Excerpted from the beginning of Chapter XX of Calvin’s Institutes:

“Having shown above that there is a twofold government in man, and having fully considered the one which, placed in the soul or inward man, relates to eternal life, we are here called to say something of the other, which pertains only to civil institutions and the external regulation of manners. For although this subject seems from its nature to be unconnected with the spiritual doctrine of faith, which I have undertaken to treat, it will appear as we proceed, that I have properly connected them, nay, that I am under the necessity of doing so, especially while, on the one hand, frantic and barbarous men are furiously endeavouring to overturn the order established by God *, and, on the other, the flatterers of princes, extolling their power without measure, hesitate not to oppose it to the government of God. Unless we meet both extremes, the purity of the faith will perish.“ 

* Publisher’s opinion:

To apply this, consider the push for abortion (government sanctioned murder), LGBTQIA – church leaders molesting young boys (sexual perversion – some government sanctioned), massive government debt (borrower slave to lender all government sanctioned and promoted), lying (media, politicians, government agencies, businesses – Big Pharma, etc. and no formal government opposition), churches tolerating all of this or and with few exceptions saying nothing about it from the pulpit and virtually nothing from the pews. Is this what God wants of the church?

Pensiamento Peligroso