The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-30
FROM THE S. PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW.
Rev. DR.. Thornwell.

a
exceedingly spare habit, his medium stature
diminished by slight stoop; with FORE
bead we'll developed, but not ample; the
features Of his face small; with a carriage of
the body rather marked by negligence than
grace; his personal presence can not be de-
scribed as commanding. Yet be would be
singled out from q convention of men even
by careless observer. His hair rivalling
the raven in its blackness, and above all,
lis redeemiug eye, deep Get and black, and
capable OF the utmost intensity Of express
sion, and a certain air of abstraction upon
his c0untenance, denoted man who was to
. be separated from others. The retirement
Of scholastic life, and the boundles8 resources
he had within himself, withdrew him in a
large measure from general intercourse with
society. While his official relations some
times forced him from seclusion, and his
valuable counsels were invoked by many
he did not ordinarily put himself forth to
seek communion with the busting world
around him. Though by no means an asce-
tic, and while bis warm sympathies took
hold OF life upon every aide, he was rather
to be sought than TO be himself a seeker
Whoever desired, might readily approach
hin; no man ever found himself repealed
either by the coldness or the indifference of
bis manner. In general society, for which
he bad a confessed aversion, he was rather
thoughtful and silent than communicative.
But in the circle of his chosen friends, and
in The bosom Of his family, he poured forth
the contents Of his soul 1t was then the
entire nature of the man was revealed En-.
dowed with rare conversational powers, ne
emptied his stores of learning, and discussed
his favorite themes of philosophy; or dived
into the deeper mysteries of religion, and
uttered the experiences of his own heart;
or else, descending from these graver topics,
he sported with the glee of childhood itself
in banter and jest, Astounding with repartee,
and dffusng the glow of his genial humOr.
Full of anecdote, and fond of badinage, his
lighter conversation sparkled with wit; car
red sometimes to excess, if one did not re-
Cognize it as the recreation of mind that
needed thus to unbend itself, and found It's
refreshment only in the easier play of its
own powers. His affections were warm and
enduring, often leading him to oyerestnate
those in whom he confded. Lifted by his
own greatness above the temptation of jeal
ousy, he rejoiced, without the slightest infu.
sion Of envy in the advancement Of others.
Generous in all his instincts. there was no
sacrifice he would not make for his friends.
Indulgent to his own household. he passed
through its petty cares without permitting
himself or them to be corroded by the aux-
ieties Of earth; but, smoothing over disap-
pointments. he made LIES path less rugged
to their feet.
Cherlshng IN mis- own heart the utmost
loyalty to truth, he was never soured when
tn Sarted in his projects; but waited with
sublime confidence for truth and right to
vindicate their own majesty. Ia this way,
the dew of his youth was never exhsled; he
remained elastic and fresh to the last, no
generous sentiment or instinct of his nature
being withered by age. With such attri-
butes, he possessed the power of all truly
great men, of mignetizing those brought
under his Influence; and it must have been
very strong or very feeble nature that
did not yield to his attraction. His friends
are bound to him by cords Of affection which
even death will prove unequal to break.
"Hs was ems
The trues; manner d. such holy witch
Tn he encnsnts sOci ties un;O HIN:
Half all mems hearts his"
As Christian, it will suffice to say that
the type of his theology was the type of his
experience. He was not the man to divorce
the understanding from the heart He con
Cured fally with all the Reforme-s in their
definition Of true faith, which, as Calvin
says, is 90 not formed By the addition of pi-
GUS affection as an accessory to assent, but
the assent itself consists in pious affection"
In his own language, the form of Chris
tian kno8ledge is love; it is higher ener-
gy than bare speculation it blends into in
dissOluble unity, intelligence and emotion {;
knows by loving and loves by knowing"
Those, therefore, entirely misconceived him
who supposed the form of his religious cx-
perience to be even predominantly intellect
ual; religion Of stern principle alone, Sc
parated from the affections of the heart Oa
the contrary, in his own beautiful exposi-
ton, 1.-THE mind sees not only the reality of
truth, but its beauty and glory; it so sees
As to make it feel; the perceptions are ana
logous to those of the right and beautiful,
in which feeling exactly expresses the in
tellectual energy" His inner life practi
cally illustrated this happy union Of the
mind and heart, and revealed the faith
which worketh by love"
The same strong views which the theo-
Logan held upon the nature OF sin, bowed
the Christian in penitential grief before the
Redeemer's cross; the same clear exposition
given by the one of mans bel plessness in
state of nature, cast the other upon the in
finite power and riches of divine grace: the
same clear discovery of the completeness
and sufieiency of the atOuement which made
this the centre from which the preachers
discourses all radiate, led the believer to
throw the arms of his affection around the
Saviour with rapturous delight; the same
conviction of the necessity for divine reve-
lation which led the Christian apologist o
stand most stoutly in defence of its inspira-
ton, bowed also his reason into the docity
OF faith before the teachings of Scripture;
the sane recognition of Gods rightful su
premacy which in the classroom placed the
crown Of dominion upon the King Of kings,
sustained the afflicted saint in the hour of
bereavement. and filed his soul with solemn