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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Calvin on the power of pastors to fire and fulminate

Titus 2:15

Here is the supreme power with which pastors of the Church, 
by whatever name they are called, should be invested— 
 namely, to dare all boldly for the word of God.

Compelling all the virtue, glory, wisdom, and rank of the world
 to yield and obey its majesty.
To command all from the highest to the lowest,
 trusting to its power to build up the house of Christ
 and overthrow the house of Satan.

To feed the sheep and chase away the wolves; 
 to instruct and exhort the docile. 
To accuse, rebuke, and subdue the rebellious and petulant,
 to bind and loose.

In fine, if need be, to fire and fulminate, 
 but all in the word of God.

(Versified by Guy Davies. From Institutes of the Christian Religion Book 4:8:9 - here).

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