; which is a style that signifieth a power to lay a burden on them that had received their doctrine. Now “to lay a burden on another,” seemeth the same as “to oblige”; and therefore the acts of that council were laws to the then Christians. Nevertheless, they were no more laws than are these other precepts, “repent”; “be baptized”; “keep the commandments”; “believe the gospel”; “come unto me”; “sell all that thou hast”; “give it to the poor”; and “follow me”; which are not commands, but invitations and callings of men to Christianity, like that of Isaiah 55:1, “Ho every man that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, come, and buy wine and milk without money.” For first, the apostles’ power was no other than that of our Saviour, to invite men to embrace the kingdom of God; which they themselves acknowledged for a kingdom, not present, but to come; and they that have no kingdom can make no laws. And secondly, if their acts of council were laws, they could not without sin be disobeyed. But we read not anywhere that they who received not the doctrine of Christ did therein sin; but that they died in their sins; that is, that their sins against the laws to which they owed obedience were not pardoned.