytheauthorityofthesovereignthereof？Outofthisplacethereforeitfolloweththathewhichhearethhissovereign，beingaChristian，hearethChrist；andhethatdespiseththedoctrinewhichhisking，beingaChristian，authorizethdespiseththedoctrineofChrist，whichisnotthatwhichBellarmineintendethheretoprove，butthecontrary。Butallthisisnothingtoalaw。Naymore，aChristianking，apastorandteacherofhissubjectsmakesnottherebyhisdoctrineslaws。Hecannotobligementobelieve，thoughasacivilsovereignhemaymakelawssuitabletohisdoctrine，whichmayobligementocertainactions，andsometimestosuchastheywouldnototherwisedo，andwhichheoughtnottocommand；andyetwhentheyarecommanded，theyarelaws；andtheexternalactionsdoneinobediencetothem，withouttheinwardapprobation，aretheactionsofthesovereign，andnotofthesubject，whichisinthatcasebutasaninstrument，withoutanymotionofhisownatall，becauseGodhathcommandedtoobeythem。
TheeleventhiseveryplacewheretheApostle，forcounsel，puttethsomewordbywhichmenusetosignifycommand，orcalleththefollowingofhiscounselbythenameofobedience。AndthereforetheyareallegedoutofICorinthians，11。2，“IcommendyouforkeepingmypreceptsasIdeliveredthemtoyou。“TheGreekis，“I
commendyouforkeepingthosethingsIdeliveredtoyou，asI
deliveredthem“：whichisfarfromsignifyingthattheywerelaws，oranythingelse，butgoodcounsel。AndthatofIThessalonians，4。2，“Youknowwhatcommandmentswegaveyou“：wheretheGreekwordisparaggeliasedokamen，equivalenttoparedokamen，“whatwedeliveredtoyou，“asintheplacenextbeforealleged，whichdoesnotprovethetraditionsoftheApostlestobeanymorethancounsels；thoughasissaidintheeighthverse，“hethatdespiseththem，despisethnotman，butGod“：forourSaviourhimselfcamenottojudge，thatis，tobekinginthisworld；buttosacrificehimselfforsinners，andleavedoctorsinhisChurch，tolead，nottodrivementoChrist，whoneveracceptethforcedactionswhichisallthelawproduceth，buttheinwardconversionoftheheart，whichisnottheworkoflaws，butofcounselanddoctrine。
AndthatofIIThessalonians，3。14，“Ifanymanobeynotourwordbythisepistle，notethatman，andhavenocompanywithhim，thathemaybeashamed“：wherefromthewordobey，hewouldinferthatthisepistlewasalawtotheThessalonians。Theepistlesoftheemperorswereindeedlaws。IfthereforetheEpistleofSt。Paulwerealsoalaw，theyweretoobeytwomasters。Butthewordobey，asitisintheGreekupakouei，signifiethhearkeningto，orputtinginpractice，notonlythatwhichiscommandedbyhimthathasrighttopunish，butalsothatwhichisdeliveredinawayofcounselforourgood；andthereforeSt。Pauldoesnotbidkillhimthatdisobeys；norbeat，norimprison，noramercehim，whichlegislatorsmayalldo；butavoidhiscompany，thathemaybeashamed：wherebyitisevidentitwasnottheempireofanApostle，buthisreputationamongstthefaithful，whichtheChristiansstoodinaweof。
ThelastplaceisthatofHebrews，13。17，“Obeyyourleaders，andsubmityourselvestothem，fortheywatchforyoursouls，astheythatmustgiveaccount“：andherealsoisintendedbyobedience，afollowingoftheircounsel：forthereasonofourobedienceisnotdrawnfromthewillandcommandofourpastors，butfromourownbenefit，asbeingthesalvationofoursoulstheywatchfor，andnotfortheexaltationoftheirownpowerandauthority。Ifitweremeantherethatalltheyteachwerelaws，thennotonlythePope，buteverypastorinhisparishshouldhavelegislativepower。Again，theythatareboundtoobeytheirpastorshavenopowertoexaminetheircommands。WhatthenshallwesaytoSt。John，whobidsus“nottobelieveeveryspirit，buttotrythespiritswhethertheyareofGod，becausemanyfalseprophetsaregoneoutintotheworld？“*Itisthereforemanifestthatwemaydisputethedoctrineofourpastors，butnomancandisputealaw。Thecommandsofcivilsovereignsareonallsidesgrantedtobelaws：ifanyelsecanmakealawbesideshimself，allCommonwealth，andconsequentlyallpeaceandjustice，mustcease；whichiscontrarytoalllaws，bothdivineandhuman。
NothingthereforecanbedrawnfromtheseoranyotherplacesofScripturetoprovethedecreesofthePope，wherehehasnotalsothecivilsovereignty，tobelaws。
*IJohn，4。1
Thelastpointhewouldproveisthis，thatourSaviourChristhascommittedecclesiasticaljurisdictionimmediatelytononebutthePope。WhereinhehandlethnotthequestionofsupremacybetweenthePopeandChristiankings，butbetweenthePopeandotherbishops。
Andfirst，hesaysitisagreedthatthejurisdictionofbishopsisatleastinthegeneraldejuredivino，thatis，intherightofGod；forwhichheallegesSt。Paul，Ephesians，4。11，wherehesaysthatChrist，afterhisascensionintoheaven，“gavegiftstomen，someApostles，someprophets，andsomeevangelists，andsomepastors，andsometeachers“；andthenceinferstheyhaveindeedtheirjurisdictioninGod’sright，butwillnotgranttheyhaveitimmediatelyfromGod，butderivedthroughthePope。Butifamanmaybesaidtohavehisjurisdictiondejuredivino，andyetnotimmediately；whatlawfuljurisdiction，thoughbutcivil，isthereinaChristianCommonwealththatisnotalsodejuredivino？ForChristiankingshavetheircivilpowerfromGodimmediately；andthemagistratesunderHimexercisetheirseveralchargesinvirtueofHiscommission；whereinthatwhichtheydoisnolessdejuredivinomediatothanthatwhichthebishopsdoinvirtueofthePope’sordination。AlllawfulpowerisofGod，immediatelyinthesupremegovernor，andmediatelyinthosethathaveauthorityunderhim：sothateitherhemustgranteveryconstableinthestatetoholdhisofficeintherightofGod，orhemustnotholdthatanybishopholdshisso，besidesthePopehimself。
Butthiswholedispute，whetherChristleftthejurisdictiontothePopeonly，ortootherbishopsalso，ifconsideredoutofthoseplaceswherethePopehasthecivilsovereignty，isacontentiondelanacaprina：fornoneofthem，wheretheyarenotsovereigns，hasanyjurisdictionatall。Forjurisdictionisthepowerofhearinganddeterminingcausesbetweenmanandman，andcanbelongtononebuthimthathaththepowertoprescribetherulesofrightandwrong；thatis，tomakelaws；andwiththeswordofjusticetocompelmentoobeyhisdecisions，pronouncedeitherbyhimselforbythejudgesheordaineththereunto，whichnonecanlawfullydobutthecivilsovereign。
Thereforewhenheallegeth，outofthesixthchapterofLuke，thatourSaviourcalledhisdisciplestogether，andchosetwelveofthem，whichhenamedApostles，heproveththatheelectedthemall，exceptMatthias，Paul，andBarnabas，andgavethempowerandcommandtopreach，butnottojudgeofcausesbetweenmanandman：forthatisapowerwhichherefusedtotakeuponhimself，saying，“Whomademeajudge，oradivider，amongstyou？“andinanotherplace，“Mykingdomisnotofthisworld。“Buthethathathnotthepowertohearanddeterminecausesbetweenmanandmancannotbesaidtohaveanyjurisdictionatall。AndyetthishindersnotbutthatourSaviourgavethempowertopreachandbaptizeinallpartsoftheworld，supposingtheywerenotbytheirownlawfulsovereignforbidden：fortoourownsovereignsChristhimselfandhisApostleshaveinsundryplacesexpresslycommandedusinallthingstobeobedient。
TheargumentsbywhichhewouldprovethatbishopsreceivetheirjurisdictionfromthePopeseeingthePopeinthedominionsofotherprinceshathnojurisdictionhimselfareallinvain。Yetbecausetheyprove，onthecontrary，thatallbishopsreceivejurisdiction，whentheyhaveit，fromtheircivilsovereigns，Iwillnotomittherecitalofthem。
ThefirstisfromNumbers，11，whereMoses，notbeingablealonetoundergothewholeburdenofadministeringtheaffairsofthepeopleofIsrael，Godcommandedhimtochooseseventyelders，andtookpartofthespiritofMoses，toputituponthoseseventyelders：bywhichisunderstood，notthatGodweakenedthespiritofMoses，forthathadnoteasedhimatall，butthattheyhadallofthemtheirauthorityfromhim；whereinhedothtrulyandingenuouslyinterpretthatplace。ButseeingMoseshadtheentiresovereigntyintheCommonwealthoftheJews，itismanifestthatitistherebysignifiedthattheyhadtheirauthorityfromthecivilsovereign：