The Collected Writings of James Henley Thornwell, Vol. 4
Overview
The fourth volume of Thornwell’s collected writings, labeled “Ecclesiastical,” wraps up the set with thoughts on church government, structure, and discipline. Also contained in this resource is historically important documentation regarding Thornwell’s pro-slavery viewpoint, as well as detailed reasoning as to the separation of the Southern Presbyterian Church from the Presbyterian Church.
Professor Eugene Genovese describes Thornwell as wanting “to envision a Christian society that could reconcile, so far as possible in a world haunted by evil, the conflicting claims of a social order with social justice and both with the freedom and dignity of the individual.” These ideas shine through in Thornwell’s writings, which are now more accessible than ever through Logos Bible Software. In electronic format, his writings are easily searchable and easily referenced—his works in Logos make the ideal companion to theological studies.
- Includes essays on a variety of different topics
- Focuses primarily on ecclesiological issues
- Church Officers
- Church Operations
- Church Discipline
- The Church and Slavery
- The Southern Presbyterian Church
- The Church and Secular Societies
- Miscellanea
- Appendixes
Top Highlights
“The second principle of the Presbyterian system is, that unity is realized by representative assemblies. The government of the Church is not entrusted to individuals, nor to the mass of believers, but to councils. Every judicial and legislative function is performed by courts alone. Government is not administered by a single individual—that would be monarchy; nor by a privileged class—that would be oligarchy; nor immediately by the people—that would be democracy; but it is administered by representative assemblies.” (Pages 136–137)
“The idea, that if the Church is restricted exclusively to the Divine Word and to necessary deductions from it, if she is made a ministerial and not a confidential agent of God, she will become a tyrant and an oppressor, is so preposterously absurd, that a statement of the proposition is a sufficient refutation.” (Pages 257–258)
“We might as well say that no scheme of doctrine is plainly revealed in the Scriptures because learned and good men differ in their views of what is enjoined, as to say that no plan of government is commanded because there is a diversity of opinions upon this point also.” (Page 22)
“The power of the Church, accordingly, is only ministerial and declarative. The Bible, and the Bible alone, is her rule of faith and practice. She can announce what it teaches, enjoin what it commands, prohibit what it condemns, and enforce her testimonies by spiritual sanctions. Beyond the Bible she can never go, and apart from the Bible she can never speak.” (Pages 383–384)
“The first enormous and commanding evil of the voluntary societies, which arrested attention and aroused opposition, was their absolute independence of the authority and jurisdiction of the Church.” (Page 146)
- Title: The Collected Writings of James Henley Thornwell, vol. 4
- Author: James Henley Thornwell
- Publisher: Presbyterian Committee of Publication
- Publication Date: 1871
- Pages: 652