The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-09
Tfornwell's Life and Correspondence: His
Views on Church Polity and the
Sacraments.

Sacraments.
We have recently enjoyed the privilege of
examining the MS. of DR.. Palmer's forth
coming "Life and Correspondence of DR..
Thornwell." Confidently believing that it
is to prove most felicitous and successful
effort by the distinguished author to set forth
his eminent friend and brother in suitable
and becoming light before the whole Church,
we congratulate our readers on the prospect
of their possessing shortly this portrait of
one they so much loved and honored, where
to very great extent the story of his life,
principles, sentiments, and deeds, shall be
told in his own words.
1t may appear strange to some, but it is
nevertheless true, that DR.. Thornwell's pow
ers in the line of practical matters were not
less eminent than those which distinguished
him in the sphere of speculation. The VEN
cradle Jno. A. Crawford, Esq, of Columbia,
formerly President of the Commercial Bank,
gives testimony on this point which all who
know him will consider of authority. Some
person in controversy with the Bank, of
considerable Importance and very compi-
Gated, proposed that DR.. Thornwell should
be the Referee. The President supposed that
Bank questions, being out of DR.. Thornwell's
line, would be very puzzling to him, but to
his amazement the tangled knot was unra.
yelled with the most perfect facility and the
whole case made plain to the satisfaction of
all the parties.
1t has often been said that he had no gift
for mathematics. In his sportive moments
he frequently amused himself with ridiculing
mathematics as also those natural sciences
which as he humorously expressed it, must
qrab5le IN the dirt. But he had too much
practical common sense to despise any branch
of knowledge. And one of his class mates
still living has testified to US that he was the
best mathematician of the class.
Upon his colleague at the Seminary who
was called to teach Church History and Pol
ity he urged the adoption, at the outset OF
his course there, of the 4th Book of Calvin s
Institutes as his textbook. The ground on
which this request was based was that he
himself carried his classes in Theology
through the first three books, and he desired
to have them taken through the whole Of
that immortal work. His idea of textbook
was that it served as thread on Which might
be crystallized all the students acquisitions
in whatever form. In his opinion (and his
pre-eminent success as teacher gives this
opinion peculiar weight the best method ot
teaching theology was to use both the Lee
ture and some mastery textbook; for he
said if the Lectures proved to be worthless
the student will still have enjoyed the instruc'
tions of some great Theologlau. HIS use o.
a textbook was what that name itself sug
gests-he employed it as furnishing topics
for his own commentaries. But very fire
uuently his classes declare that they prefer
red Thornwells commentary to Calvin's text
Many time one of his students would ask
"But Dr., where do you fad that in tn
text book ?" His answer would be, 4" reaC
it between the lines" And so indeed it Wa
there to be read between the lines Wha
Calvin laid down involved and implied tn
exposition given, but there was required il
order to this exposition second great mas
/ ter of theological doctrine to educe and pre-
sent the truth in its completeness.
) But he gave his colleague still anothe
reason for his request, and that was his ow
3 full acceptance of the eminent Genevan'
] doctrine of church polty and the sacramento
!. The first part of this statement is what th
g reader is, of course, ready to take for gram
e ed. But to what did our great theologia
r set his seal when accepting Cavin's doctrin
e of the Lords Supper? Hodge and Cunning
r ham have both allowed themselves to repre-
sent Calvin as uttering on this subject some
thing quite uninteligible and absurd, nc
J, much better than the Lutheran Consubstar
+. tation, or even the r ,mish Transubstanti;
IS ton. But in fact the great Genevese uttel
T. ed nothing on this subject which he did nj
|. derive from the Word of God. Especial
l. does he with all humility accept what OF
e Lord said, as it is recorded in the sixth chal
ter of John, although not pretending that
l. understood, much less could explain all ii
d mystery there is in our Saviour's Words
h Something like the following he very mo-
estly presents as a brief summary of the do
u y trine as taught in Scripture.
,e From the beginning the Son of God Wi
the fountain of life, But man fallen had 10