Harmony of the Reformed Confessions

Westminster Confession Chapter 23

Westminster Standards
Confession
Chapter 23 — Of the Civil Magistrate
1. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under him, over
the people, for his own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the
sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evildoers.
2. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto: in the
managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the
wholesome laws of each commonwealth; so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the new testament,
wage war, upon just and necessary occasion.
3 (original). The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments,
or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he has authority, and it is his duty, to take order that
unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire, that all
blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or
reformed, and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administrated, and observed. For the better effecting
whereof, he has power to call synods, to be present at them and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in
them be according to the mind of God.
3 (revised). Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments;
or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing
fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the
preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons
whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred
functions, without violence or danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and
discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise
thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession
and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such
an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer
any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious
and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.
4. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute or other dues, to
obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience' sake. Infidelity, or
difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates' just and legal authority, nor free the people from
their due obedience to them: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted, much less hath the pope
any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to
deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretense
whatsoever.

Larger Catechism —
Shorter Catechism —

Three Forms of Unity

Belgic Confession:
Article 36: The Civil Government
We believe that because of the depravity of the human race our good God has ordained kings, princes, and
civil officers. He wants the world to be governed by laws and policies so that human lawlessness may be
restrained and that everything may be conducted in good order among human beings.
For that purpose he has placed the sword in the hands of the government, to punish evil people and protect
the good.
And being called in this manner to contribute to the advancement of a society that is pleasing to God, the
civil rulers have the task, subject to God's law, of removing every obstacle to the preaching of the gospel and
to every aspect of divine worship.
They should do this while completely refraining from every tendency toward exercising absolute authority,
and while functioning in the sphere entrusted to them, with the means belonging to them.
And the government's task is not limited to caring for and watching over the public domain but extends also
to upholding the sacred ministry, with a view to removing and destroying all idolatry and false worship of
the Antichrist; to promoting the kingdom of Jesus Christ; and to furthering the preaching of the gospel
everywhere; to the end that God may be honored and served by everyone, as he requires in his Word.
Moreover everyone, regardless of status, condition, or rank, must be subject to the government, and pay
taxes, and hold its representatives in honor and respect, and obey them in all things that are not in conflict
with God's Word, praying for them that the Lord may be willing to lead them in all their ways and that we
may live a peaceful and quiet life in all piety and decency.
And on this matter we denounce the Anabaptists, other anarchists, and in general all those who want to
reject the authorities and civil officers and to subvert justice by introducing common ownership of goods
and corrupting the moral order that God has established among human beings.

Heidelberg Catechism —
Canons of Dordt —

Other
Second Helvetic Confession
Chapter 30 — Of the Magistracy
1. THE MAGISTRACY IS FROM GOD. Magistracy of every kind is instituted by God himself for the peace and
tranquillity of the human race, and thus it should have the chief place in the world. If the magistrate is
opposed to the Church, he can hinder and disturb it very much; but if he is a friend and even a member of
the Church, he is a most useful and excellent member of it, who is able to benefit it greatly, and to assist it
best of all.
2. THE DUTY OF THE MAGISTRATE. The chief duty of the magistrate is to secured and preserve peace and public
tranquillity. Doubtless he will never do this more successfully than when he is truly God-fearing and
religious; that is to say, when, according to the example of the most holy kings and princes of the people of
the Lord, he promotes the preaching of the truth and sincere faith, roots out lies and all superstition, together
with all impiety and idolatry, and defends the Church of God. We certainly teach that the care of religion
belongs especially to the holy magistrate.
3. Let him, therefore, hold the Word of God in his hands, and take care lest anything contrary to it is taught.
Likewise let him govern the people entrusted to him by God with good laws made according to the Word of
God, and let him keep them in discipline, duty and obedience. Let him exercise judgment by judging
uprightly. Let him not respect any man’s person or accept bribes. Let him protect widows, orphans and the
afflicted. Let him punish and even banish criminals, impostors and barbarians. For he does not bear the
sword in vain (Rom. 13:4).
Therefore, let him draw this sword of God against all malefactors, seditious persons, thieves, murderers,
oppressors, blasphemers, perjured persons, and all those whom God has commanded him to punish and
even to execute. Let him suppress stubborn heretics (who are truly heretics), who do not cease to blaspheme
the majesty of God and to trouble, and even to destroy the Church of God.
War.
4. And if it is necessary to preserve the safety of the people by war, let him wage war in the name of God;
provided he has first sought peace by all means possible, and cannot save his people in any other way
except by war. And when the magistrate does these things in faith, he serves God by those very works which
are truly good, and receives a blessing from the Lord.
5. We condemn the Anabaptists, who when they deny that a Christian may hold the office of a magistrate,
deny also that a man may be justly put to death by the magistrate, or that the magistrate may wage war, or
that oaths are to be rendered to a magistrate, and such like things.
6. THE DUTY OF SUBJECTS. For as God wants to effect the safety of his people by the magistrate, whom he has
given to the world to be, as it were, a father, so all subjects are commanded to acknowledge this favor of
God in the magistrate. Therefore let them honor and reverence the magistrate as the minister of God; let
them love him, favor him, and pray for him as their father; and let them obey all his just and fair commands.
Finally, let them pay all customs and taxes, and all other such dues faithfully and willingly. And if the public
safety of the country and justice require it, and the magistrate of necessity wages war, let them even lay
down their life and pour out their blood for the public safety and that of the magistrate. And let them do this
in the name of God willingly, bravely and cheerfully. For he who opposes the magistrate provokes the severe
wrath of God against himself.
7. SECTS AND SEDITIONS. We, therefore, condemn all who are contemptuous of the magistrate - rebels,
enemies of the state, seditious villains, finally, all who openly or craftily refuse to perform whatever duties
they owe.
The Conclusion: We beseech God, our most merciful Father in heaven, that he will bless the rulers of the
people, and us, and his whole people, through Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Savior; to whom be praise
and glory and thanksgiving,for all ages. Amen.\