The General Assembly 1851 (Princeton Review)
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1851 General Assembly minutes: cases of Rev. McAuley and Dr. McGill’s resignation, election at Western Theological Seminary, and debate over a cheap church weekly.
Archives
The Confessional Presbyterian Archive is a curated digital library dedicated to preserving and promoting the writings of 17th–20th century Presbyterian pastors, teachers, and leaders. Featuring thousands of searchable texts, biographies, and historical resources, the archive provides direct access to the primary-source materials of American Presbyterianism.
The General Assembly 1851 (Princeton Review)
Idea of the Church
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Argues the Apostles’ Creed’s ‘communion of saints’ defines the Church as the spiritual body of true believers united to Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit, not merely a visible organization.
Introduction to The Faithful Mother’s Reward
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A mother’s narrative of her young son’s conversion and death, highlighting covenant theology: children included in God’s promises and the duty of Christian parents to nurture faith.
The General Assembly 1853 (Princeton Review)
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Report on the 1853 General Assembly (Presbyterian): doctrinal links between theology and church, procedural debates on commissions, communion admission, standing committees, and foreign missions.
Beecher’s Great Conflict
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Review of Song of Solomon commentaries and a close analysis of Edward Beecher’s The Conflict of Ages, focusing on original sin, innate depravity, and rival theories.
Dr. Schaff’s Apostolic Church
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Reviews recent Song of Solomon commentaries and Philip Schaff’s History of the Apostolic Church, praising scholarship while noting fears of ‘Romanizing’ influence and Mercersburg ties.
The Education Question
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1854 essay arguing public education must include the Bible and Christian instruction; excluding religion will leave many ignorant of God, so the Church must provide and support schools.
Bishop McIlvaine on the Church
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Essay on the Church’s nature and government: distinction between invisible and visible Church, permitted forms of polity, and defence of infant membership and covenantal baptism.
Memoir of Archibald Alexander
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Memoir of Archibald Alexander, detailing his education, pastoral and academic career, presidency at Hampden–Sydney, and influence as first Princeton seminary professor.
What Is Presbyterianism?
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Charles Hodge (1855) defines Presbyterianism: church polity where people govern through presbyters and ruling elders, under Christ and Scripture, rejecting clerical or congregational supremacy.
The Church Review on the Permanency of the Apostolic Office
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Critique of Bishop McIlvaine’s claim that the apostolic office is permanent, debating episcopal succession, apostolic gifts, authority, and infallibility.
The Princeton Review and Cousin’s Philosophy
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Reviews of Kurtz’s history of the Old Covenant and Cousin’s Elements of Psychology. Discussion defends Cousin against charges of pantheism, fatalism, and moral subversion.
Essays and Reviews
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Charles Hodge critiques theological controversies on regeneration, defending Calvinist views against Dr. Cox and arguing regeneration is a moral, not physical, change.
Free Agency
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Reviews manuals defending infant baptism and church oversight; essay analyzes free agency vs necessity, contingency, and certainty in relation to sin and grace.
Inspiration
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Article defends the plenary, infallible inspiration of Scripture, asserting divine authorship and spiritual illumination against rationalist objections.
The General Assembly of 1857 (Princeton Review)
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Report of the 1857 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church: seminary reports, faculty elections and endowments, meeting-place selection, and domestic missions. Sermon draws on Matthew 28:20.
The General Assembly 1858 (Princeton Review)
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1858 General Assembly report defending preservation of the King James Bible against American Bible Society revisions; reviews domestic and foreign missions’ finances, growth, and trials.
The Revised Book of Discipline
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Review of proposed revisions to the Presbyterian Book of Discipline, arguing that discipline must conform to Scripture and Westminster standards and distinguishing baptized from professing members.
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