Jonathan Alligood’s Reviews > Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader's Edition > Status Update

XXIII. Of the Civil Magistrate
1. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evildoers.

Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified … that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.

For the Gospel compels us to insist in the churches upon the doctrine of grace, and of the righteousness of faith; which, however, cannot be understood, if men think that they merit grace by observances of their own choice.