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288 results for “Man's Chief End and Holy Scripture”
WCF
Westminster Confession of Faith
95
Of the Holy Scripture
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to a high and reverent esteem …
Of the Holy Scripture
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon …
Of the Holy Scripture
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, …
Of the Holy Scripture
Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, …
Of the Holy Scripture
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books …
Of the Holy Scripture
The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, …
Of the Holy Scripture
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question …
Of the Holy Scripture
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things …
Of the Holy Scripture
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and …
Of the Holy Scripture
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the …
Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of …
The bodies of men, after death, return to dust and see corruption: but their souls (which neither die …
Of God’s Covenant with Man
Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to …
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit. …
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 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 God, and of the Holy Trinity
In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the …
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, and of the Holy Trinity
God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself …
Of God’s Covenant with Man
The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and …
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion, with God, and so became dead in …
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death …
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly …
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be, …
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto, …
Of God’s Covenant with Man
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto …
Of God’s Covenant with Man
This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel: …
Of God’s Covenant with Man
Under the gospel, when Christ, the substance, was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are …
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 …
Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of …
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour: the bodies of …
Of Christ the Mediator
The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance …
Of Providence
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that …
Of Christ the Mediator
The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the …
Of Providence
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season His own children to manifold …
Of Creation
After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, …
Of Effectual Calling
This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in …
Of Sanctification
They who are once effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in …
Of Good Works
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and …
Of Good Works
Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, …
Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practice any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy …
Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day
The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is …
Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day
The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear, the sound preaching and conscionable hearing of the Word, in …
Of Church Censures
Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for deterring of others from the …
Of Marriage and Divorce
Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden by the Word; nor can …
Of Free Will
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any …
Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day
This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, …
Of Marriage and Divorce
Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to …
Of the Last Judgment
The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in …
Of God’s Eternal Decree
God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and …
Of Creation
It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal …
Of Providence
God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, …
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
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that He might discharge, He was made under …
Of Christ the Mediator
Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is …
Of Free Will
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that is neither forced, nor by any …
Of Free Will
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was …
Of Free Will
The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to do good alone, in the state of …
Of Justification
God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did, in the fulness of …
Of Sanctification
This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man; yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants …
Of Sanctification
In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail; yet through the continual supply …
Of Repentance unto Life
By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of …
Of Repentance unto Life
Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavour …
Of Repentance unto Life
As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon …
Of Good Works
Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His holy Word, and not such as, without …
Of Good Works
Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of …
Of the Perseverance of the Saints
They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally, …
Of the Perseverance of the Saints
Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in …
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 the Law of God
This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness, and, as such, was delivered …
Of the Law of God
Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or …
Of the Law of God
Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly …
Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day
Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to Him alone; …
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
Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act; and therein to …
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or …
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any …
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
It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto; in …
Of Marriage and Divorce
Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a …
Of Marriage and Divorce
Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments unduly to put asunder those …
Of the Church
Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering …
Of the Church
There is no other head of the Church, but the Lord Jesus Christ; nor can the Pope of …
Of the Communion of the Saints
All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their Head by His Spirit and by faith, have fellowship …
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 Communion of the Saints
This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them, in any wise, partakers of the …
Of the Sacraments
Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ …
Of Baptism
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission …
Of Baptism
The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, …
Of Baptism
The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet notwithstanding, …
Of the Lord’s Supper
Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein He was betrayed, instituted the sacrament of His body and blood, …
Of the Lord’s Supper
The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed His ministers to declare His word of institution to the …
Of the Lord’s Supper
That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine into the substance of Christ’s …
Of the Lord’s Supper
Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament: yet they receive not the thing …
Of Church Censures
For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition; suspension …
Of God’s Eternal Decree
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and most free purpose …
Of the Perseverance of the Saints
This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the …
WLC
Westminster Larger Catechism
73
What is the chief and highest end of man?
Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.
What do the scriptures principally teach?
The scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word of God?
The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent …
How did God create man?
After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female; formed the body of the …
How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are …
The scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto …
How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Christ the Son of God became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, …
Is the word of God to be read by all?
Although all are not to be permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation, yet all sorts …
Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God and man …
It was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God …
What do the scriptures make known of God?
The scriptures make known what God is, the persons in the Godhead, his decrees, and the execution of …
What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in …
The providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created, was the placing him …
Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consisteth in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want …
Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be man?
It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to …
What is the duty which God requireth of man?
The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
Is there any use of the moral law to man since the …
Although no man, since the fall, can attain to righteousness and life by the moral law; yet there …
What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty …
The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man is, to love our neighbor as …
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
No man is able, either of himself, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep …
Did man continue in that estate wherein God at first created him?
Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, through the temptation of Satan, transgressed …
What did God at first reveal unto man as the rule of …
The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate of innocence, and to all mankind in him, …
What is the word of God?
The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, the only rule of …
What is the moral law?
The moral law is the declaration of the will of God to mankind, directing and binding everyone to …
How doth it appear that there is a God?
The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a …
What is sanctification?
Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, …
What is required in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment requires of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as …
How is the sabbath or the Lord's day to be sanctified?
The sabbath or Lord's day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, not only …
How is the word of God to be read?
The holy scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent esteem of them; with a firm …
How is our Baptism to be improved by us?
The needful but much neglected duty of improving our Baptism, is to be performed by us all 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 shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?
At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds, shall be set …
What are the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, theft, robbery, man-stealing, …
How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?
The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in that he freely provideth and offereth to …
Who is the Mediator of the covenant of grace?
The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son …
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 …
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 is God?
God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, …
How many persons are there in the Godhead?
There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three …
What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?
It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, and to the Son to be begotten of …
What are the decrees of God?
God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all …
How did God create angels?
God created all the angels spirits, immortal, holy, excelling in knowledge, mighty in power, to execute his commandments, …
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 …
What is God's providence towards the angels?
God by his providence permitted some of the angels, wilfully and irrecoverably, to fall into sin and damnation, …
Why was our Mediator called Christ?
Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure; and so set …
How did Christ humble himself in his conception and birth?
Christ humbled himself in his conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, …
How did Christ humble himself in his life?
Christ humbled himself in his life, by subjecting himself to the law, which he perfectly fulfilled; and by …
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 …
How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which …
We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us, …
Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ?
Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it; who are …
What is the communion in glory with Christ which the members of …
The members of the invisible church have communicated to them in this life the firstfruits of glory with …
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 shall immediately follow after the resurrection?
Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men; the day and …
What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?
At the day of judgment, the wicked shall be set on Christ's left hand, and, upon clear evidence, …
Of what use is the moral law to all men?
The moral law is of use to all men, to inform them of the holy nature and will …
Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God …
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 is required in the third commandment?
The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes, ordinances, the word, sacraments, prayer, oaths, …
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 …
Which is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and …
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 forbidden in the ninth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our …
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 doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?
Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous …
How is the word made effectual to salvation?
The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of …
How is the word of God to be preached by those that …
They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, …
What is required of those that hear the word preached?
It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation, …
How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not by any power in themselves, or any virtue derived from …
What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church, to signify, seal, and exhibit unto …
What is Baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the …
What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's …
It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, that, during the time of …
Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?
The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we …
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 fourth petition?
In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread,) acknowledging, that in Adam, and …
WSC
Westminster Shorter Catechism
29
What is the chief end of man?
Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
What do the Scriptures principally teach?
The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
How did God create man?
God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over …
How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, …
What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the …
When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect …
Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want …
What is the duty which God requireth of man?
The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of …
The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, …
What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made …
What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow …
The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of …
Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?
The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, …
What is required in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his …
What is required in the ninth commandment?
The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own …
What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify …
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the …
What is God?
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
How many persons are there in the Godhead?
There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three …
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 …
How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us …
What is sanctification?
Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the …
What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; …
What is required in the third commandment?
The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works.
Which is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and …
Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly …
From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the …
How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments …
How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of …
What is a sacrament?
A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of …
What is Baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the …
What doth the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us?
The preface of the Lord's Prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven, teacheth us to draw …
BCO
Book of Church Order (PCA)
91
21-4
21-4. Ordination Requirements and Procedures a. An intern applying for ordination shall be required to present a diploma …
24-6
24-6. The day having arrived, and the Session being convened in the presence of the congregation, a sermon …
56-4
56-4. Before baptism, the minister is to use some words of instruction, touching the institution, nature, use, and …
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 …
27-4
27-4. The power which Christ has given the Church is for building up, and not for destruction. It …
27-5
27-5. Scriptural law is the basis of all discipline because it is the revelation of God’s Holy will. …
50-1
50-1. The public reading of the Holy Scriptures is performed by the minister as God’s servant. Through it …
Preliminary Principles
II. PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES The Presbyterian Church in America, in setting forth the form of government founded upon and …
21-5
21-5. The day appointed for the ordination having come, and the Presbytery being convened, a sermon suitable for …
50-2
50-2. The reading of the Holy Scriptures in the congregation is a part of the public worship of …
50-3
50-3. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments shall be read from a good translation, not …
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 …
21-7
21-7. The people having answered these questions in the affirmative, by holding up their right hands, the candidate …
27-3
27-3. The exercise of discipline is highly important and necessary. In its proper usage discipline maintains: a. the …
47-1
47-1. Since the Holy Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice, the principles of public …
47-6
47-6. The Lord Jesus Christ has prescribed no fixed forms for public worship but, in the interest of …
52-2
52-2. Then, after singing a psalm, or hymn, it is proper that, before the sermon, there should be …
58-7
58-7. The minister may, in a few words, put the communicants in mind: Of the grace of God, …
4-5
4-5. Churches without teaching elders ought not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, but should be convened …
8-1
8-1. This office is one of dignity and usefulness. The man who fills it has in Scripture different …
14-1
14-1. The General Assembly is the highest court of this Church, and represents in one body all the …
17-3
17-3. As every ecclesiastical office, according to the Scriptures, is a special charge, no man shall be ordained …
19-7
19-7. The Holy Scriptures require that some trial be previously made of those who are to be ordained …
47-9
47-9. The Bible teaches that the following are proper elements of worship service: reading of Holy Scripture, singing …
48-3
48-3. It is the duty of every person to remember the Lord’s Day; and to prepare for it …
48-6
48-6. Let every person and family, in the morning, by secret and private prayer, for themselves and others, …
48-7
48-7. Let the time not used for public worship be spent in prayer, in devotional reading, and especially …
49-4
49-4. All who attend public worship are expected to be present in a spirit of reverence and godly …
50-4
50-4. How large a portion shall be read at once is left to the discretion of every minister; …
52-4
52-4. Ministers are not to be confined to fixed forms of prayer for public worship, yet it is …
54-1
54-1. The Holy Scriptures teach that God is the owner of all persons and all things and that …
58-4
58-4. On the day of the observance of the Lord's Supper, when the sermon is ended, the minister …
63-2
63-2. Secret worship is most plainly enjoined by our Lord. In this duty everyone, apart, should spend some …
24-1
24-1. Every church shall elect persons to the offices of ruling elder and deacon in the following manner: …
39-3
39-3. While affirming that the Scripture is “the supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to …
53-2
53-2. The subject of a sermon should be some verse or verses of Scripture, and its object, to …
56-5
56-5. The minister shall then read the covenant promises: For to you is the promise, and to your …
19-1
19-1. To preserve the purity of the preaching of the Gospel, no man is permitted to preach in …
19-10
19-10. When an applicant is approved for internship, the moderator of the Presbytery shall offer a prayer suitable …
19-14
19-14. An intern, who, during his internship, is to serve a congregation in the capacity of the minister …
29-1
29-1. An offense, the proper object of judicial process, is anything in the doctrines or practice of a …
47-8
47-8. It behooves God’s people not only to come into His presence with a deep sense of awe …
48-1
48-1. “The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in …
48-2
48-2. God commanded His Old Testament people to keep holy the last day of the week, but He …
48-4
48-4. The whole day is to be kept holy to the Lord; and to be employed in the …
59-3
59-3. Marriage is only to be between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24, 25; Matt. 19:4-6, 1 …
The Constitution Defined
III. THE CONSTITUTION DEFINED The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America, which is subject to and subordinate …
1-1
1-1. The scriptural form of church government, which is representative or presbyterian, is comprehended under five heads: a. …
1-4
1-4. The officers of the Church, by whom all its powers are administered, are, according to the Scriptures, …
1-7
1-7. This scriptural doctrine of Presbytery is necessary to the perfection of the order of the visible Church, …
2-3
2-3. It is according to scriptural example that the Church should be divided into many individual churches.
3-3
3-3. The sole functions of the Church, as a kingdom and government distinct from the civil commonwealth, are …
4-1
4-1. A particular church consists of a number of professing Christians, with their children, associated together for divine …
5-9
5-9. A new church can be organized only by the authority of Presbytery. a. A Presbytery should establish …
7-2
7-2. The ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church are elders and deacons. Within the class …
7-3
7-3. No one who holds office in the Church ought to usurp authority therein, or receive any official …
8-2
8-2. He that fills this office should possess a competency of human learning and be blameless in life, …
8-5
8-5. When a man is called to labor as a teaching elder, it belongs to his order, in …
9-1
9-1. The office of deacon is set forth in the Scriptures as ordinary and perpetual in the Church. …
11-2
11-2. The jurisdiction of Church courts is only ministerial and declarative, and relates to the doctrines and precepts …
11-3
11-3. All Church courts are one in nature, constituted of the same elements, possessed inherently of the same …
13-9
13-9. The Presbytery has power to receive and issue* appeals, complaints, and references brought before it in an …
14-6
14-6. The General Assembly shall have power: a. To receive and issue* all appeals, references, and complaints regularly …
16-2
16-2. The government of the Church is by officers gifted to represent Christ, and the right of God’s …
18-5
18-5. For the development of his Christian character, for the service he can render, and for his more …
19-5
19-5. When any licentiate shall have occasion to remove from the bounds of his Presbytery into those of …
19-6
19-6. The license to preach the Gospel shall expire at the end of four years. The Presbytery may, …
19-13
19-13. At the end of the period of time set by the Presbytery for his internship, an intern …
20-1
20-1. Before a candidate, or licentiate, can be ordained to the office of the ministry, he must receive …
26-1
26-1. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America, which is subject to and subordinate to the Scriptures …
26-6
26-6. If by reason of the failure of a number of Presbyteries to act, or to report action, …
27-1
27-1. Discipline is the exercise of authority given the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ to instruct and …
27-2
27-2. All baptized persons, being members of the Church are subject to its discipline and entitled to the …
28-1
28-1. The spiritual nurture, instruction and training of the children of the Church are committed by God primarily …
28-2
28-2. The home and the Church should also make special provision for instructing the children in the Bible …
32-1
32-1. It is incumbent on every member of a court of Jesus Christ engaged in a trial of …
37-1
37-1. A person who has been definitely suspended from office shall be restored by the court at the …
37-4
37-4. When an excommunicated person shall be so affected with his state as to be brought to repentance, …
45-5
45-5. If a dissent, protest, or objection be couched in temperate language, and be respectful to the court, …
47-3
47-3. The end of public worship is the glory of God. His people should engage in all its …
47-5
47-5. Public worship must be performed in spirit and in truth. Externalism and hypocrisy stand condemned. The forms …
52-1
52-1. It is proper to begin the public worship in the sanctuary with the Doxology followed by a …
57-5
57-5. The time having come for the making of a public profession, and those who have been approved …
58-3
58-3. It is proper that public notice should be given to the congregation, at least the Sabbath before …
61-1
61-1. The services proper for such an occasion are: a. The singing of appropriate psalms or hymns; b. …
62-1
62-1. The observance of days of fasting and of thanksgiving, as the dispensations of Divine Providence may direct, …
62-5
62-5. There should be public worship upon all such days; and the prayers, psalms or hymns, the selection …
62-7
62-7. On days of thanksgiving, he should give information respecting the authority and providences which call for the …
63-3
63-3. Family worship, which should be observed by every family, consists in prayer, reading the Scriptures, and singing …
63-4
63-4. Parents should instruct their children in the Word of God, and in the principles of our holy …