Johannes Althusius: Politica - Hubertlerch.com - HubertLerch.com

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ministry and of schools. [§ 26] A sacred ministry is the public responsibility entrusted to chosen ministers for teaching the true
knowledge of God and for conducting sincere worship of him. It is called by the Apostle Paul the ministry of reconciliation, the
preaching of reconciliation, the ambassadorship of Christ, and the administration of the Word.
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[§ 27] In constituting this ministry, the first office of the supreme magistrate is to set forth by public edicts a system of
penalties concerning the true acknowledgment and worship of God according to sacred scripture, and to promulgate, at whatever
time seems best to him, penal decrees for violators of these edicts throughout the entire realm and the provinces thereof,
according to the example of pious kings. [§ 28] Secondly, the magistrate should legally validate orthodox canons of faith, or
what are called the solemn confession and formula of true religion. These canons pertain to church doctrine and administration,
that is, to the performance of ecclesiastical ceremonies and offices according to the norm of sacred writings. … [§ 29] The third
responsibility that falls to the magistrate is to constitute regular ecclesiastical jurisdictions, presbyteries, synods, and consistories,
and to legislate through them concerning the call, examination, and ordination of bishops and pastors, and their direction,
judgment, and removal from office. … [§ 30] The fourth function of the magistrate is to provide that the individual ephors and
provincial heads of the realm undertake the local responsibility for this ministry in their provinces. In each district of his province,
the provincial head should constitute a presbytery by the election and consent of the church, and confirm it by his own authority.
This presbytery is a senate drawn from the ministers of the church and from other pious, holy, upright, and prudent men elected
by the people to guide the church, to conserve it, and to build it up in Christ.
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[§ 31] The fifth office of the magistrate is to
see that the ministers of the church are legitimately—inwardly and outwardly—called, elected, and confirmed, and that those so
called put forth, teach, and explain the doctrine of the law and the gospel. They should do this sincerely, truly, and fully from the
Word of God, both in public and in private, in an orderly fashion, and in a manner that can be understood by the common people.
In connection with this fifth office, he shall also provide that the ministers rightly administer and dispense the sacraments or
tokens of faith; that in their presbytery they offer prayers, good counsel, and admonitions; that they direct its actions by
proposing issues to be discussed, by gathering opinions on these issues, and by carrying through with matters of special
importance; and that they, together with other presbyters, rightly exercise church discipline, and do anything else that has been
assigned to the collegium of presbyters.
[§ 32] From these things it is apparent that the supreme magistrate has a responsibility to judge concerning the knowledge,
discernment, direction, definition, and promulgation of the doctrine of faith, that he exercises this responsibility on the basis of
sacred scripture, and that he commands bishops in keeping with these scriptures. So Constantine undertook to judge the Arian
controversy. Whence it is evident that clergymen have been subjected to the power of kings, except in those matters that are
proper to them. These matters are the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments, in which they are subject
to God and the church. But to the extent that they are citizens they are subject, together with their families and goods, to the
civil power. …
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[§ 33] The establishment of schools is the means by which public schools and laboratories of piety and the liberal arts are set
up and made accessible in all provinces by the authority and command of the supreme magistrate of the realm. For the school is
the laboratory of good and pious citizens, and the seedbed of honorable arts and customs. Indeed, it is the armory of the church
and commonwealth. Arms of every kind are produced in it not only for defending the true and sincere worship of God against
heretics, but also for defending and conserving the welfare and soundness of the commonwealth. A school is indeed the only
means by which the pure and uncorrupted knowledge and worship of God is conserved and transmitted to posterity. For study
opens the eyes of the mind, and informs and sharpens the judgment. …
[§ 35] On the one hand, private, village, town, ordinary, and common schools are to be established and made available. And,
on the other hand, so are public academies in which prizes for the learned and for those fitted for the direction of church and
commonwealth are determined and conferred. Each ephor establishes schools of the first kind in the province entrusted to him.
The supreme magistrate institutes schools of the second kind, namely academies, and confirms them by his own authority. …
[§ 37] THE OTHER DUTY of the supreme magistrate in ecclesiastical adminis[chtration consists of the conservation and defense of
the church, of public worship, and of schools. … This responsibility encompasses two parts. The first is the conservation of the
church, of divine worship, and of schools. The other is their defense against enemies, persecutors, and disturbers.
[§ 38] The conservation of religion and divine worship is the process by which the purity of heavenly doctrine and the orthodox
consensus are maintained and transmitted to posterity. This is to be attended to by the magistrate by two means. [§ 39] First,
he will announce and hold ecclesiastical assemblies and visitations in every province of the realm, and if necessary in the realm
itself. They are composed of faithful and pious ministers of the church of the realm. Through these assemblies and visitations the
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