Of the Office of a Christian Magistrate in the Kirk

Although the members of the kirk beholden, every one in their vocation, and according thereto, to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, so far as lieth in their power; yet chiefly Christian princes, and other Magistrates, are holden to do the same.
For they are called in Scripture, Nourishers of the Kirk, for so much as by them it is, or at least ought to be maintained, upholden and defended against all the would procure the hurt thereof.
So it pertains to the office of a Christian magistrate, to assist and fortify the godly proceedings of the Kirk, in all behalf's, and namely to see that the public estate and ministry thereof be maintained and sustained, as it appertains, according to God's Word.
To see that the Kirk be not invaded, not hurt by false teachers, and hirelings, and for reasons thereof occupied by dumb dogs or idle bellies.
To assist and maintain the discipline of the Kirk, and punish them civilly, that will not obey the censure of the same, without confounding always to one jurisdiction with the other.
To see that sufficient provision be made for the minister, the schools of the poor: And if they have not sufficient to await upon their charges to supply their indigence, even with their own rents if need require.
To hold hand as well to the saving of their persons from injury and open violence, as to their rents and possessions, that they be not defrauded, robbed, nor spoiled thereof.
Not to suffer the patrimony of the Kirk to be applied to profane and unlawfulness or to be devoured by idle bellies, and such as have no lawful function in the kirk, to the hurt of the ministry, schools, poor, and other godly uses, whereupon the same ought to be bestowed.
To make laws and constructions agreeable to God's Word, for advancement of the Kirk, and policy thereof, without usurping any thing that pertains not to the civil sword, and belongs to the offices that are merely ecclesiastical, as is the ministry of the Word and sacraments, using ecclesiastical discipline, and the spiritual execution thereof, or any part of the power of the spiritual keys, which our master gave to the Apostles and their true successors.
And although kings and princes that be godly, some times by their own authority, when the kirk is corrupted, and all things out of order, place minster's and restore the seri vice of the Lord, after the example of some godly kings of Judah, and divers godly emperors', and kings also, in the light of the New Testament. Yet where the Ministry of the Kirk is once lawfully constituted, and they that are placed do their office faithfully, all godly princes and magistrates, out to hear and obey their voice, and reverence the Majesty of the Son of God speaking in them.
—David Calderwood "The History of the Church of Scotland"