Calvin’s Charge to Pastors

From Calvin’s sermon number 61 on Deuteronomy:

Let the pastors boldly dare all things by the word of God. . . .

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Let them constrain all the power, glory, and excellence of the world to give place to and to obey the divine majesty of this word.

Let them enjoin everyone by it, from the highest to the lowest.

Let them edify the body of Christ.

Let them devastate Satan’s reign.

Let them pasture the sheep, kill the wolves, instruct and exhort the rebellious.

Let them bind and loose thunder and lightning, if necessary, but let them do all according to the word of God.

Cited in John Piper, John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God.