The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-02

Catholic on subscription about sixty
years since. For many years after that,
almost all books of any size and number
of pages were published in the same way.
None were attempted by printers, but
such as they supposed would command a
large subscription. The introduction or
appendix to these volumes contained a
list of subscribers, and their place of
residence, and form an item of interest
in the progress of the book-trade and of
libraries.
Mr.. Robinson writing to Mr.. Hen
dren, May 10Th, 1917, says: "Some
years past you got some volumes of
Watts works for your use and Mrs.
Meredith's. Did you take them with
you, or leave them with Mrs. Meredith
If she has them 1 would thank you to
request her by some means to cOntrive
them to me-, They aye kaucb esteemed
in my family, not only for their intrinsic
value, but for having been the property
of my children's grandfather
Mr.. Hendren had removed from Am
herst to Augusta; Mrs. Meredith was a
near connexion of Patrick Henry, and
resided near New Glasgow; and the
grandfather " was Mr.. Leake, pre-
decessor in the ministry at the Cove.
The same letter says he had just heard
of the conversion of General Cooke, who
had been a professed unbeliever in reve-
lation, either as fact or necessity.
In one of his written sermons, Mr..
Robinson in very decided yet respect
full manner, controverts one of the posi-
tions of his "much esteemed" DR. Watts
on social duties. He would call him
"Mortis" in logic, and regret some of
his opinions on the training of youth.
In the same sermon he refers to his fell
low Presbyter, DR.. Waddell, without
naming him, as holding the same senti
ments as those advanced by Watts, and
expressing his conviction that both had
deviated from the Apostolic spirit
Watts had assisted him to think and to
reason; and his thinking guided by the
Apostles truth, led him to doubt and
then to approve some of Watts PROPOSE
tions concerning our social relations.
And while he bowed respectfully to Wad-
dell as the elder and better minister of
the Gospel, he questioned some of his
conclusions. The Church said the man
ner of Waddell is resistless and the
fire of Robinson is overwhelming; and
the memory of both is cherished as wor-
thy peers in the ministry.
In letter to Mr.. Hendren, June 5th,
1915, besides many domestic and person.
al things, both interesting and charac-
teristic, he says: 81 yesterday preached,
or attempted to preach from Luke 10Th
chapter, 11-22 verses inclusive. Our
people felt the subject deeply. l wanted
very much critical friend at my elbow
to whom | might have proposed my
doubts and difficulties. had no such
living present friend. l therefore ap-
piled to the absent and the dead. But
Solomon, if remember right, says some
where, a living dog is better than dead
lion.' I have often found the truth of
this proverb. l applied to DIR. Camp
bell in his translations of the Gospels,
and, presumptuous as it may seem, |
could not help thinking Dr.. Campbell
was mistaken. 1 applied to DIR. Scott,
and he like other prudent men, got over
the difficulty by saying not one word
about it. If you please let me apply to
friend nearer home. 1t is yourself.
Tell me in your next, and letit be a long
one, how you understand the 25th verse,
included in a parenthesis, ('And they
said unto him, Lord he hath ten pounds, y
which of the servants is antecedent to
the pronoun heP DR.. Campbell seems
to think it was the servant who had i'm
proved his pound and made ten pounds
from it. But does not this make the an
swer of the servants present impertinent
Take from him the pound and give it
to him that hath ten pounds The an
. swer is: Lord, he hath ten pounds.
Did not their Master know this? Was
not the answer on this supposition, inde-
corous? Their master ordered them to
take from the Improbable servant the
pound which he had, and give it to him
that had ten pounds. Would they have
answered, thy faithful servant which
hath improved his pound hath ten pounds
already and therefore needs no more 2
1 think not. It would not have been
consistent with the respect and duty to
their master, and their Difference due to
positive commands.
Are you ready to ask, have you, my
friend, a better explanation than DIR.
Campbell's? 7 think 1 have. 1 tried to
give it yesterday. 1t is in few words.
If I live to see you and you think it is
of Importance enough to inquire, 1 will
give you my views of it more fully; that
he who said he kept his pound laid up in