CXI propositions concerning the ministry and government of the ChurchCXI propositions concerning the ministerie and government of the Church

Furthermore the Administration of the Ecclesiastic power in Consistories, Classes and Synods, doth not at all tend to weaken in any wise, hurt or minish the authority of the civil Magistrate, much less to take it away or destroy it, yea rather by it a most profitable help cometh to the Magistrate, forasmuch as by the bond of Religion, mens consciences are more straitly tied unto him. There hath been indeed fantastical men who under pretence and cloak of Christian liberty, would abolish and cast out Laws and Judgements, Orders also, Degrees and Honours out of the commonwealth, and have been bold to reckon the function of the Magistrate armed with the sword, among evil things and unlawful: But the Reformed Churches do renounce and detest those dreams, and do most harmoniously and most-willingly confess and acknowledge ⟨p. 18⟩it to be Gods will that the World be governed by Laws and Policy, and that he himself hath appointed the civill Magistrate, and hath delivered to him the sword to the protection and praise of good men, but for punishment and revenge on the evil, that by this bridle, mens vices and faults may be restrained, whether committed against the first or against the second Table.

Furthermore the Administration of the Ecclesiastick power in Consistories, Classes and Synodes, doth not at all tend to weaken in any wise, hurt or minish the authority of the civil Magistrate, much lesse to take it away or destroy it, yea rather by it a most profitable help cometh to the Magistrate, forasmuch as by the bond of Religion, mens consciences are more straitly tyed unto him. There hath been indeed phantasticall men who under pretence and cloak of Christian liberty, would abolish and cast out Lawes and Judgements, Orders also, Degrees and Honours out of the commonwealth, and have been bold to reckon the function of the Magistrate armed with the sword, among evill things and unlawfull: But the Reformed Churches doe renounce and detest those dreames, and do most harmoniously and most-willingly confesse and acknowledge