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.

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August 25, 1835 Letter

William Mayo Atkinson ⬩ 1835

1835 Southern Religious Telegraph: lists subscription agents, praises the American Tract Society’s family library, and gives a charge on church members’ duties to support, respect, and aid their pastor.

A Sermon Delivered at the Installation of the Rev. John M.P. Atkinson as Pastor of the Church at Warrenton, Fauquier County

William Mayo Atkinson ⬩ 1844

1844 installation sermon defending ministerial authority and ordination: ministers receive their call from Christ and the church; argues for Presbyterian ordination over apostolic succession.

William Mayo Atkinson, D.D.

William Mayo Atkinson ⬩ 1858

Biography of William M. Atkinson (1796–1849): his conversion, law career, ordination to the Presbyterian ministry, devoted pastoral and educational labors, character and death.

Prof. Johnson’s History of the Southern Presbyterian Church

William McFaddin Alexander, D.D. ⬩ 1894

Discusses authorship debate over Isaiah 13–14 and reviews Prof. Johnson’s history of the Southern Presbyterian Church: origins, 1861 split, headship of Christ, growth and education.

The Southern General Assembly, 1897

William McFaddin Alexander, D.D. ⬩ 1897

July 1897 Presbyterian Quarterly: a Melanchthon address and a report of the Southern General Assembly—moderator election, prohibition of women’s public speaking, missions and finances.

The Duty of the Present Generation to Evangelize the World

William Patterson Alexander ⬩ 1836

1836 appeal from Sandwich Islands missionaries urging American Christians to vastly expand foreign missions, funding, and manpower to evangelize the 600 million unreached.

Scripture Doctrine of a Call to the Work of the Gospel Ministry

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1832

Sermon on the doctrine of a call to the gospel ministry: distinguishes extraordinary and ordinary calls, and outlines evidences—enduring desire, humility, patient waiting, and reliance on God.

Manual for the Members of the Presbyterian Church in Petersburg, Va

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1833

Concise history of the Presbyterian Church in Petersburg, VA (1812–1833), detailing founding ministers, revivals, membership growth, and congregational records.

Revivals of Religion

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1834

Essay on the nature and necessity of religious revivals—definitions, biblical proofs, historical examples (Britain, America), and marks of genuine, lasting revival.

A Call to Personal Labor as a Foreign Missionary

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1835

1835 appeal urging ministers and Christians to heed God’s call to foreign missions, exposing heathen corruption and urging endurance, self-denial, cheerfulness, and zeal.

August 29, 1835 Letter to Robert G. Scott

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1835

Notices and editorial from the Southern Religious Telegraph (1835) promoting tract evangelism and church news, with a charge on congregational duties to their pastor: love, respect, and restraint.

Select Remains of the Rev. William Nevins, D.D.

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1836

Thoughts on Religious Education and Early Piety

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1836

1836 essay urging religious education and early piety, calling parents to train children in submission, truthfulness, industry, temperance, and enduring moral habits for eternity.

What Will Avail in a Sinner’s Salvation

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1836

Argues that external rites cannot save; true salvation is a spiritual "new creation"—regeneration by the Holy Spirit producing illumination, faith, repentance, love and holiness.

What Will Not Avail in a Sinner’s Salvation

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1836

Plumer warns that external rites, reformation of habits, gifts, fear, zeal, or speculative notions cannot save. Only a new creation—regeneration in Christ by the Word—avails.

August 8, 1837 Letter to the First Presbyterian Church of Richmond, Virginia; the East Hanover Presbytery

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1837

Defends the General Assembly’s acts on the Plan of Union with New England Congregationalists, denying a binding covenant or property breach and explaining ministerial examinations and seating.

Sermons, by the Late Rev. William Nevins

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1837

Collection of sermons by Rev. W. Nevins. Opening sermon argues many live “without God in the world” — a practical atheism shown by forgetfulness of God and neglect of worship.

Theatrical Entertainments

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1837

A Presbyterian tract condemning theatrical entertainments as occasions of temptation that lead to dissipation, intemperance, theft, wasted time, and moral ruin. Urges Christians to avoid theatres.

Watchman of the South, Vol. 1, No. 5

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1837

1837 Richmond religious paper urging personal holiness, prayer, and charity; defends controversial theology and reports Presbyterian presbytery resolutions disowning certain synods.

Watchman of the South, Vol. 1, No. 9

William Swan Plumer ⬩ 1837

A collection of religious essays: meditation on Genesis 2:18 about companionship, contrasts between genuine piety and skepticism (Voltaire, Gibbon, Paul), deathbed conduct, and the duty of laymen in defending Christianity.

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