An harmony of the confessions of the faith of the Christian and Reformed Churches which purelie professe the holy doctrine of the Gospell in all the chiefe kingdomes, nations, and prouinces of Europe: the catologue and order whereof the pages following will declare. There are added in the ende verie shorte notes: in which both the obscure thinges are made plaine, & those thinges which maie in shew seeme to be contrarie each to other, are plainelie and verie modestlie reconciled, and if anie points doe as yet hang in doubt, they are sincerelie pointed at. All which things, in the name of the Churches of Fraunce and Belgia, are submitted to the free and discrete iudgement of all other Churches. Newlie translated out of Latine into English. Also in the end is added the confession of the Church of Scotland. Alowed by publique authoritie.

Of Magistracie. CHAP. 30.

THE Magistracie, of what sort soeuer it be, is ordained of God him selfe, for the peace and quietnes of mankinde: and so, that he ought to haue the chiefest place in the world: If he be an aduersarie to the Church, he may hinder and di∣sturbe it very much: but if he be a friend and a member of the Church, he is a moste profitable and excellent member thereof, which may profit it verie much, and finallie may helpe and further it verie excellentlie. His chiefest dutie is, to procure and maintaine peace and pub∣lique tranquillitie. Which doubtles he shall neuer do more happilie, then when he shall be truelie seasoned with the feare of God and true religion, namelie when he shall after the example of moste holie Kinges and Princes of the peo∣ple of the Lorde, aduaunce the preaching of the truth, and the pure and sincere faith, and shall roote out lies, and all superstition, with all impietie and Idolatrie, and shall de∣fend

the Church of God. For in deede we teach that the care of religion doth chieflie appertaine to the holie Ma∣gistrate: let him therefore holde the worde of God in his handes, and looke that nothing be taught contrary thereun∣to. In like manner let him gouerne the people committed to him of God * 1.1with good lawes, made according to the worde of God. Let him hold them in discipline, and in their dutie, and in obedience, let him exercise iudgement by iudgeing vprightlie, let him not accept anie mans person, or receiue bribes: let him deliuer widowes, fatherles chil∣dren, and those that be afflicted from wrong: let him re∣presse, yea and cut of such as are vniust either by deceit, or by violence. For he hath not receiued the sworde of God in vaine. Therefore let him draw forth this sworde of God a∣gainst * 1.2all malefactours, seditious persons, theeues, or mur∣derers, oppressours, blasphemers, periured persons, and all those whome God hath commaunded him to punish or ex∣ecute. Let him suppresse stubborne heretiques (which are heretiques in deede, who cease not to blaspheme the maie∣stie of God, and to trouble the Church, yea and finallie to destroy it: but if so be it be necessarie to preserue the saftie of the people by warre, let him doe it in the name of God, so that he first seeke peace by all meanes possible, and vse it not saue onelie then, when he can saue his subiects no waie but by warre. And while as the Magistrate doth these things in faith, he serueth God by those workes, as with such as be good workes, and shall receiue a blessing from the Lorde.

We condemne the Anabaptists, who as they denie that a christian man should beare the office of a magistrate, so also they deny that anie man can iustlie be put to death by the Magistrate, or that the Magistrate maie make warre, or that othes shoulde be performed to the Magi∣strates, and such like thinges. For as God will worke the saftie of his people by the Magistrate, whome he hath giuen to be as it were a father of the world, so all the subiects are commaunded to acknowledge this benefit of God in the Magistrate: therefore let them honour and reuerence the Magistrate, as the minister of God, let them loue him, fa∣uour him, and pray for him, as their father, and let them o∣bey all his iust and equall commaundements: Finallie, let

* 1.3 them pay all customes and tributes and all other dueties of the like sorte, faithfullie and willinglie. And if the common saftie of the countrie and iustice require it, and the Magi∣strate do of necessitie make warre, let them laie downe their life, & spend their blood for the common saftie and defence of the Magistrate, and that in the name of God willinglie, valiantlie, and cherefullie. For he that opposeth himselfe a∣gainst the Magistrate, doth procure the wrath of god against him. We condemne therfore all contemners of Magistrates, as rebells, enemies of the common wealth, seditious vil∣laines, & in a word, all such as do either openlie or closelie refuse to performe those duties which they ought to do, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  looke the 1. obseruat. vpon this confess.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 13.
• * 1.3

  *Looke the 2. obseruat.▪