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 pretence 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.
Changes from Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), Paragraph 23.3
The Civil Magistrates may not assume to himself 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, he hath Authority, and as nursing fathers, it is his 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 pretence of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that Unity and Peace be preserved in the Church, that the Truth of God be kept pure, and intire; that Blasphemies all religious and Heresies ecclesiastical assemblies be suppressed; all corruptions and abuses in Worship and Discipline prevented, held without molestation or reformed; and all the Ordinances of God duly setled, administred, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call Synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them, be according to the minde of God.disturbance.
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 hath 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 intire; 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 setled, administred, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call Synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them, be according to the minde of God.
Westminster Confession of Faith (American revision, 1788), Paragraph 23.3
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 pretence 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.
Hath GOD armed the Civil Magistrat, with the power of the Sword, for the defence, and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers? Yes. Is it the…
Erastians seldom claim for the civil magistrate the right of dispensing the sacraments and preaching the Word, and Mr. Coleman expressly repudiated this notion. Erastus himself,…
