This is one of the first theological statements of
Protestant Resistance theory; this theory eventually found fruit in the
Dutch, English, and American Revolutions.
We will show from Holy Scripture that if a higher
magistrate undertakes by force to restore popish idolatry and to suppress
of exterminate the pure teaching of the Holy Gospel, as in the present
instance, then the lower god-fearing magistrate may defend himself and
his subjects against such unjust force in order to preserve the true teaching,
the worship of God together with body, life, goods, and honor. The powers
that be are ordained of God to protect the good and punish the bad (Romans
13), but if they start to persecute the good, they are no longer ordained
of God. There are to be sure degrees of tyranny and if a magistrate makes
unjust war upon his subjects contrary to his plighted oath, they may resist,
though they are not commanded to do so by God. But if a ruler is so demented
as to attack God, then he is the very devil who employs mighty potentates
in Church and State. When, for example, a prince or an emperor tampers
with marriage against the dictates of natural law, then in the name of
natural law and Scripture he may be resisted.
Praise be to God. Because He lives we also shall live
and be exalted since now we suffer with Him and for His sake we are killed
all the day long (Psalm 44).