Amongst the Heathen, in the New Hebrides, and especially on Tanna, woman is the down-trodden slave of man. She is kept working hard, and bears all the heavier burdens, while he walks by her side with musket, club, or spear. If she offends him, he beats or abuses her at pleasure . . . Oh, how sad and degraded is the position of Woman, where the teaching of Christ is unknown, or disregarded though known! It is the Christ of the Bible, it is His Spirit entering into Humanity, that has lifted Woman, and made her the helpmate and the friend of Man, not his toy or his slave.

ohn G. Paton, The Autobiography of the Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides (Vanuatu), 90.

Christian life is, therefore, not just my life, but life in communion with God and all his people.

Kelly M. Kapic, Christian Life, 30.

As Mediator between God and humanity, the incarnate Son is God’s grace given to us. He is not only God, worthy of worship, but also our Priest, King, and Prophet who leads our worship. In theology as in worship, we must always see that Christ is central to Christian life. We enjoy life, love, and fellowship now with God by the Holy Spirit, the eternal divine person who is the bond of love between the Father and the Son, so even now the same Spirt is the bond of love connecting us and God in Christ.

Kelly M. Kapic, Christian Life, 28.

Q. How may we attain contentment under manifold losses and disappointments? — A. By a diligent study to supply the want of other things with God himself; by considering, that our God cannot be lost, that our wise and gracious Father is the author of all our losses and disappointments, that they are necessary to convince us of the vanity of this world, prevent us from taking up our rest therein, and to prepare a place for God and his fulness in our hearts, Phil. 4:19.

John Brown of Haddington, Questions and Answers on the Shorter Catechism, 276.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

But parity among her ministers is not the only feature which distinguishes the government of the Presbyterian Church. Her mode of conducting discipline in each church by a bench of Elders, acting as the representatives of the members at large; and by courts of review and control, admitting of appeals, where parties feel aggrieved, and binding all the particular churches together as one body, walking by the same rules of truth and order, and subject to the same uniform constitutional authority, are among her peculiar advantages. In regard to both these points, Presbyterians differ from Independents and Congregationalists, as well as from Episcopalians, and, indeed, from most other denominations of Christians.

“The Government of the Presbyterian Church” by Samuel Miller quoted in Paradigms in Polity: Classic Readings in Reformed and Presbyterian Church Government, 98.

The Bible contains the religion of Protestants. It is the only infallible, and the sufficient rule of faith and practice. Even if Prelacy were found unequivocally represented as existing, by the Fathers, in fifty years after the last Apostle, yet if it be not found in the Bible, as it assuredly is not, such testimony would by no means establish its apostolic appointment. It would only prove that the Church was very early corrupted. We know, indeed, that no such testimony exists; but if it did, as long as we have the Bible, we ought to reject it.

“The Government of the Presbyterian Church” by Samuel Miller quoted in Paradigms in Polity: Classic Readings in Reformed and Presbyterian Church Government, 94.

The moment we open the inspired history of the apostolic age, we find a style of speaking concerning the officers of the Church, and a statement of facts, which evince, beyond all controversy, that the model of the synagogue was that which was then adopted, and which was left in universal use when inspired men surrendered the Church to their successors. We find preaching the Gospel, “feeding the sheep and the lambs” of Christ, and administering the Christian sacraments, the highest offices entrusted to the Ministers of Christ. We find a plurality of “Elders,” by divine direction, ordained in every church. In no instance, in the whole New Testament, do we find an organized congregation under the watch and care of a single officer. Further, we find “Bishop” and “Elder,” titles given, interchangeably, to the same persons; plainly showing that the term “Bishop,” in the apostolic age, was the title which designated the pastor or “overseer,” of a single flock or church. We find in the New Testament history, no trace of prelacy. All priority or pre-eminence among the ministers of Christ is expressly rebuked and forbidden.

“The Government of the Presbyterian Church” by Samuel Miller quoted in Paradigms in Polity: Classic Readings in Reformed and Presbyterian Church Government, 78-79.

Q. With what then should we be content? — A. With everything which God in his providence orders for our lot, whether pleasant or afflicting, Heb. 13:5.

Q. What manner of contentment with our lot is required of us? — A. Full contentment, Heb. 13:5.

Q. What is full contentment? — A. Contentment complete in its parts, and carried to the highest degree.

Q. Of how many parts doth full contentment consist? — A. Four; self-denial, readiness to take up our cross, holy carelessness about this world, and satisfaction with our condition in it, Phil. 4:6-7; Matt. 26:24.

. . .

Q. What is meant by a holy carelessness about this world? — A. Our reckoning all worldly enjoyment nothing in comparison to God; and in the diligent use of means, leaving it wholly to him to carve our lot in it.

John Brown of Haddington, Questions and Answers on the Shorter Catechism, 274.

Conscience is a sense of right and wrong by which one evaluates his own thoughts and behavior. When one follows his conscience, he feels a measure of contentment; when he violates his conscience, he feels distress. Conscience is natural to man, and implies his accountability to God, but it is not the rule of faith and practice. Conscience shows the work of the law written on the heart, but is distorted by the work of Satan, by man’s sinful nature, and by the ungodly standards of the world. The Christian’s
conscience is to be directed by God’s revealed law, under the illumination of the Holy Spirit, with due attention to the teaching and admonition of the brethren. Although conscience is not infallible, a person should not do what he believes to be wrong. Rom. 2:14 15; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Tim. 4:2-3; Rom. 12:1-2; Matt. 15:9; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Ps. 143:10; Rom. 8:5-9; Col. 3:16; Rom. 14:14, 23.

RPCNA Testimony, Chapter 20, Paragraph 4.