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consciences to an enemy。 For they are； as hath been shewed above
in the 5。 Chap。 6。 artic。 in an hostile state； whosoever have not
joyn'd themselves into the unity of one Person。 Nor contradicts
it this truth that they doe not alwayes fight： （for truces are
made between enemies） it is sufficient for an hostile minde； that
there is suspition； that the Frontiers of Cities； Kingdomes；
Empires； strengthned with Garisons； doe with a fighting posture
and countenance； though they strike not； yet as enemies mutually
behold each other。 Lastly； how unequall is it to demand that；
which by the very reason of your demand； you confesse belongs to
anothers Right？ I am the Interpreter of Scriptures to you who are
the Subject of anothers Realme： Why？ By what Covenants past
between you and me？ By Divine authority。 Whence knowne？ Out of
holy Scripture。 Behold the Book； read it。 In vain； unlesse I may
also interpret the same for my self； That interpretation
therefore doth by Right belong to me； and the rest of my private
fellow…subjects； which we both deny。 It remains therefore that in
all christian Churches； that is to say； in all christian Cities；
the interpretation of sacred Scripture depend on； and derive from
the authority of that man； or Councell； which hath the Soveraign
power of the City。
XXVIII。 Now because there are two kindes of controversies；
the one about spirituall matters； that is to say； questions of
faith； the truth whereof cannot be searcht into by naturall
reason； such are the questions concerning the nature； and office
of Christ； of rewards and punishments to come； of the Sacraments；
of outward worship； and the like： the other； about questions of
humane science； whose truth is sought out by naturall reason； and
Syllogismes； drawne from the Covenants of men； and definitions
（that is to say； significations received by use； and common
consent of words） such as are all questions of Right； and
Philosophy。 For example； when in matter of Right its questioned
whether there be a Promise； and Covenant； or not？ that is nothing
else； but to demand； whether such words spoken in such a manner
be by common use； and consent of the Subjects； a Promise or
Covenant； which if they be so called； then it is true that a
Contract is made； if not； then it is false： that truth therefore
depends on the compacts； and consents of men。 In like manner when
it is demanded in Philosophy whether the same thing may entirely
be in divers places at once； the determination of the question
depends on the knowledge of the common consent of men about the
signification of the word entire： for if men when they say a
thing is entirely somewhere doe signifie by common consent that
they understand nothing of the same to be elsewhere； it is false
that the same thing is in divers places at once： that truth
therefore depends on the consents of men； and by the same reason
in all other questions concerning Right； and Philosophy。 And they
who doe judge that any thing can be determin'd； （contrary to this
common consent of men concerning the appellations of things） out
of obscure places of Scripture； doe also judge that the use of
speech； and at once all humane society； is to be taken away； for
he who hath sold an whole field； will say； he meant one whole
ridge； and will retaine the rest as unsold； nay； they take away
reason it selfe； which is nothing else but a searching out of the
truth made by such consent。 These kinde of questions therefore
need not be determin'd by the City by way of interpretation of
Scriptures； for they belong not to Gods Word； in that sense
wherein the Word of God is taken for the Word concerning God；
that is to say； for the Doctrine of the Gospell； neither is he
who hath the Soveraigne Power in the Church； oblig'd to employ
any Ecclesiastical Doctours for the judging of any such kind of
matters as these。 But for the deciding of questions of Faith；
that is to say； concerning God； which transcend humane capacity；
we stand in need of a divine blessing （that we may not be
deceiv'd at least in necessary points） to be deriv'd from CHRIST
himselfe by the imposition of hands。 For； seeing to the end we
may attaine to aeternal Salvation； we are oblig'd to a
supernatural Doctrine； & which therefore it is impossible for us
to understand； to be left so destitute； as that we can be
deceiv'd in necessary points； is repugnant to aequity。 This
infallibility our Saviour Christ promis'd （in those things which
are necessary to Salvation） to his Apostles untill the day of
judgement； that is to say； to the Apostles； and Pastors
succeeding the Apostles who were to be consecrated by the
imposition of hands。 He therefore who hath the Soveraigne power
in the City； is oblig'd as a Christian； where there is any
question concerning the Mysteries of Faith； to interpret the Holy
Scriptures by Clergy…men lawfully ordain'd。 And thus in Christian
Cities the judgement both of spirituall and temporall matters
belongs unto the civill authority。 And that man； or councell who
hath the Supreme power； is head both of the City； and of the
Church； for a Church； and a Christian City is but one thing。
Chap。 XVIII
Concerning those things which are necessary for our entrance into
the Kingdome of Heaven。
I。 It was ever granted that all authority in secular matters
deriv'd from him who had the Soveraigne power； whether he were
one Man； or an Assembly of Men。 That the same in spirituall
matters depended on the authority of the Church； is manifest by
the next foregoing proofs； and besides this； that all Christian
Cities are Churches endued with this kind of authority From
whence a man though but dull of apprehension may collect； that in
a Christian City； （that is to say； in a City whose Soveraignty
belongs to a Christian Prince； or Councell） all Power； as well
spiritual； as secular； is united under Christ； and therefore it
is to be obey'd in all things。 But on the other side； because we
must rather obey God then Wen； there is a difficulty risen； how
obedience may safely be yeelded to them； if at any time somewhat
should be commanded by them to be done which CHRIST hath
prohibited。 The reason of this difficulty is； that seeing God no
longer speakes to us by CHRIST； and his Prophets in open voice；
but by the holy Scriptures； which by divers men are diversly
understood； they know indeed what Princes； and a congregated
Church doe command； but whether that which they doe command be
contrary to the word of God； or not； this they know not； but with
a wavering obedience between the punishments of temporall； and
spirituall death； as it were sailing betweene Scilla and
Carybdis； they often run themselves upon both。 But they who
rightly distinguish betweene the things necessary to Salvation；
and those which are not necessary； can have none of this kind of
doubt。 For if the command of the Prince； or City be such； that he
can obey it without hazard of his aeternall Salvation； it is
unjust not to obey them； and the Apostles praecepts take place：
Servants in all things obey your Wasters according to the flesh。
Children obey your Parents in all things。 Col。 3。 v。 20； 22。 And
the command of CHRIST；