CHAPTER 10.

Of the Office of a Christian Magistrate in the Church.

1. Although all the members of the Church are held (bound), every one in his vocation, and according thereto, to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ so far as lies in their power; yet, chiefly, Christian Princes and other Magistrates are held (bound) to do the same; for they are called in the Scriptures nourishers of the Church, for so much as by them it is, or at least, ought to be maintained, fostered, upheld, and defended against all that would produce the hurt thereof.

2. So it pertains to the office of a Christian Magistrate to assist and fortify the godly proceedings of the Church in all behalfs; and namely (especially) to see that the public estate and ministry thereof be maintained and sustained as it appertains, according to God's Word.

3. To see that the Church be not invaded or hurt by false teachers or hirelings, nor the places thereof be occupied by dumb dogs or idle bellies.

4. To assist and maintain the discipline of the Church, and punish them civilly that will not obey the censure of the same; always without confounding the one jurisdiction with the other.

5. To see that sufficient provision is made for the ministry, the schools, and the poor, and, if they have not sufficient to await upon their charges, to supply their indigence with their own rents (revenues) if need require. To hold hand (extend hand) as well to the saving of their persons from violence, as to their rents and possessions, that they be not defrauded, robbed, nor spoiled thereof.

6. Not to suffer the Patrimony of the Church to be applied to profane and unlawful uses, or to be devoured by idle bellies, and such as have no lawful function in the Church, to the hurt of the Ministry, Schools, Poor, and other godly uses upon which the same ought to be bestowed.

7. To make the laws and constitutions agreeable to God's Word for advancement of the Church, and polity thereof; without usurping anything that pertains not to the Civil Sword, but belongs to the offices that are merely ecclesiastical, as is the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments, using of Ecclesiastical discipline and the Spiritual execution thereof, or any part of the power of the Spiritual Keys, which our Master gave the Apostles and their Successors. And, although Kings and Princes that are godly, sometimes by their own authority, when the Church is corrupt, and all things out of order, place Ministers and restore the true service of the Lord, after the example of some godly Kings of Judah, and divers godly Emperors and Kings also in the light of the New Testament; yet where the Ministry of the Church is once lawfully constituted, and they that are placed do their office faithfully, all godly Princes and Magistrates ought to hear and obey their voice, and reverence the Majesty of the Son of God speaking by them.