Of the Civil Magistrate.- GOD, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil
magistrates to be under him over the people, for his own glory, and the
public good; and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the
sword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for
the punishment of evildoers. [1]
- It
is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a
magistrate, when called thereunto; [2] in the managing whereof, as they
ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to
the wholesome laws of each commonwealth; [3] so, for that end, they may
lawfully now under the New Testament, wage war upon just and necessary
occasions. [4]
- The
civil magistrate may not assume to himself administration of the word
and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; [5]
yet, as the gospel revelation lays indispensable obligations upon all
classes of people who are favoured with it, magistrates as such, are
bound to execute their respective offices in a subserviency thereunto,
administering government on Christian principles, and ruling in the
fear of God, according to the directions of his word; as those who
shall give an account to the Lord Jesus, whom God hath appointed to be
the judge of the world. [6] Hence, magistrates, as such, in a Christian
country, are bound to promote the Christian religion, as the most
valuable interest of their subjects, by all such means as are not
inconsistent with civil rights; and do not imply an interference with
the policy of the church, which is the free and independent kingdom of
the Redeemer; nor an assumption of dominion over conscience. [7]
- It
is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, [8] to honour their
persons, [9] to pay them tribute and other dues, [10] to obey their lawful
commands, and to be subject to their authority for conscience' sake. [11]
Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the
magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from their
due obedience to him: [12] from which ecclesiastical persons are not
exempted; [13] much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them
in their dominions, or over any of their people and least of all to
deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be
heretics, or upon any other pretence whatsoever. [14]
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