While Vermigli charged the civil magistrate with enforcing religious duties, he followed Augustine's distinction in the City of God between the spiritual sphere (in Vermigli's words the "inward motions of the mind") and the "outward discipline" of society.
Meskipun Vermigli menempatkan magistrat sipil dengan pemberlakuan tugas-tugas keagamaan, ia mengikuti pernyataan Agustinus dalam Kota Allah antara lingkup spiritual (dalam kata-kata Vermigli "pergerakan bagian dalam pada pikiran") dan "disiplin luar" masyarakat.