God is not simply the subject of contemplation in the sense that a metaphysical philosopher undertakes to reflect upon God and in the way God truly knows himself, and as we in the next life shall come to know God more fully (1 Cor 13:9, etc.; 2 Cor 12:4); but in the sense that to know Him in this life is what we have to do in order to obtain eternal life by truly knowing Him (John 17:3).

Synopsis of a Purer Theology, Vol. 1, 55.

Those who cite the success of the early church as an argument against state-supported churches should — in order to be logically (and historically) consistent — also call for full-blown persecution of the church by modern-day governments. But this is absurd.

Messiah the Prince (Modernized Abridgment by J. K. Wall), 144.

Christ’s mediatorial reign is not a temporary stage in the plan of God’s moral government. It is rather the last and greatest of his works, the climax of his wise and holy administration.

Messiah the Prince (Modernized abridgment by J. K. Wall), 155.

Our love of the Word should be such that it (1) propels us to gratitude toward God on account of the abundant supply of his Word that he has conferred to us, a gratitude in which we recognize from our heart the mercy of our benefactor and the excellence of his benefits (Ps. 147:19–20), we praise both with our mouth (Ps. 147:19–20; all of Ps. 119), and we repay them with our work, that is, with faith and observance of things revealed in the Word (Heb. 4:2; Jer. 42:5–6). (2) Next, such a love urges us to study the divine Word (Ps. 1:2), which consists in its religious reading, hearing, meditation, and observance (we will treat each of these individually in what follows). (3) Then, it kindles in us a love, honor, and support for those who deliver and explain the Word of God to us (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17; Gal. 6:6).

PETRUS VAN MASTRICHT, THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL THEOLOGY, VOLUME 1: PROLEGOMENA, 356.

It is made clear to us that the authority of Holy Scripture is much greater than that of the Church by the fact that the Church is capable of erring while Scripture cannot.

Synopsis of a Purer Theology, Vol. 1, 16.

Clothed in the perfect righteousness of Christ, believers may have confidence in the presence of God. They know that the punishment, which their sins merited, was fully paid by Christ. They know that their obligation to perfect obedience was perfectly fulfilled by Christ. They know that Christ continues to intercede for them as their Advocate before God. In short — being found in Christ, they know with the confidence of faith that ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Rom. 8:1).

CORNELIS P. VENEMA, THE GOSPEL OF FREE ACCEPTANCE IN CHRIST: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE REFORMATION AND NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL, 250.

Thought it is sometimes claimed that this terminology artificially separates the obedience of Christ into two disparate parts, the real interest of the distinction between the active and passive obedience is to underscore the richness of Christ’s seamless life of obedience ‘under the law’ (Gal. 4:4). . . . The traditional distinction between the active and passive obedience of Christ, therefore, articulates significance of the full scope of Christ’s obedience under the law. The Saviour’s death upon the cross by which he made atonement for sin was not an isolated act of obedience, but the epitome of an obedience that began with his readiness to ‘take the form of a servant’ for the sake of his people (Phil. 2:6-11). Believers who are united to Christ by faith receive the fullness of his righteousness, which includes his faithful obedience to the law and willing payment of its curse.

CORNELIS P. VENEMA, THE GOSPEL OF FREE ACCEPTANCE IN CHRIST: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE REFORMATION AND NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL, 247-249.

[T]he Reformation view maintains that justification is a primarily theological and soteriological theme. On the one hand, the doctrine reveals the character of God as a God of righteousness and grace, who justifies ungodly sinners on the basis of the work of Christ. In this respect, it is of great theological significance. On the other hand, it reveals the character of sinful human beings who can only be received and accepted by God on the basis of the righteousness of Christ alone. In this respect, justification is a thoroughly soteriological theme, explaining how otherwise guilty sinners can be received into God’s favour.

Cornelis P. Venema, The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ: An Assessment of the Reformation and New Perspective on Paul, 54.

Let me always rejoice in the great God my Saviour. Let me trust in him at all times, that as he hath delivered, and doth deliver, so he will deliver me.

Psalm 3 (John Brown of Haddington)

For what is faith other than to assent because God speaks? Therefore, unless you are persuaded that God has spoken those things that are set forth in Scripture, where will your faith rest? In turn, what is obedience other than to do what God commands? Therefore, unless you are certain that God has spoken those things which are commanded in Scripture, how will you obey? For this reason Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “you received it, not as the word of men but rather (as it truly is) the Word of God that also works in you who believe.”

PETRUS VAN MASTRICHT, THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL THEOLOGY, VOLUME 1: PROLEGOMENA, 348.