"For this reason we must take particular care not to mingle the power of the Church with the power of the State.[578] The power of the Church ought never to invade an office that is foreign to it; for Christ himself said: _My kingdom is not of this world_. And again: _Who made me a judge over you?_ St. Paul said to the Philippians: _Our citizenship is in heaven_.[579] And to the Corinthians: _The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God_. [578] Non igitur commiscendæ sunt potestates ecclesiasticæ et civilis.--(Ibid.) [579] Greek, πολιτευμα.--(Philip. iii. 20. Scott and Henry Comment.) "It is thus that we distinguish the two governments and the two powers, and that we honour both as the most excellent gifts that God has given here on earth. [Sidenote: THE CONFESSION--EPILOGUE.] "The duty of the bishops is therefore to preach the Gospel, to forgive sins, to exclude from the Christian Church all who rebel against the Lord, but without human power, and solely by the Word of God.[580] If the bishops act thus, the churches ought to be obedient to them according to this declaration of Christ: _Whoever heareth you, heareth me_. [580] Excludere a communione Ecclesiæ, sine vi humana sed verbo.--(Urkund. Confes. Augs. i. p. 544.) "But if the bishops teach anything that is contrary to the Gospel, then the churches have an order from God which forbids them to obey (Matt. vii. 15; Galatians i. 8; 2 Cor. xiii. 8, 10). And St. Augustin himself, in his letter against Pertilian, writes: 'We must not obey the catholic bishops, if they go astray, and teach anything contrary to the canonical Scriptures of God.'"[581] [581] Nec catholicis episcopis consentiendum est, sicuti forte falluntur, aut contra canonicas Dei scripturas aliquid sentiunt--(Urkund. Confes. Augs. i. p. 544.) After some remarks on the ordinances and traditions of the Church, Bayer came to the epilogue of the Confession. "It is not from hatred that we have spoken," added he, "nor to insult any one; but we have explained the doctrines that we maintain to be essential, in order that it may be understood that we admit of neither dogma nor ceremony which is contrary to the Holy Scriptures, and to the usage of the universal Church." Bayer then ceased to read. He had spoken for two hours: the silence and serious attention of the assembly were not once disturbed.[582] [582] Mit grosser Stille und Ernst.--(Brüch's Apologie, p. 59.) This Confession of Augsburg will ever remain one of the masterpieces of the human mind enlightened by the Spirit of God. [Sidenote: REMARKS ON THE CONFESSION.]