The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-11-20
COMMUNICATIONS.
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Rev. James Henley ThornwelI, D. D
MINUTE OF THE SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.

The Synod or Virginia, participating In
the great bereavement which the Presbyte-
rian church of the Confederate States has
suff red in the death of Rev. James H..
Thornwell, D. D., places on record this ex-
preston of It's profound sense of the heavy
calamity which it has pleased the All-wise
Head Of the church thus to iuAict
We mourn the loss of one, on whom God
had most eminently bestowed the gifts and
graces, so highly essential to the right per-
torrance of ministerial functions, of the
highest Importance in disseminating the
great principles of the Gospel Of the grace
of God.
To rare endowments of natural intellect
be added a vast fund of knowledge, not
only of the doctrines which distinguish the
Christian scheme, but also of all those de-
partments Of learning by which the acquisi
ton, defence and incubation of those doc.
trines are SO effectually aided. He was
mighty in the Scriptures, fully meet for
sustaining, By argument, their divine au-
thority and peculiarly able in expounding,
illustrating and enforcing their truths. The
loved theme of his preaching was emphati
cally Jesus Christ and Him crucifed and
the whole scope Of his theological teaching
was to humble human pride and exalt the
God of all grace as revealed to man in the
Gospel of His Son.
But not only as the preacher and teacher
Of Theology did be command the admira-
tion of the church. He was as fully con-
versant with the facts of Church History,
and the great principles of Church Govern
ment as with the peeoliar doctrines of Hal-
walton. On convictions for which he was
ever prepared TO give the most conclusive
reasons, he was Presbyterian. Next to
glorying in the Cross, he gloried in the Cal
yinism of the Cross, and in that system of
church order which he believed alone fully
consistent with the doctrinal standards of
the Westminster Assembly. II in some of
the views he so forcibly presented, any Of
his brethren could not conscentiously agree,
they were constrained to regret difference
from one who urged his opinions with such
ability and in a spirit Of such Christian
meekness and love.
In the courtesy of the Christian gentle
man, the genial cordiality of the affection
ate friend, and the guilelessness and sim
plicity Of the humble disciple of Jesus, he
truly adorned in his life, that Gospel he
proclaimed with such .eloquence, tenderness
and power.
Thus, though "his bodily presence was
weak" his mental and moral qualities CON-
bned to give him an efficiency in the pul
pit, the hall of Theology and the councils
of the church, which has seldom been equal
led, and never exceeded by any one man in
our ecclesiastical connection. The recollec-
ton of his triet but brilliant career fills
our hearts with mingled emotions of graft
tude and grief;-the one, that God be-
slowed on our church snch gift; the other
that He has taken him from us at this crisis.
Though bowed in sorrow we would fain sub
missyely acknowledge His hand and invoke
His grace, enabling us to say the Lord
gave and the Lord hath taken away
blessed be the name of the Lord"
Ordercd l. That 2 copy of this paper be
furnished for publication in the Central
Ples6vteriaq ana Southern Presbyterian.
.. That a copy be communicated to the
family Of DR.. Thornwell, and also one to the
Synod Of South Carolina.