t the knot be justly thought worthy of a greater decider; in
which case the controversy which is carried to the universal synod is
rather of an abstract general theological proposition than of the
particular or individual case.

39. Furthermore, the administration of the ecclesiastic power in
consistories, classes and synods, doth not at all tend to weaken in
anywise, hurt or diminish, the authority of the civil magistrate, much
less to take it away or destroy it; yea, rather, by it a most profitable
help cometh to the magistrate, forasmuch as by the bond of religion men's
consciences are more straitly tied unto him. There has been, indeed,
fantastical men, who, under pretence and cloak of Christian liberty, would
abolish and cast out laws and judgments, orders also, degrees and honours,
out of the commonwealth, and have been bold to reckon the function of the
magistrate armed with the sword among evil things and unlawful: but the
reformed churches do renounce and detest these dreams, and do most
harmoniously and most willingly confess and acknowledge it to be God's
will that the world be governed by laws and policy, and that he himself
hath appointed the civil magistrate, and hath delivered to him the sword
to the protection and praise of good men, but for punishment and revenge
on the evil, that by this bridle, men's vices and faults may be
restrained, whether these are committed against the first or second table.

40. The reformed churches believe also, and openly confess, the power and
authority of emperors over their empires, of kings over their kingdoms, of
princes and dukes over their dominions, and of other magistrates or states
over their commonwealths and cities, to be the ordinances of God himself
appointed as well to the manifestation of his own glory, as to the
singular profit of mankind: and withal, that by reason of the will of God
himself, revealed in his word, we must not only suffer and be content that
those do rule which are set over their own territories, whether by
hereditary or by elective right, but also to love them, fear them, and
with all reverence and honour embrace them as the ambassadors and
ministers of the most high and good God, being in his stead, and preferred
for the good of their subjects, to pour out prayers for them, to pay
tributes to them, and in all business of the commonwealth which is not
against the word of God, to obey their laws and edicts.

41. The orthodox churches believ