Of the ciuile MagistratS
WE confess and acknawlege Empyris Kingdomis dominiounis and citeis to be distinctit and ordenit be God the poweris and authoritie in the same (be it of Emperouris in thair Empyris of Kingis in thair Realmis Dukis and Princes in thair dominiounis and of vtheris Magistratis in fre cieteis) to be goddis haly ordinance ordenit for manifestatioun of his awin glorie and for the singular profite and commoditie of mankynde sa that quhasaeuer gangis about to tak away or to confound the haill state of ciuile policeis now lang establischit we affirme the same men not onlie to be enemeis to mankynde bot alswa wickitlie to fecht aganis goddis expressit will We farther confess and acknawlege that sic personis as ar placit in authoritie ar to be luifit honourit feirit and haldin in maist reuerend estimatioun becaus that thay ar the lieutennentis of god in quhais sessiounis god him self dois sit and Juge (ye euin the Jugeis and Princes thame selfis) to quhome be God is geuin the sworde to the praise and defence of gude men and to reuenge and punische all oppin malefactouris Mairouer to Kingis Princes rewlaris and magistratis we affirme that cheiflie and maist principallie the conseruatioun and purgatioun of the Religioun appertenis sa that not onlie thay ar appointit for ciuile policie bot alswa for mantenance of the trew religioun and for suppressing of Idolatrie and superstitioun quhatsaeuer As in Dauid Josaphat Ezechias Josias and vtheris heichly commendit for thair zeall in that caise may be espyit And thairfoir we confess and awow that sic as resist the supreme power (doing that thing quhilk appertenis to his charge) do resist goddis ordinance And thairfoir can not be giltless And farther we affirme that quhasaeuer denyis vnto thame thair ayde counsell and confort quhylis the Princes and rewlaris vigilantlie trawaill in executioun of thair office that the same men deny thair help supporte and counsell to God quha be the presence of his lieutennent dois craif it of thame