Welcome back to another episode of five minutes in church history. On this episode we're going to

return to our good friend Calvin and we're going to see what he has to say about civil government.

And the fact is he has a lot to say about civil government. In fact, Calvin ends his Magnum Opus, the

Institutes on the Christian Religion, with a discussion of civil government. In book 4, chapter 20, the very last chapter of the institutes, Calvin turns his

attention to civil government.

He opens this chapter with these words, for although this topic seems by nature alien to the spiritual doctrine of

faith, which I have undertaken to discuss, what follows will show that I am right in joining

them.

In fact, that necessity compels me to do so. Calvin is telling us

that not only should a discussion of civil government be included in his theology, but that it is necessary, it must be there.

And so he turns his attention to this.

He tells us right off the bat that we need to recognize the distinction between Christ's spiritual kingdom as he calls it and the civil jurisdiction

But just because they are different they are not at odds they are not antithetical as Calvin tells us.

They are both as it were authored by God.

They are ordained by God both the kingdom, the spiritual kingdom, the church, and also the magistrate.

They are ordained by God.

Calvin also tells us that scripture has a lot to say about living as a citizen in the civil government and in civil jurisdictions.

He tells us that sometimes we need to live submissive lives and so he'll tell us for truly Christians ought to be a kind of men born

to bear slanders and injuries open to the malice, deceits, and mockaries of

wicked men and not that only but they ought to bear patiently all these evils.

That is, they should have such complete spiritual composure that having received one offense

they make ready for another.

...