Moses the God of Aaron, or the Power and Duty of Princes in Sacred Matters

[reli]gion, if any stir up disturbances, if any seditiously defend or attack true or false dogmas, if any under the appearance of religion detract from the rights of the Prince term: "Princeps"; the sovereign ruler whether in secular or sacred matters, or if any endeavor to make the Prince fall into contempt among his subjects, or clearly turn them away from obedience.

§. XXI. What I have explained so far regarding the right over sacred matters jus sacrorum: the legal authority of a ruler to govern the external affairs and organization of the church applies differently when the Prince has promised his subjects the free exercise of religion by a treaty original: "pacto", even if that religion is false. For even with heretics, agreements must be kept, and this is according to the law of nature jus naturæ: universal moral principles known through reason rather than revelation. Hence, three religions are accepted throughout Germany: the Evangelical or Lutheran, restored through the ministry of Luther two hundred years ago (which is truly universal original: "catholica" and truly reformed—see Genesis 3:15, 12:3, 2:18; Acts 15:10-11, 16:30-31); the Pontifical original: "Pontificia"; the Roman Catholic Church or so-called Catholic; and the likewise so-called Reformed original: "Reformata"; the Calvinist tradition. Writers on public law explain this arrangement based on the treaties between the Princes or the fundamental laws of the Empire.

CHAPTER II.

After it has been demonstrated that the care of all religion, even revealed religion, belongs to the Prince, it is easily understood that the power of judging theological controversies...