Charles Hodge Quotes

       Charles Hodge
       1797-1878
      
       Charles Hodge was the principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. He is considered to be one of the greatest exponents and defenders of historical Calvinism in America during the 19th century.
      
       All of the books that he authored have remained in print over a century after his death.

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.     Topics: Authority Our first remark on this subject is that the ministry is an office, and not merely a work. Our second remark is, that the office is of divine appointment, not merely in the sense in which the civil powers are ordained of God, but in the sense that ministers derive their authority from Christ, and not from the people.     Topics: Authority Ruling elders are declared to be the representatives of the people.     Topics: Authority 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.     Topics: Authority It is a fact that unless children are brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they, and the society which they constitute or control, will go to destruction. Consequently, when a state resolves that religious instruction shall be banished from the schools and other literary institutions, it virtually resolves on self-destruction.     Topics: Children, Education To be in Christ is the source of the Christian's life; to be like Christ is the sum of His excellence; to be with Christ is the fullness of His joy.     Topics: Christ A Christian is one who recognizes Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, as God manifested in the flesh, loving us and dying for our redemption; and who is so affected by a sense of the love of this incarnate God as to be constrained to make the will of Christ the rule of his obedience, and the glory of Christ the great end for which He lives.     Topics: Christians, Redemption 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.     Topics: Church 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.     Topics: Church The Church, however, is a self-governing society, distinct from the State, having its officers and laws, and, therefore, an administrative government of its own.     Topics: Church, Government The Independent or Congregational theory includes two principles; first, that the governing and executive power in the Church is in the brotherhood; and secondly, that the Church organization is complete in each worshipping assembly, which is independent of every other.     Topics: Church 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.     Topics: Church