一、上帝是全地的主、 全地的王，為祂自己的榮耀和眾人的好處，任命了政府官員，使他們在上帝以下，在百姓以上；為達此目的，上帝賜他們權柄，給他們配帶有能力的劍，讓他們賞善罰惡。
God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil authorities to be, under him, over the people for his own glory and the public good. For this purpose he has armed them with the power of the sword for the defense and encouragement of those who are good, and for the punishment of those who do evil.
二、基督徒被召執行政府官員的職務時，接受並執行此職，是合法的，執行職務時，應照各國家健全的法律來維持敬虔、正義與和平；所以為了這個目的，現今在新約之下，他們可以為了公正必要的理由，進行合法的戰事。
It is lawful for Christians to hold public office when called to it. In such office they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth. For that purpose they may now, under the New Testament, lawfully wage war upon just and necessary occasion.
三、政府官員不可擅自講道並施行聖禮，或執掌天國鑰匙之權，但有責任保持教會內的一致和平，維持上帝真理的純正無缺，禁止褻瀆和異端，防止敬拜與教規中所有的腐敗和濫用，或加以改革，並對雙方都加以規定、執行和遵守。為了達到更好的執行效果，他有權召開教會會議，出席會議，並確保會議辦理的事項合乎上帝的旨意。
Civil authorities may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, nor should they interfere in any way in matters of faith. Yet, as caring fathers, it is the duty of civil authorities to protect the church of our common Lord without giving preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest doing so in such a way that all church authorities shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of carrying out every part of their sacred functions without violence or danger. As Jesus Christ has appointed a regular government and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, prevent, or hinder their proper exercise among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil authorities to protect the person and good name of all their people in such an effective manner that no person be allowed, either in the name of religion or of unbelief, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatever. They should also take care that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without interference or disturbance.
四、人民有責任為政府官員禱告，尊敬他們的人格，給他們納稅或繳交其他當納的費用，服從他們合法的命令，並為良心的緣故服從他們的權柄。不信上帝或信仰不同宗教的長官，並不因此使他正當而合法的權柄失效，也不能使人民不順從他；教會人員亦當順從；教皇無權統治他們，或管轄他們的百姓。更不能判定他們為異端者，或任何其他藉口來剝奪他們的領土或生命。
It is the duty of people to pray for those in authority, to honor them, to pay them taxes or other revenue, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority for the sake of conscience. Neither unbelief nor difference in religion makes void the just and legal authority of officeholders nor frees the people church authorities included from their due obedience to them. Much less does the Pope have any power or jurisdiction over civil authorities in their domains or over any of their people, nor can he deprive them of their domains or lives if he shall judge them to be heretics or on any other pretense whatever.
