OF THOSE TO BE REFORMED

original: "REFORMANDI"

[the Prince should] remove [falsehood], and on the contrary, propose the true religion known from the Word of God to his subjects, command them to follow it, and preserve it once it has been introduced. This is proven by the fact that Moses is called the "God of Aaron," and Princes are called "Gods" and "Vicars of God," and likewise they are called the "nursing fathers of the church." The author cites Exodus 4:16, Deuteronomy 33:4, Psalm 82:6, and Isaiah 49:23. These titles were historically used to argue that a ruler has a divine mandate to care for the spiritual well-being of their people, just as a parent cares for a child. Therefore, they must care for divine things above all else, so that true religion may be introduced and preserved, and so that the pure milk of the Gospel original: "purum lac Evangelii"; a common biblical metaphor for basic, essential Christian teaching. may be offered to their subjects by their authority.

§. VII. Next, we see it commanded specifically to the King, in his capacity as King, that he should read and keep the law of God (Deuteronomy 17:18–19, Joshua 1:8). For insofar as he is a man, he—along with the rest of the Israelites—has already been commanded elsewhere to read and keep the word of God (Leviticus 18:4–5, Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32). Since the preceding and following passages discuss the office of the King, these cited words also pertain to the King’s specific duty. Therefore, a unique safekeeping of the divine word is required of a King, which is proper to him alone and does not belong to other men or even to Teachers. And this is legislative custody original: "custodia legislatoria": namely, that by his authority, he keeps the word of God uncorrupted, and punishes or restores it if it has been corrupted. To this same end, a book of the law was placed in the hands of Kings at their coronation (2 Kings 11:12, 2 Chronicles 23:11). They must, therefore, be the guardians and defenders of the divine word.

§. IIX. Furthermore, Kings are commanded, as such,