一、神是全地至高的主和王，祂设立了民政官员，使他们在祂自己之下、百姓之上，是为了祂自己的荣耀和众人的好处；为此，祂赋予他们刀剑的权柄，用以保护和鼓励行善的、惩罚作恶的（罗13:1-4；彼前2:13-14）。

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.

二、基督徒若被呼召接受并执行民政官员的职务，乃合乎律法的（创41:39-43；尼12:26；13:15-31；但2:48-49；箴8:15-16；罗13:1-4）； 在执行这个职务时，由于他们应该特别根据各国的健全法律维护敬虔、正义与和平（诗2:10-12；提前2:2；诗82:3-4；撒下23:3；彼前2:13），因此，为此目的，如今在新约之下，他们可以合乎律法地在正义和必要的情况下进行战争（路3:14；罗13:4；太8:9-10；徒10:1-2）。

It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called thereunto; in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth, so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Testament, wage war upon just and necessary occasions.

三、民政官员不可擅自宣讲圣言和施行圣礼（代下26:18）；或执掌天国钥匙的权柄（太18:17；16:19；林前12:28-29；弗4:11-12；林前4:1-2；罗10:15；来5:4），或丝毫干涉关乎信仰之事（约18:36；徒5:29；弗4:11-12）。然而，民政官员身为父母官，有责任保护我们同一位主的教会，不偏袒任何一个基督教宗派，以使所有的教会人员都可以享受充分、自由和不被质疑的权利，在免受暴力和危险的情况下，履行他们神圣职能的每个方面（赛49:23；罗13:1-6）。并且，既然耶稣基督在祂的教会设立了正常的行政机制和纪律，任何国家的法律都不应干涉、阻止或妨碍在任何基督教宗派的自愿成员中，根据他们自己的信仰告白正当地行使（诗105:15）。民政官员有责任以有效的方式保护全体人民的身体和名誉，以免任何人借口宗教或不信，对任何其他人进行侮辱、暴力、虐待或伤害：又当作出安排，使所有宗教和教会聚会免受骚扰或干扰（罗13:4；提前2:2）。（译注：1、当时的背景是英王试图控制教会，这里并非谈论现代的「政教分离」观念，而是强调政府不能干涉教会、应该保护宗教自由。2、OPC版对本节有修订。）

Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in His church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.

四、人民有责任为民政官员祷告（提前2:1-3），尊敬他们的人格（彼前2:17），向他们纳税和缴纳其他费用（太22:21；罗13:6-7 ），服从他们合乎律法的命令，并为良心的缘故服从他们的权柄（罗13:5；多3:1）。不信或宗教的不同，既不能使民政官员正当和合法的权柄失效，也不免除人民对他们的顺服 （彼前2:13-16）：教会人员也不例外（罗13:1；徒25:9-11；彼后2:1,10-11；犹8-11），教宗更不能在民政官员的领地内对他们或他们的任何人民拥有任何权力或管辖权，更不用说因着把他们判为异教徒、或任何其他借口，剥夺他们的领地或生命了（可10:42-44；太23:8-12；提后2:24；彼前5:3）。（译注：1、「合法 lawful」在本信条中都是指符合神的律法，而不是符合人的法律，所以译为「合乎律法」。2、在当时的背景下，「宗教的不同」指天主教、圣公会、清教徒等广义基督教内部宗派的不同。）

It is the duty of the people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience’s sake. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate’s just and legal authority, nor free the people from their obedience to him: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted; much less hath the pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and least of all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretense whatsoever.