No one can have God as Father who does not have the church as Mother’. So said St Cyprian, whose quote is referred to by John Calvin throughout his Institutes. This may sound a strange description, yet it is the Church that must submit to Christ in all things (Eph. 5:21–28). Indeed, the Church is the bride of Christ awaiting the glorious day when she will be united with Christ (Rev. 19:6–9).