X - Of the Office of a Christian Magistrate in the Kirk

Although all the members of the kirk be holden every one in their vocation, & according therto, to advance the Kingdom of Iesus Christ, so far as lyeth in their power, yet chiefly Christian Princes, and other Magistrates, are holden to doe the same.

For they are called in the Scripture nourishers of the Kirk, for so much as by them it is, or at least ought to be mainteined, fostered, upholden, and defended against all that would procure the hurt thereof.

So it perteines to the office of a Christian Magistrate, to assist and fortifie the godly proceedings of the Kirk in all behalfes; and namely to see that the publique estate and ministerie thereof be maintained & susteined, as it appertaines, according to Gods word.

To see that the kirk be not invaded, nor hurt by false Teachers, and Hirelings, nor the roomes thereof be occupied by dumb doggs, or idle bellies.

To assist and maintaine the discipline of the kirk, and punish them civilly, that will not obey the censure of the same, without confounding alwaies the one jurisdiction with the other.

To see that sufficient provision be made for the ministerie, the schooles, and the poore: and if they have not sufficient to awaite upon their charges, to supply their indigence even with their own rents, if need require.

To hold hand as well to the saving of their persons from injurie and open violence, as to their rents and possessions, that they be not defrauded, robbed, nor spoiled thereof.

Not to suffer the patrimony of the kirk to be applyed to profane and unlawful uses, or be devoured by idle bellies, & such as have no lawfull function in the kirk, to the hurt of the Ministery, schooles, poore, & other godly uses, wherupon the same ought to be bestowed.

To make lawes and constitutions agreeable to Gods word, for advancement of the kirk, and policie therof, without usurping any thing that perteins not to the civil sword, but belongs to the offices that are meerly Ecclesiasticall, as is the ministerie of the Word and Sacraments, using Ecclesiasticall Discipline, and the spirituall execution therof, or any part of the power of the spirituall keyes, which our Master gave to the Apostles, and their true successours.

And although Kings and Princes that be godly, some times by their own authority, when the kirk is corrupted and all things out of order; place Ministers, & restore the true service of the Lord, after the example of some godly Kings of Iuda, and divers godly Emperours. and Kings also in the light of the new Testament. Yet where the ministerie of the kirk is once lawfully constitute, and they that are placed doe their office faithfully, all godly Princes and Magistrates ought to heare, and obey their voice, and reverence the Majestie of the Son of God speaking in them.