All moral obligation resolves itself into the obligation of conformity to the will of God. Charles Hodge More Quotes by Charles Hodge More Quotes From Charles Hodge If, unable to solve the mysteries of Providence, we plunge into Atheism, we only increase a thousand fold the darkness by which we are surrounded Charles Hodge atheism mystery darkness The Church, during the apostolic age, did not consist of isolated, independent congregations, but was one body, of which the separate churches were constituent members, each subject to all the rest, or to an authority which extended over all. Charles Hodge independent church age The ultimate ground of faith and knowledge is confidence in God. Charles Hodge confidence-in-god ultimate The office of presbyters is a permanent one. Charles Hodge office permanent All the reasons which require the subjection of a believer to the brethren of a particular church require his subjection to all his brethren in the Lord. Charles Hodge church lord reason It is important that when we come to die we have nothing to do but die. Charles Hodge dies important The functions of these elders, therefore, determine the power of the people; for a representative is one chosen by others to do in their name what they are entitled to do in their own persons; or rather to exercise the powers which radically inhere in those for whom they act. Charles Hodge names exercise people Christ has not only ordained that there shall be such officers in his Church - he has not only specified their duties and prerogatives - but he gives the requisite qualifications, and calls those thus qualified, and by that call gives them their official authority. Charles Hodge church sea giving The Popish theory, which assumes that Christ, the Apostles and believers, constituted the Church while our Saviour was on earth, and this organization was designed to be perpetual. Charles Hodge church organization earth When the great promise of the Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, it was fulfilled not in reference to the apostles only. Charles Hodge pentecost spirit promise Ruling elders are declared to be the representatives of the people. Charles Hodge ruling representatives people So too, in forming a constitution, or in enacting rules of procedure, or making canons, the people do not merely passively assent, but actively cooperate. They have, in all these matters, the same authority as the clergy. Charles Hodge constitution matter people There is a great difference between the irreconcilable and the self-contradict ory. Charles Hodge differences self If the Church is a living body united to the same head, governed by the same laws, and pervaded by the same Spirit, it is impossible that one part should be independent of all the rest. Charles Hodge independent church law All Church power arises from the indwelling of the Spirit; therefore those in whom the Spirit dwells are the seat of Church power. But the Spirit dwells in the whole Church, and therefore the whole Church is the seat of Church power. Charles Hodge arise church spirit All Church power is, therefore, properly ministerial and administrative. Everything is to be done in the name of Christ, and in accordance with his directions. Charles Hodge church done names As the Church is the aggregate of believers, there is an intimate analogy between the experience of the individual believer, and of the Church as a whole. Charles Hodge individual analogies church It is a thoroughly anti-Christian doctrine that the Spirit of God, and therefore the life and governing power of the Church, resides in the ministry, to the exclusion of the people. Charles Hodge church christian people The right of the people to a substantive part in the government of the Church is recognized and sanctioned by the apostles in almost every conceivable way. Charles Hodge government church people He [man] knows that when he is not what he ought to be; when he does what he ought not to do; or omits what he ought to do, he is chargeable with sin Charles Hodge sin doe men