There is a great difference between the irreconcilable and the self-contradict ory. Charles Hodge More Quotes by Charles Hodge More Quotes From Charles Hodge The Spirit never makes men the instruments of converting others until they feel that they cannot do it themselves; that their skill in argument, in persuasion, in management, avails nothing. Charles Hodge skillsspiritmen 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 atheismmysterydarkness 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 independentchurchage The ultimate ground of faith and knowledge is confidence in God. Charles Hodge confidence-in-godultimate The office of presbyters is a permanent one. Charles Hodge officepermanent 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 churchlordreason It is important that when we come to die we have nothing to do but die. Charles Hodge diesimportant 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 namesexercisepeople 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 churchseagiving 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 churchorganizationearth 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 pentecostspiritpromise Ruling elders are declared to be the representatives of the people. Charles Hodge rulingrepresentativespeople 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 constitutionmatterpeople 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 independentchurchlaw 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 arisechurchspirit 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 churchdonenames 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 individualanalogieschurch 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 churchchristianpeople 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 governmentchurchpeople 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 sindoemen
