THE THEOLOGY OF THOMAS CHALMERS A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Divinity, New College The University of Edinburgh In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Wade Prichard Huie, Jr. May 1949 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection." "Moonlight preaching ripens no harvest." "A oneness in conduct will often lead to an essential oneness in creed." "I'm apt to think the man That could surround the sum of things, and spy The heart of God and secrets of His empire, Would speak but love with him the bright result Would change the hue of intermediate scenes, And make one thing of all theology." TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE List of Abbreviations. .............. v Preface, ..................... vi I. INTRODUCTORY. ................... 1 A. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. ............. 1 Early Life (1780 1803). .......... 1 Kilmany (1803 15) ............. 11 Glasgow (1815 23) ............. 19 St. Andrews (1823 28) .......... ( . 22 Edinburgh University (1828 43) ....... 25 New'College (1843 47) ........... 30 B. THEOLOGICAL CLIMATE. ............. 33 Prevalence of Rationalism. ......... 33 Rational Supernaturalism .......... 36 Reaction Evangelicalism .......... 39 Rise of Romanticism, ............ 46 II. APPROACH TO THEOLOGY. ............... 51 Scientific Framework. .............. 51 Mathematical Frame of Mind ......... 51 Baconian Method. .............. 53 Problem of Knowledge. .............. 56 .Ethical Basis .................. 60 Practical Emphasis. ............... 64 Theological Nomenclature .......... 64 Theology from Chair and Pulpit ....... 65 Order of Theological Education ....... 68 Method of Christian Theology ........ 69 Adaptability and Appeal. .......... 72 III. NATURAL THEOLOGY. ................. 76 Nature of Natural Theology. ........... 78 Content of Natural Theology ........... 84 Evidence for God: Design in External Nature ........ 86 Constitution of the Mind. ........ 97 Adaptation of Man to his Environment. 108 Problem of Evil. .............. 113 Evidence for Immortality .......... 118 Value of Natural Theology ............ 120 Evaluation of Evidences. .......... 120 Its Usefulness and Insufficiency ...... 127 iv IV. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. ............... 133 Necessity of Revelation. ............ 135 Authenticity of Christian Revelation ...... 137 Historical Evidence ............ 138 Experimental Evidence ........... 151 Evidences and the Pulpit. ......... 159 Inspiration of Scripture ............ 161 Criticism of Scripture ............. 166 "Corrective Criticism". .......... 166 "Interpretative Criticism". ........ 168 Authority of Scripture ............. 170 V. A SYSTEM OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY .......... 178 Sin. ...................... 179 Origin of Human Depravity ......... 179 Sinfulness of Man ............. 183 Guilt of Man. ............... 190 Pulpit Treatment. ............. 194 Salvation. ................... 197 A Legal Right ............... 199 Reconciliation ............. 199 The Gospel Offer ............ 205 Justification by Faith ......... 213 A Moral Rightness ............. 224 Renovation of the Individual ...... 224 Renovation of Society. ......... 234 Predestination ................. 237 God. ...................... 248 Character of God. ............. 249 Providence and Prayer ........... 253 The Doctrine of the Trinity ........ 255 The Doctrine of Jesus Christ. ....... 256 The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit ...... 258 VI. CONCLUSION .................... 261 Appreciation of the Man. ............ 261 Reputation as a Preacher ............ 262 Some of his Limitations. ............ 263 His Significance to Scottish Theology. ..... 265 A Connecting Link ............. 267 An Enlarged View. ............. 270 A Fresh Vitality. ............. 273 Epilogue .................... 278 Bibliography ................... 280 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Bridgewater Treatise——Thomas Chalmers, On the Power. Wisdom and Goodness of God, as Manifested in the Adaptation of External Nature to the Moral and Intellectual Constitution of Man. "Christianity"——Thomas Chalmers, "Christianity," David Brew- ster, editor, The Edinburgh Encyclopedia. VI, 355—96. Correspondence——William Hanna, editor, A Selection from the Correspondence of Thomas Chalmers. CW——Thomas Chalmers, The Works of Thomas Chalmers. Memoirs—Vvilliam Hanna, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Thomas Chalmers. NBR——Thomas Chalmers, Review of J. D. Morell, An Historical and Critical View of the Speculative Philosophy of Europe in the Nineteenth Century, in The North British Review. February 1847. pp. 271—551. Predestination——Thomas Chalmers, Five Lectures on Predesti­ nation. PW——William Hanna, editor, Posthumous Works of Thomas Chal­ mers. SW——Vvilliam Hanna, editor, Select Works of Thomas Chalmers. PREFACE On more than one occasion the subject of this thesis has provoked the question, "Has that not been written on be­ fore?" The surprising answer is, "No." Many pages have been used to discuss other approaches to this famous Scotsman, but there has been no attempt at a thorough study of his theology. It has been my privilege to undertake such a task, and the purpose of this thesis is to present the results of this research. No great discoveries have been made, but the spirit of the man who inspired the first students of New College has returned to shed light and life to at least one more student for the Christian ministry. The scope of this thesis must exclude a treatment of Chalmers 1 ecclesiology, including his views on the sacraments and on the relation between Church and State. Except for occasional references his attitude toward social questions is also omitted. These have already been dealt with in other studies, and their treatment here would take us too far afield from our primary purpose—to present an exposition of the theology of Thomas Chalmers. American spelling has been followed throughout this thesis, except when quoting from a British writer. This time of study in Scotland has been made possible through the Alumni Fellowship of Columbia Theologies1 Semi­ nary, and to the faculty and alumni of this institution I vii shall always be grateful. It is an interesting side-light that as Principal of New College and as Professor of Divinity, Thomas Chalmers was the "first parent" of my two faculty advisers, the Rev­ erend Principal Hugh Watt and the Very Reverend Professor John Baillie. Both have spoken words of criticism and words of encouragement, and I appreciate their patient interest and valuable help. Many thanks are also expressed to the Reverend Professor J. H. S. Burleigh and the Reverend Prin­ cipal C. S. Duthie for their assistance. The staffs of the National Library of Scotland, St. Andrews University Library, Aberdeen University Library, Edinburgh University Library, and the Church of Scotland Library have been helpful in providing research material. But to the Reverend J. B. Primrose and Miss E. R. Leslie, of New College Library, are due the highest words of praise and appreciation for the cheerful and sympathetic way in which they have assisted in this study. W. P. H. Edinburgh, Scotland May 1949 CHAPTER I A. INTRODUCTORY: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH The life of Thomas Chalmers was most ably written soon after his death by his son-in-law, William Hanna, who has been the primary authority for the later biographies.1 Different aspects of the practical side of his ministry have also received thorough treatment. This chapter is not written with the intention of adding anything to the biographical material in these books; it is only meant to be a summary of that material in order that some idea may be given of the man whose theology is being considered. To a degree greater than that of most theologians, his theology must be understood against the background of his persuasive personality. In this chapter prominence will be given to those things in his life which throw light on his theologi­ cal views. I. EARLY LIFE (1780—1805) In the little seaport town of Anstruther, Fifeshire, Thomas Chalmers was born on 17 March 1780. With a landed ancestry who had contributed not a few ministers to the Church of Scotland, this "fine boy named Tom" grew up in a 1 Biographers include W. Garden Blaikie, Frances E. Cooke, James Dodds, Donald Fraser, Mrs. Oliphant, Adam Philip, Norman L. Walker, and Jean L. Watson. family of fourteen children, whose parents were hearty follow­ ers of Calvinistic theology and noble examples of unostenta­ tious piety. At the age of three he began his education in the parish school, not so much because of a yearning for knowledge, but to escape the tyranny of a nurse whose cruelty and deceitfulness did much to make his home-life miserable. He gave little evidence of being hungry for knowledge, and by some of his schoolmates he is described as "one of the idlest, strongest, merriest, and most generous-hearted boys in An- struther school."1 However, he had developed a keen interest in reading, and the books which took the strongest hold on his thoughts were The Pilgrim's Progress and Gaudentio di Lucca. Though it does not appear that the Bible made a very deep impression in his early years, certain narratives seemed to catch his imagination. In illustration of this, it is told that during his fourth year he was found alone in the nursery, pacing up and down, and repeating to himself in an excited way, "0 my son Absalom! 0 Absalom, my son, ray son!"2 At an early age he announced his intention of being a minister, and before he was twelve he was sent to St. Andrews University.