New-York tribune., 1871-10-10

VuR COLLECTED WRTTXes or JAMES HBNLxI THORN.
E IL s.s s p S,s,,.su !SSs &SssS css's. PsSSss SS:
SSS HsSYsri ROSsr Garter BrosSsrA
The Presbyterian Church In this country
ear boast Of few profound thinkers moro erudte
Aoars OF more acute and subtle reasoners among the
usty1ous names which adorn her history than TIE emf
seus divine whose works are puolshed In collect
~ FORM Dr.. Thorn well remarkable for his devo
sn 10 classical studes; he was singularly earnea
Se PHILOSOPHERS Of ancient 0reece his interest 'ne
apeouatye theories Of the oden time was no less arues
GAaA he had not been % devoted an sonoren'
q the doctrines Of revelation; but was ~ AZ
advocate Of tho theological system OF CalVh anu 'no
Westminster Assembly, that he stood most ocnsPo1o
onaOng the cultivated and able men OF MS aay' sOe
euoaerysve both In his tastes and his oonVlc1ons nc
had no Gympathy with the couree OF modern
He chung 70 the oreeds and confessions OF hie Sn''
with q tenacity Of which there are few snch unoo"p
SAne examples 1t the present day. he cnoSon Honlo
was In the bosom Of the Presbyterian Church, ~no
thing ontstde OF that barren desert moro Flkof
aus detcnder of the discipline and doctrine OF thar com
,,mIon has not been found within tie ranks Dr'
sn.o-rwAl WA largely endowed with the posi-
tive element He was no n1eno Oh oo"PtV
Ase or conceSsIOn. Never halfway man In any son'o
af the word he stood upon his convictions with nrm
aa that amounted 70 apparent intolerance he hso DO
.ience with the soft charity that is bland alike to truth
and error II probably this ardof OF faitn' ana un
shakable sefcOnhdence that led him to take an active
at in southern pOcs and by his potent eloQuenoe a.
weh asby his weight Of character to exert
uenCe In urging the people Of South Carolina 20 re-
heon and In tanning the passions which tempted them
70 ruin after the commencement Of tbs war. In
theology, also, he essentially polemic'
he girded his armOr, not 30 much
10 defend himself. as to fight His manner,
taded was always cOureous he breathed too pure an
atmosphere scholarship TO descend to the coarse and
vulgar arts Of controversy but he loved to STRIKE and
to strike hard blows OF this there abundant proof in
tAe present volumes They the first Of SERIES which
q 70 be completed ak volumes four of them contain
ing his theological works to be published by the Presby
tartan Church IN the United States and the remaining
two TO consist Of hs miscellaneous productions mostly
Of metaphysical, political religious character Ihe
volumes issued devoted mainly to an exposition
nj systematic theology from the Calvinec point OF
xeV with ethical discussions Of various correlated
ASpics and the "DisoOurses on Truth," Whicn
1t once commanded q wide influence at the ume OF
tAer original publication separate work The SUD
rautia contents Of these volumes viii present strong
speal to the energy and resolution OF the theoogoS
Soader. They cannot he mastered without strenuous
study They open field Of thought which sugGess Inc
areary speculations Of past age without the allure
,.ents Of a melover dispensatiOn But whoever wishes
n make an excursion In the thOrny wilderness OF Gavin
Atan theology will find stalwart and courageous leader
4, the author Of this significant work.