I call upon You, Lord, God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob and Israel, You who are the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God who, through the abundance of your mercy, was well-pleased towards us so that we may know You, who made heaven and earth, who rules over all, You who are the one and the true God, above whom there is no other God; You who, by our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, give to every one who reads this writing to know You, that You alone are God, to be strengthened in You, and to avoid every heretical and godless and impious teaching.

St Irenaeus of Lyons, Against the Heresies 3:6:4


Thursday, October 18, 2012

Politics and the Gospel, per Calvin


The gospel is not brought in to change the common politics of the world and to make laws that belong to the temporal state.  It is true that kings, princes, and magistrates ought always to ask the counsel at God’s mouth and to conform themselves to his Word, but yet for all that, our Lord has given them liberty to make such laws as they shall perceive to be fitting and suitable for the rule committed to them.  They must call upon God to give them the spirit of wisdom and discretion, and because they are insufficient for this in and of themselves, they must take counsel from God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:5—9, Sermons on the Epistle to the Ephesians.

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