Article 27

Of the office of magistracy, and secular power, we confess: that the office of magistracy is an ordinance and institution of God, who Himself willed and ordained that such a power should be over every country, so that by it countries and cities might, through good policy and laws, for the punishment of the evil and the protection of the pious, be governed and maintained in quiet and peace, in a good civil life; without which power of authority the world, lying as it does in wickedness, could not stand. Therefore all believers are bound in duty, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake, to submit themselves to this power, and as good subjects to obey it with fear and reverence; willingly and without murmuring to render to their human ordinances and laws everything that is due to them, whether it be tribute, custom or excise; and to pray with a humble heart for their life and welfare, and so to seek with faithful heart the prosperity of the country and city in which they live; and though they may have to suffer persecution, the spoiling of their property, and death from the authorities for the Word of God, they may not speak evil of them, nor resist them in any way with weapons and defense, but must commit vengeance to God alone, and look for consolation with God after this life. Romans 12, verse 2; Wisdom 6, verse 4; Ecclesiasticus 17, verse 14.

But if the authorities, through Christian equity, grant liberty to practice the faith in every respect, we are under so much the greater obligation of submissive obedience to them; but so far as the authorities abuse the office laid on them, which extends only to the temporal, bodily government of men in temporal things, and encroach on the office of Christ, who alone has power over the spirits and souls of men, seeking through their human laws to press and compel men to act contrary to the Word of God, we may not follow them, but must obey God rather than men, seeing Christ has been set by God His Father above all authority and power, the head in His church; and to this Father of Spirits we are directed, that in all things pertaining to the faith we should obey Him.

And as the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, but spiritual, He has dissuaded and prohibited all His servants and followers from all secular government and highness, and has instituted in His church various ordinances, as pastors, teachers, helps and governments, by which the saints may be joined together, to edify the body of Christ; but the secular office* He left to the secular government, under which the followers of Christ, as strangers and pilgrims who have here no kingdom, power or continuing city, must sojourn, and fight only with spiritual weapons, which is the Word of God; seeing neither Christ nor His apostles prescribed to believers any laws or rules according to which they should govern the world; neither did they refer them to the laws of the Jews, much less to those of the Roman emperors, or to heathen laws, according to which they might regulate themselves in this; but they prescribed to believers only good doctrines, how they should conduct themselves in all Christian propriety as obedient subjects, under the government of the authorities; referring them to His own example, who shunned all the greatness of this world, and showed Himself only as a poor servant. [n552-1] So all His followers must also avoid the office of magistracy in all its departments, and not administer it, following in this too the example of Christ and His apostles, in whose church these offices were not administered, as every intelligent person well knows.

But since all Christians are not permitted, but are very strictly forbidden by God, to speak evil of, judge or condemn anyone who is outside their communion, we would with this still much less speak evil or injuriously of the magistracy, but trust in the only good God, who keeps all the alms of man as a signet, and his good deeds as the apple of the eye, and has promised a true reward to him who gives only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple; that He, the Blessed, will also be gracious to all authorities, and not leave their good deeds unrewarded, particularly those who administer their office rightly according to the ordinances of God, which consists chiefly in protecting good, innocent, defenseless people, and in punishing the evil. Therefore all Christians are bound in duty to regard the authorities as God's ministers, and to pray for them with a fervent heart, that it may please God to be gracious to them and give them eternal salvation.

How government is of God, and for what purpose it is instituted, read: "For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath on him that does evil." Romans 13, verses 1 to 4; Sirach 17, verse 17.

"Jesus answered Pilate: You could have no power at all against me, except it were given you from above." John 19, verse 11; Wisdom 6, verse 3; Daniel 2, verse 21; 4, verse 25; 5, verse 21; Jeremiah 27, verse 5.

How Christ taught His followers not to accept magisterial office, read: "But Jesus called them to him, and said to them, You know that those who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10, verses 42 to 45; Matthew 20, verse 25; Luke 22, verse 5.

Mark the words: But so shall it not be among you. This cannot be applied to the apostles only, who were equal servants, the one being no greater than the other; and since they soon separated from each other to preach the Gospel to all nations, they could not, for this reason, show to each other alone the duty of servants here required; therefore the words, among you, must necessarily be understood of the whole church, seeing Christ spoke to His twelve apostles many others of His principal doctrines and commandments which relate to all believers, as His blessed lips say in the Gospel: "And what I say to you I say to all." Mark 13, verse 37.

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from here." John 18, verse 36; 6, verse 15; Matthew 5, verse 39; Second Corinthians 10, verse 4; Ephesians 6, verse 13; Isaiah 2, verse 4; Micah 4, verse 3; Zechariah 9, verse 10; Psalm 76, verse 3. [n552-2]

Read further, not according to what law the believers are to govern the unbelievers, but only how the church of Christ shall be obedient to government. "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers." "Therefore you must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake." "Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear." Romans 13, verses 1, 5 and 7.

"Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22, verse 21; Mark 12, verse 17.

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well." First Peter 2, verses 13 and 14.

"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men." Titus 3, verses 1 and 2; First Timothy 2, verse 2; Jeremiah 29, verse 7; Baruch 1, verse 11.