All rulers obligated to obey God. Only God has absolute authority.

• All rulers obligated to obey God. Only God has absolute authority.

• Form of government: popularly elected “aristocrats” as in Israel during Judges era. Monarchy in Israel was type of Christ, so not a model for today.

• Opposed monarchy. Need popular election and counselors to the ruler to provide checks and restraint on power.

• Applied Old Testament law to modern State, including laws against false religion. (Denying Trinity and Christ’s deity only. Catholics not punished by the State as heretics). But punishments in OT are not binding today; they can vary among nations based on the severity needed to restrain the unruly.

• Civil ruler, as “nursing father” to the Church, is to support and protect it. But worked to remove the Church from State control in Geneva.

• Don’t obey laws that cause you to sin. But don’t revolt against unjust ruler, except that lesser magistrate may resist an unjust ruler to protect the people.