Chapter I. Concerning Law

§. XIV. After the Prince Princeps: the sovereign or supreme ruler of a state has proposed the true religion to his subjects from the word of God, with a mandate that they embrace it, they ought to show obedience, not only because of the will of God, who requires such faith and worship in His word, but also because of the will of the Prince, who has repeated and confirmed divine precepts through his own command and new law as the Vicar of God Vicarius Dei: a deputy or representative of God on earth, acting with divine authority in earthly matters from His word. Therefore, if subjects do not obey, they sin for a double reason, as they have neglected the precept not only of God, but also of their Prince (Romans 13:1-2) Romans 13:1-2 is a biblical passage often cited to support the idea that all authority comes from God and resisting the ruler is resisting God's ordinance. The Prince, however, ought to leave the matter to God if subjects are unwilling to obey Scripture and his law; for there is no place for coercion, punishments, and persecution. If, however, some teach false things against his prescription, they can be restrained by punishments, because this is an external act, which is subject to coercion, and can also be harmful both to the commonwealth original: "rempublicam"; refers to the state or the public interest and to religion; this is different if some merely believe false things, but do not spread them to others.

§. XV. Just as no power or right is given which men do not abuse, and no duty is so holy that it is not sometimes violated—just as even among Princes there are sometimes those who use their right and fulfill their duty incorrectly in secular original: "profanis"; literally "profane," meaning worldly or non-religious matters affairs—so the same happens regarding the power and duty of Princes in sacred matters. Hence, just like false Teachers, they sometimes lead subjects away from the true religion...