Peterhimself，withtheotherApostles，thataretobejudgesoftheworld。
TheothererrorinthishisfirstargumentisthathesaysthemembersofeveryCommonwealth，asofanaturalbody，dependoneofanother。Itistruetheycoheretogether，buttheydependonlyonthesovereign，whichisthesouloftheCommonwealth；whichfailing，theCommonwealthisdissolvedintoacivilwar，noonemansomuchascoheringtoanother，forwantofacommondependenceonaknownsovereign；justasthemembersofthenaturalbodydissolveintoearthforwantofasoultoholdthemtogether。Thereforethereisnothinginthissimilitudefromwhencetoinferadependenceofthelaityontheclergy，orofthetemporalofficersonthespiritual，butofbothonthecivilsovereign；whichoughtindeedtodirecthiscivilcommandstothesalvationofsouls；butisnotthereforesubjecttoanybutGodHimself。Andthusyouseethelabouredfallacyofthefirstargument，todeceivesuchmenasdistinguishnotbetweenthesubordinationofactionsinthewaytotheend；andthesubjectionofpersonsonetoanotherintheadministrationofthemeans。Fortoeveryend，themeansaredeterminedbynature，orbyGodHimselfsupernaturally：butthepowertomakemenusethemeansisineverynationresigned，bythelawofnature，whichforbiddethmentoviolatetheirfaithgiven，tothecivilsovereign。
Hissecondargumentisthis：“EveryCommonwealth，becauseitissupposedtobeperfectandsufficientinitself，maycommandanyotherCommonwealthnotsubjecttoit，andforceittochangetheadministrationofthegovernment；naydeposetheprince，andsetanotherinhisroom，ifitcannototherwisedefenditselfagainsttheinjurieshegoesabouttodothem：muchmoremayaspiritualCommonwealthcommandatemporalonetochangetheadministrationoftheirgovernment，andmaydeposeprinces，andinstituteothers，whentheycannototherwisedefendthespiritualgood。“
ThataCommonwealth，todefenditselfagainstinjuries，maylawfullydoallthathehathheresaidisverytrue；andhathalreadyinthatwhichhathgonebeforebeensufficientlydemonstrated。AndifitwerealsotruethatthereisnowinthisworldaspiritualCommonwealth，distinctfromacivilCommonwealth，thenmighttheprincethereof，uponinjurydonehim，oruponwantofcautionthatinjurybenotdonehimintimetocome，repairandsecurehimselfbywar；whichis，insum，deposing，killing，orsubduing，ordoinganyactofhostility。Butbythesamereason，itwouldbenolesslawfulforacivilsovereign，uponthelikeinjuriesdone，orfeared，tomakewaruponthespiritualsovereign；whichIbelieveismorethanCardinalBellarminewouldhaveinferredfromhisownproposition。
ButspiritualCommonwealththereisnoneinthisworld：foritisthesamethingwiththekingdomofChrist；whichhehimselfsaithisnotofthisworld，butshallbeinthenextworld，attheresurrection，whentheythathavelivedjustly，andbelievedthathewastheChrist，shall，thoughtheydiednaturalbodies，risespiritualbodies；andthenitisthatourSaviourshalljudgetheworld，andconquerhisadversaries，andmakeaspiritualCommonwealth。Inthemeantime，seeingtherearenomenonearthwhosebodiesarespiritual，therecanbenospiritualCommonwealthamongstmenthatareyetintheflesh；unlesswecallpreachers，thathavecommissiontoteachandpreparemenfortheirreceptionintothekingdomofChristattheresurrection，aCommonwealth；whichIhaveprovedalreadytobenone。
Thethirdargumentisthis：“ItisnotlawfulforChristianstotolerateaninfidelorhereticalking，incaseheendeavourtodrawthemtohisheresy，orinfidelity。Buttojudgewhetherakingdrawhissubjectstoheresy，ornot，belongethtothePope。ThereforehaththePoperighttodeterminewhethertheprincebetobedeposed，ornotdeposed。“
TothisIanswerthatboththeseassertionsfalse。ForChristians，ormenofwhatreligionsoever，iftheytoleratenottheirking，whatsoeverlawhemaketh，thoughitbeconcerningreligion，doviolatetheirfaith，contrarytothedivinelaw，bothnaturalandpositive：
noristhereanyjudgeofheresyamongstsubjectsbuttheirowncivilsovereign。Forheresyisnothingelsebutaprivateopinion，obstinatelymaintained，contrarytotheopinionwhichthepublicpersonthatistosay，therepresentantoftheCommonwealthhathcommandedtobetaught。Bywhichitismanifestthatanopinionpubliclyappointedtobetaughtcannotbeheresy；northesovereignprincesthatauthorizethem，heretics。Forhereticsarenonebutprivatementhatstubbornlydefendsomedoctrineprohibitedbytheirlawfulsovereigns。
ButtoprovethatChristiansarenottotolerateinfidelorhereticalkings，heallegethaplaceinDeuteronomywhereGodforbiddeththeJews，whentheyshallsetakingoverthemselves，tochooseastranger：*andfromthenceinferreththatitisunlawfulforaChristiantochooseakingthatisnotaChristian。AnditistruethathethatisaChristian，thatis，hethathathalreadyobligedhimselftoreceiveourSaviour，whenheshallcome，forhisking，shalltemptGodtoomuchinchoosingforkinginthisworldonethatheknowethwillendeavour，bothbyterrorandpersuasion，tomakehimviolatehisfaith。But，itis，saithhe，thesamedangertochooseonethatisnotaChristianforking，andnottodeposehimwhenheischosen。TothisIsay，thequestionisnotofthedangerofnotdeposing；butofthejusticeofdeposinghim。Tochoosehimmayinsomecasesbeunjust；buttodeposehim，whenheischosen，isinnocasejust。Foritisalwaysviolationoffaith，andconsequentlyagainstthelawofnature，whichistheeternallawofGod。NordowereadthatanysuchdoctrinewasaccountedChristianinthetimeoftheApostles；norinthetimeoftheRomanEmperors，tillthepopeshadthecivilsovereigntyofRome。ButtothishehathrepliedthattheChristiansofolddeposednotNero，norDioclesian，norJulian，norValens，anArian，forthiscauseonly，thattheywantedtemporalforces。Perhapsso。ButdidourSaviour，whoforcallingformighthavehadtwelvelegionsofimmortal，invulnerableangelstoassisthim，wantforcestodeposeCaesar，oratleastPilate，thatunjustly，withoutfindingfaultinhim，deliveredhimtotheJewstobecrucified？OrfftheApostleswantedtemporalforcestodeposeNero，wasitthereforenecessaryforthemintheirepistlestothenewmadeChristianstoteachthem，astheydid，toobeythepowersconstitutedoverthem，whereofNerointhattimewasone，andthattheyoughttoobeythem，notforfearoftheirwrath，butforconsciencesake？Shallwesaytheydidnotonlyobey，butalsoteachwhattheymeantnot，forwantofstrength？Itisnotthereforeforwantofstrength，butforconsciencesake，thatChristiansaretotoleratetheirheathenprinces，orprincesforIcannotcallanyonewhosedoctrineisthepublicdoctrine，ahereticthatauthorizetheteachingofanerror。AndwhereasforthetemporalpowerofthePope，heallegethfurtherthatSt。Paulappointedjudgesundertheheathenprincesofthosetimes，suchaswerenotordainedbythoseprinces；*2itisnottrue。ForSt。Pauldoesbutadvisethemtotakesomeoftheirbrethrentocompoundtheirdifferences，asarbitrators，ratherthantogotolawonewithanotherbeforetheheathenjudges；whichisawholesomeprecept，andfullofcharity，fittobepractisedalsointhebestChristianCommonwealths。Andforthedangerthatmayarisetoreligion，bythesubjectstoleratingofaheathen，oranerringprince，itisapointofwhichasubjectisnocompetentjudge；orifhebe，thePope’stemporalsubjectsmayjudgealsoofthePope’sdoctrine。ForeveryChristianprince，asIhaveformerlyproved，isnolesssupremepastorofhisownsubjectsthanthePopeofhis。
*Deuteronomy，17
*2ICorinthians，6
Thefourthargumentistakenfromthebaptismofkings；wherein，thattheymaybemadeChristians，theysubmittheirsceptrestoChrist，andpromisetokeepanddefendtheChristianfaith。Thisistrue；forChristiankingsarenomorebutChrist’ssubjects：buttheymay，forallthat，bethePope’sfellows；fortheyaresupremepastorsoftheirownsubjects；andthePopeisnomorebutkingandpastor，eveninRomeitself。
ThefifthargumentisdrawnfromthewordsspokenbyourSaviour，“Feedmysheep“；bywhichwasgivenallpowernecessaryforapastor；asthepowertochaseawaywolves，suchasareheretics；thepowertoshutuprams，iftheybemad，orpushattheothersheepwiththeirhorns，suchasareevil，thoughChristian，kings；andpowertogivetheflockconvenientfood：fromwhenceheinferreththatSt。
PeterhadthesethreepowersgivenhimbyChrist。TowhichIanswerthatthelastofthesepowersisnomorethanthepower，orrathercommand，toteach。Forthefirst，whichistochaseawaywolves，thatis，heretics，theplacehequotethis，“Bewareoffalseprophetswhichcometoyouinsheep’sclothing，butinwardlyareraveningwolves。“*Butneitherarehereticsfalseprophets，oratallprophets：noradmittinghereticsforthewolvestheremeantweretheApostlescommandedtokillthem，oriftheywerekings，todeposethem；buttobewareof，fly，andavoidthem。NorwasittoSt。Peter，nortoanyoftheApostles，buttothemultitudeoftheJewsthatfollowedhimintothemountain，menforthemostpartnotyetconverted，thathegavethiscounsel，tobewareoffalseprophets：
whichtherefore，ifitconferapowerofchasingawaykings，wasgivennotonlytoprivatemen，buttomenthatwerenotatallChristians。
Andastothepowerofseparatingandshuttingupoffuriousrams，bywhichhemeanethChristiankingsthatrefusetosubmitthemselvestotheRomanpastor，ourSaviourrefusedtotakeuponhimthatpowerinthisworldhimself，butadvisedtoletthecornandtaresgrowuptogethertillthedayofjudgement：muchlessdidhegiveittoSt。
Peter，orcanSt。PetergiveittothePopes。St。Peter，andallotherpastors，arebiddentoesteemthoseChristiansthatdisobeytheChurch，thatis，thatdisobeytheChristiansovereign，asheathenmenandaspublicans。SeeingthenmenchallengetothePopenoauthorityoverheathenprinces，theyoughttochallengenoneoverthosethataretobeesteemedasheathen。
*Matthew，7。15
Butfromthepowertoteachonly，heinferrethalsoacoercivepowerinthePopeoverkings。Thepastor，saithhe，mustgivehisflockconvenientfood：thereforefood：thereforethepopemayandoughttocompelkingstodotheirduty。OutofwhichitfolloweththatthePope，aspastorofChristianmen，iskingofkings：whichallChristiankingsoughtindeedeithertoconfess，orelsetheyoughttotakeuponthemselvesthesupremepastoralcharge，everyoneinhisowndominion。
Hissixthandlastargumentisfromexamples。TowhichIanswer，first，thatexamplesprovenothing；secondly，thattheexamplesheallegethmakenotsomuchasaprobabilityofright。ThefactofJehoiadainkillingAthaliah*waseitherbytheauthorityofKingJoash，oritwasahorriblecrimeinthehighpriest，whicheveraftertheelectionofKingSaulwasameresubject。ThefactofSt。
AmbroseinexcommunicatingTheodosiustheEmperor，ifitweretruehedidso，wasacapitalcrime。AndforthePopes，GregoryI，GregoryII，Zachary，andLeoIII，theirjudgementsarevoid，asgivenintheirowncause；andtheactsdonebythemconformablytothisdoctrinearethegreatestcrimes，especiallythatofZachary，thatareincidenttohumannature。Andthusmuchofpowerecclesiastical；whereinIhadbeenmorebrief，forbearingtoexaminetheseargumentsofBellarmine，iftheyhadbeenhisasaprivateman，andnotasthechampionofthePapacyagainstallotherChristianprincesandstates。