14. But some men perhaps will wonder, if (excepting this one article, that Jesus is the Christ, which only is necessary to salvation in relation to internal faith) all the rest belong to obedience; which may be performed, although a man do not inwardly believe, so he do but desire to believe, and make an outward profession, as oft as need requires, of whatsoever is propounded by the Church; how it comes about that there are so many tenets, which are all held so to concern our faith, that except a man do inwardly believe them, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. But if he consider that, in most controversies, the contention is about human sovereignty; in some, matter of gain and profit; in others, the glory of wits: he will surely wonder the less. The question about _the propriety of the Church_, is a question about the _right of sovereignty_. For it being known what a _Church_ is, it is known at once to whom the rule over Christians doth belong. For if every Christian city be that Church, which Christ himself hath commanded every Christian, subject to that city, to hear; then every subject is bound to obey his city, that is to say, him or them who have the supreme power, not only in _temporal_, but also in _spiritual matters_. But if every Christian city be not that Church, then is there some other Church more universal, which must be obeyed. All Christians therefore must obey that Church, just as they would obey Christ, if he came upon earth. It will therefore rule either by the way of monarchy, or by some assembly. This question then concerns the _right of ruling_. To the same end belongs the question concerning _infallibility_. For whosoever were truly and internally believed by all mankind, that he could not err, would be sure of all dominion, as well _temporal_ as _spiritual_, over all mankind, unless himself would refuse it. For if he say that he must be obeyed in _temporals_, because it is supposed he cannot err, that right of dominion is immediately granted him. Hither also tends the privilege of interpreting Scriptures. For he to whom it belongs to interpret the controversies arising from the divers interpretations of Scriptures, hath authority also simply and absolutely to determine all manner of controversies whatsoever. But he who hath this, hath also the command over all men who acknowledge the Scriptures to be the word of God. To this end drive all the disputes about _the power of remitting and retaining sins_; or _the authority of excommunication_. For every man, if he be in his wits, will in all things yield that man an absolute obedience, by virtue of whose sentence he believes himself to be either saved or damned. Hither also tends the power of _instituting societies_. For they depend on him by whom they subsist, who hath as many subjects as monks, although living in an enemy’s city. To this end also refers the question concerning the _judge of lawful matrimony_. For he to whom