The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Of the premises it is evident, That to lawful powers is given the Sword, for punishment of malefactors, for maintenance of innocents, and for the profit and utility of their subjects. Now let us consider, Whether the Reformation of Religion fallen in decay, and punishment of false Teachers, do appertain to the Civill Magistrate and Nobility of any Realm.¹ I am not ignorant that Satan of old time, for maintenance of his darkness, hath obtained of the blind world two chief points: The former, He hath persuaded to Princes, Rulers, and Magistrates, That ⟨p. 13⟩the feeding of Christs Flock appertaineth nothing to their charge, but that it is rejected upon the Bishops, and State Ecclesiastical. And secondly, That the Reformation of Religion, be it never so corrupt, and the punishment of such as be sworn Soldiers in their kingdom, are exempted from all Civill power, and are reserved to themselves, and to their cognizance. But that no offender may justly be exempted from punishment; and that the ordering and reformation of Religion, with the instruction of subjects, doth especially appertain to the Civill Magistrate, shall Gods perfect Ordinance, his plain Word, and the facts and examples of those that of God are highly praised, most evidently declare.

Of the premises it is evident, That to lawfull powers is given the Sword, for punishment of malefactors, for maintenance of innocents, and for the profit and utility of their subjects. Now let us consider, Whether the Reformation of Religion fallen in decay, and punishment of false Teachers, do appertain to the Civill Magistrate and Nobility of any Realme.¹ I am not ignorant that Satan of old time, for maintenance of his darknesse, hath obtained of the blinde world two chief points: The former, He hath perswaded to Princes, Rulers, and Magistrates, That ⟨p. 13⟩the feeding of Christs Flock appertaineth nothing to their charge, but that it is rejected upon the Bishops, and State Ecclesiasticall. And secondly, That the Reformation of Religion, be it never so corrupt, and the punishment of such as be sworn Souldiers in their kingdom, are exempted from all Civill power, and are reserved to themselves, and to their cognizance. But that no offender may justly be exempted from punishment; and that the ordering and reformation of Religion, with the instruction of subjects, doth especially appertain to the Civill Magistrate, shall Gods perfect Ordinance, his plain Word, and the facts and examples of those that of God are highly praised, most evidently declare.