John Brown of Haddington Systematic Theology, pp. 309-315. Christ’s Mediatorial Dominion Distinguished from his Natural Supremacy. Besides that natural supremacy and dominion over all things equally with his Father and the Holy Ghost, Christ hath also a mediatorial dominion, or kingdom, which, I. Was given him by his Father as the reward of his offering… Read More Christ’s Mediatorial Dominion and Two Kingdoms
In part three we considered the necessity of a Holy Spirit wrought Reformation and unity in the the Church prior to, and in harmony with, the establishment of a national Church. In this final post of our series we will envisage the dangers of ecumenical latitudinarianism to the unity of the Church and answer objections regarding persecution and… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 4: Liberty of Conscience
In part 2 we examined the Scriptural evidence for the Establishment Principle and particularly the prophecies that God will cause it to occur in history. In this post we will see the importance of a Holy Spirit wrought Reformation and unity in the polity, discipline, worship, ordinances, doctrine, and practice of the Church prior to, and in harmony with,… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 3: Reformation and Unity of the Church
In our previous post we saw that civil governments are to provide an “hospitable abode to the church” which is a singular institutional entity organized by Jesus Christ with a specific political and catholic structure. This is strictly a positive duty in Christ’s Kingdom of Grace regarding nations joining the Church corporately, not how magistrates set public policy in relation to… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 2: Prophecies
In part one of four in our series on the Establishment Principle we will see what the Establishment Principle is and how it relates to the nature of the Church as well as what it is not. In part two we will demonstrate the Establishment Principle from the many prophecies of Scripture. In part three we will elucidate, on… Read More Establishment Principle, Part 1: What it is, What it isn’t
“Nothing doth usually so bring men’s sinnes to mind and memory as judgments” (William Gouge, God’s Three Arrows, p. 6). Whenever there is a tragic event such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, disease outbreak, etc. discussions arise about God’s involvement. Some Christians have a hard time believing that God would allow something so cruel even… Read More Catastrophe, Judgment, and Christ’s Two Kingdoms
Ten Agreements 1. They are both from God; both the Magistrate, and the Minister is authorized from God, both are the Ministers of God, and shall give account of their administrations to God. 2. Both are tied to observe the Law and Commandments of God: and both have certain directions from the Word of God… Read More Ten Agreements and Ten Differences Between Church and State
The doctrine of the two kingdoms is often confused as a distinction between church and state, but this is not the case. While Christ’s reign over all things in power and over His church in grace do indeed relate to the institutions of the church and the civil magistracy, the kingdom of power is not… Read More Confessional Two Kingdoms
Purely Presbyterian 