CHAPTER I. ON LAW

...[they are] expelled from their own borders. (1 Kings 14:9–10; 15:29; 14:15; 2 Kings 17:23). This is exactly as if a Teacher original: "Doctor"; here referring to a religious authority or professor of theology misleads his listeners with false doctrine: for then both the one who misleads and those who allow themselves to be misled sin, and are punished by God.

§. XVIII. When, however, subjects rightly refuse to accept a false religion which they are commanded to follow, and the Prince term: "Princeps"; the sovereign ruler of a territory. In the 17th-century context, this refers to the legal head of state who held the "Right of Reformation" employs force against them for that reason, then he indeed sins. This is because he is not permitted to persecute subjects with force and punishments even when they refuse to embrace the true religion. Nevertheless, the subjects ought not to resist or oppose him with force; for this is prohibited by God in sacred matters just as it is in secular original: "profanis" affairs. Flight is permitted—as Elijah did (1 Kings 19:2–3) and as Christ taught His disciples (Matthew 10:23)—but resistance is not. Instead, every injury, pain, exile, and even death itself must be borne with patience. (1 Samuel 24:7, 13; 26:8–11; 2 Samuel 1:14; Matthew 26:52; Romans 13:2; 1 Peter 2:23; Revelation 13:10).

§. XIX. Nor should the Prince's authority over sacred matters term: "imperium in sacra"; the legal power of a ruler to regulate the outward affairs and legal standing of the church within his territory be denied because of the abuse of that right, and much less because of the fear of such abuse. For although a subject can be deprived of his own right by a Prince if he abuses it too much, the Prince nevertheless retains his right, as he is to give an account of his actions to God alone, being subject to Him alone. Furthermore, abuse would not be absent even if the command over sacred matters were granted by God to the Ministry The "Ministerium" or the body of ordained clergy or to other Christians.