第73章

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。Ihaveshownbefore(Chaptertwenty-five)thatlawisdistinguishedfromcounselinthis，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。“Andthereisnodoubtbuthethatdespis