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151 results for “Civil Government and Last Things”
WCF
Westminster Confession of Faith
40
Of the Civil Magistrate
God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him, …
Of the Civil Magistrate
The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power …
Of the Civil Magistrate
It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto; in …
Of the Civil Magistrate
It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honour their persons, to pay them tribute …
Of the Last Judgment
God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ, to whom …
Of the Last Judgment
The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in …
Of the Last Judgment
As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both …
Of the Holy Scripture
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, …
Of Providence
God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, …
Of Church Censures
The Lord Jesus, as King and Head of His Church, hath therein appointed a government, in the hand …
Of the Holy Scripture
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things …
Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself …
Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
And because the powers which God hath ordained, and the liberty which Christ hath purchased, are not intended …
Of Synods and Councils
Synods and councils are to handle, or conclude, nothing, but that which is ecclesiastical: and are not to …
Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
There is but one only, living, and true God: who is infinite in being and perfection, a most …
Of God’s Eternal Decree
Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according …
Of Creation
It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal …
Of Providence
Although, in relation to the fore-knowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass …
Of Providence
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that …
Of Providence
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a most special manner, …
Of God’s Covenant with Man
This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a Testament, in reference …
Of Christ the Mediator
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, …
Of Christ the Mediator
To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, He doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the …
Of Effectual Calling
All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased in His appointed and …
Of Good Works
Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, …
Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may …
Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of …
Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day
Prayer is to be made for things lawful; and for all sorts of men living, or that shall …
Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day
As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart …
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to …
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: and that it may be …
Of Marriage and Divorce
Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments unduly to put asunder those …
Of the Communion of the Saints
Saints by profession are bound to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God; and …
Of the Sacraments
There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: …
Of the Sacraments
The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard to the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for …
Of the Lord’s Supper
The outward elements in this sacrament, duly set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation …
Of the Lord’s Supper
Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament: yet they receive not the thing …
Of Synods and Councils
For the better government, and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are …
Of Synods and Councils
It belongs to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith and cases of conscience; to set …
Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of …
At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed: and all the …
WLC
Westminster Larger Catechism
38
For what things are we to pray?
We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God, the welfare of the church, …
What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments?
We are to consider, in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and several …
How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and …
What are the sins forbidden in the first commandment?
The sins forbidden in the first commandment are, atheism, in denying or not having a God; Idolatry, in …
What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, …
What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our …
What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
In the sixth petition (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,) acknowledging, …
What is God?
God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, …
What is the work of creation?
The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, …
What are God's works of providence?
God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures; ordering …
How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, in all ages, by his …
How was Christ exalted in his resurrection?
Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not having seen corruption in death (of which it was …
How was Christ exalted in his ascension?
Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with …
How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of …
Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is …
How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge …
Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was …
What are the special privileges of the visible church?
The visible church hath the privilege of being under God's special care and government; of being protected and …
What is justification?
Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth …
What is the communion in glory which the members of the invisible …
The communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is in this life, …
Death, being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered …
The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered …
What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of …
The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, is, …
What are we to believe concerning the resurrection?
We are to believe, that at the last day there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, …
What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of the …
For the right understanding of the ten commandments, these rules are to be observed: 1. That the law …
What are the duties required in the first commandment?
The duties required in the first commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only …
What are we specially taught by these words before me in the …
These words before me, or before my face, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth …
What are the duties required in the second commandment?
The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such …
What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?
The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God's name as is required; and …
Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth …
The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit …
What is the honor that inferiors owe to their superiors?
The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart, word, and behavior; prayer …
What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them; envying at, …
What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they …
What are the sins of superiors?
The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of them, an inordinate seeking of …
What are the duties required in the eighth commandment?
The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man …
Which is the tenth commandment?
The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, …
What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?
Sins receive their aggravations, 1. From the persons offending: if they be of riper age, greater experience or …
What do we pray for in the first petition?
In the first petition (which is, Hallowed be thy name,) acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is …
What do we pray for in the second petition.?
In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come,) acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature …
What do we pray for in the third petition?
In the third petition (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,) acknowledging, …
What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,) acknowledging, that in Adam, and …
WSC
Westminster Shorter Catechism
8
What is the work of creation?
The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in …
What are God's works of providence?
God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and …
Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation?
Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into …
What are we specially taught by these words, 'before me', in the …
These words, before me, in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice …
What is prayer?
Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the …
What do we pray for in the first petition?
In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name, we pray, that God would enable us, and …
What do we pray for in the third petition?
In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, we …
What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread, we pray that of God's …
BCO
Book of Church Order (PCA)
65
The King and Head of the Church
I. THE KING AND HEAD OF THE CHURCH Jesus Christ, upon whose shoulders the government rests, whose name …
Preliminary Principles
II. PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES The Presbyterian Church in America, in setting forth the form of government founded upon and …
3-4
3-4. The power of the Church is exclusively spiritual; that of the State includes the exercise of force. …
3-3
3-3. The sole functions of the Church, as a kingdom and government distinct from the civil commonwealth, are …
5-8
5-8. It is the intention of the Presbyterian Church in America that mission churches enjoy the same status …
14-1
14-1. The General Assembly is the highest court of this Church, and represents in one body all the …
5-3
5-3. The mission church, because of its transitional condition, requires a temporary system of government. Depending on the …
5-9
5-9. A new church can be organized only by the authority of Presbytery. a. A Presbytery should establish …
25-11
25-11. While a congregation consists of all the communing members of a particular church, and in matters ecclesiastical …
1-1
1-1. The scriptural form of church government, which is representative or presbyterian, is comprehended under five heads: a. …
5-1
5-1. A mission church may be properly described in the same manner as the particular church is described …
5-5
5-5. The temporary government shall receive members (BCO 12-5.a) into the mission church according to the provisions of …
8-9
8-9. As there were in the Church under the law, elders of the people for the government thereof, …
11-1
11-1. These assemblies are altogether distinct from the civil magistracy, and have no jurisdiction in political or civil …
42-4
42-4. Notice of appeal may be given the court before its adjournment. Written notice of appeal, with supporting …
43-3
43-3. If, after considering a complaint, the court alleged to be delinquent or in error is of the …
The Constitution Defined
III. THE CONSTITUTION DEFINED The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America, which is subject to and subordinate …
1-2
1-2. The Church which the Lord Jesus Christ has erected in this world for the gathering and perfecting …
1-3
1-3. The members of this visible Church catholic are all those persons in every nation, together with their …
1-4
1-4. The officers of the Church, by whom all its powers are administered, are, according to the Scriptures, …
1-5
1-5. Ecclesiastical jurisdiction is not a several, but a joint power, to be exercised by presbyters in courts. …
1-6
1-6. The ordination of officers is ordinarily by a court, except in the case of ordination by a …
1-7
1-7. This scriptural doctrine of Presbytery is necessary to the perfection of the order of the visible Church, …
3-5
3-5. The Church, with its ordinances, officers and courts, is the agency which Christ has ordained for the …
4-1
4-1. A particular church consists of a number of professing Christians, with their children, associated together for divine …
5-4
5-4. Pastoral ministry for the mission church may be provided: a. by a minister of the Presbytery called …
5-6
5-6. Mission churches and their members shall have the right of judicial process to the court having oversight …
6-1
6-1. The children of believers are, through the covenant and by right of birth, non-communing members of the …
6-3
6-3. All baptized persons are entitled to the watchful care, instruction and government of the church, even though …
7-2
7-2. The ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church are elders and deacons. Within the class …
8-1
8-1. This office is one of dignity and usefulness. The man who fills it has in Scripture different …
8-3
8-3. It belongs to those in the office of elder, both severally and jointly, to watch diligently over …
10-1
10-1. The Church is governed by various courts, in regular gradation, which are all, nevertheless, Presbyteries, as being …
10-3
10-3. The pastor is, for prudential reasons, moderator of the Session. The moderator of the Presbytery may be …
11-2
11-2. The jurisdiction of Church courts is only ministerial and declarative, and relates to the doctrines and precepts …
12-5
12-5. The church Session is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the church, for which purpose it …
13-6
13-6. Ministers seeking admission to a Presbytery from other Presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church in America shall be …
14-3
14-3. When an emergency shall require a meeting of the General Assembly earlier than the time to which …
15-4
15-4. The General Assembly shall elect a Standing Judicial Commission to which it shall commit all matters governed …
15-5
15-5. a. In the cases committed to it, the Standing Judicial Commission shall have the judicial powers and …
16-2
16-2. The government of the Church is by officers gifted to represent Christ, and the right of God’s …
18-4
18-4. The candidate continues to be a private member of the church and subject to the jurisdiction of …
19-2
19-2. Examination for Licensure. The examination for licensure shall be as follows: a. Give a statement of his …
19-3
19-3. Questions for Licensure. If the Presbytery be satisfied with the trials of the applicant, it shall then …
19-5
19-5. When any licentiate shall have occasion to remove from the bounds of his Presbytery into those of …
21-4
21-4. Ordination Requirements and Procedures a. An intern applying for ordination shall be required to present a diploma …
21-5
21-5. The day appointed for the ordination having come, and the Presbytery being convened, a sermon suitable for …
21-7
21-7. The people having answered these questions in the affirmative, by holding up their right hands, the candidate …
21-10
21-10. The candidate having answered these question in the affirmative, the presiding minister shall propose to the church …
22-3
22-3. An assistant pastor is called by the Session, by the permission and approval of Presbytery, under the …
22-4
22-4. The relationship of the associate pastor to the church is determined by the congregation. The relationship of …
24-1
24-1. Every church shall elect persons to the offices of ruling elder and deacon in the following manner: …
24-6
24-6. The day having arrived, and the Session being convened in the presence of the congregation, a sermon …
26-1
26-1. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America, which is subject to and subordinate to the Scriptures …
27-1
27-1. Discipline is the exercise of authority given the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ to instruct and …
29-1
29-1. An offense, the proper object of judicial process, is anything in the doctrines or practice of a …
39-3
39-3. While affirming that the Scripture is “the supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to …
46-2
46-2. When a church member shall remove his residence beyond the bounds of the church of which he …
47-6
47-6. The Lord Jesus Christ has prescribed no fixed forms for public worship but, in the interest of …
48-2
48-2. God commanded His Old Testament people to keep holy the last day of the week, but He …
52-2
52-2. Then, after singing a psalm, or hymn, it is proper that, before the sermon, there should be …
54-1
54-1. The Holy Scriptures teach that God is the owner of all persons and all things and that …
57-5
57-5. The time having come for the making of a public profession, and those who have been approved …
59-6
59-6. Marriage is of a public nature. The welfare of civil society, the happiness of families, and the …
62-3
62-3. It should be left to the judgment and discretion of every Christian and family to determine when …