How did Counter-Remonstrant leaders view the relationship between church and government?

Counter-Remonstrant leaders, also known as Gomarists, held a view of church-state relations that prioritized the autonomy and supremacy of the Reformed Church. Their perspective included the following key tenets:12

• Church Independence: They sought to establish a church modeled after the Genevan system, which would operate independently of civil authorities.2
• Authority over Government: They believed that churchmen should possess the right to judge the worthiness of civil authorities and, consequently, determine their right to govern.2
• State Support: Despite their desire for independence from civil control, they demanded that the government uphold their specific religious principles, asserting that the Reformed Church was the only true church.1
• Suppression of Dissent: They advocated for the restriction, penalization, or suppression of other religious groups, including Catholics, Jews, and other Protestants, viewing their own faith as the essential "cement" that held the United Provinces together.12

In contrast, the regents led by Johan van Oldenbarnevelt argued that the state church should remain under the authority of the government to ensure toleration and social stability.12