They condemn also those who do not place evangelical
perfection in the fear of God and in faith, but in forsaking
civil offices, for the Gospel teaches an eternal righteousness
of the heart. Meanwhile, it does not destroy the State or the
family, but very much requires that they be preserved as
ordinances of God, and that charity be practiced in such
ordinances. Therefore, Christians are necessarily bound to
obey their own magistrates and laws save only when commanded
to sin; for then they ought to obey God rather than men. Acts
5, 29.

Article XVII: Of Christ's Return to Judgment.

Also they teach that at the Consummation of the World Christ
will appear for judgment and will raise up all the dead; He
will give to the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting
joys, but ungodly men and the devils He will condemn to be
tormented without end.

They condemn the Anabaptists, who think that there will be an
end to the punishments of condemned men and devils.

They condemn also others who are now spreading certain Jewish
opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead the godly
shall take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly
being everywhere suppressed.


Article XVIII: Of Free Will.