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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The Distinctive Nature of Homiletics, and Reasons for Its Cultivation

Reviews Müller’s dogmatics and Shedd’s essay defining homiletics as 'sacred rhetoric.' Argues sermons are chiefly didactic, weighty, and difficult, deserving careful cultivation.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1865

In Memoriam: Calvin Pease

Eulogy for Calvin Pease detailing his life as an American scholar, educator, and Presbyterian pastor, highlighting his dedication to classical learning and public service.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1865

The Fundamental Properties of Style

Two essays: one examines Ebionitism and the emergence of the second-century Catholic church; the other outlines three fundamental properties of style—plainness, force, beauty—for pulpit rhetoric.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1864

The Charge and Inaugural Address Delivered … of Rev. W.G.T. Shedd, D.D., as Professor of Biblical Literature in the Union Theological Seminary, New York, …

Inaugural charge for Prof. W.G.T. Shedd urging reverence for Scripture, mastery of Hebrew and Greek, and rigorous exegesis to meet rising critical challenges.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1864

A History of Christian Doctrine, Vol. 2

Overview of historical Christian theories on the soul’s origin—pre-existence, creationism, traducianism—tracing patristic, Platonic influences and implications for original sin.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1864

A History of Christian Doctrine, Vol. 1

Shedd's History of Christian Doctrine surveys the historical construction of Christian dogma: method, philosophical influences, apologetics, and the development of Trinitarian and Christological teaching.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1863

The True Tone in Preaching, and the True Temper in Hearing

Argues preaching must convey Scripture's 'fiery' truths—God's love and wrath—to awaken conviction of sin. Effective eloquence needs life in both preacher and a receptive, prepared hearer.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1863

The Guilt of the Pagan: A Sermon Preached for the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church

Argues pagans are guilty before God because creation and conscience reveal God and the moral law. Cites Romans and Luke to defend universal guilt and the need for missions.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1863

Motives to Prayer for Colleges: An Address Delivered in the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, February 26, 1863

Sermon calling Christians to pray for colleges and students, seeking the Holy Spirit's converting and sanctifying work on educated youth and the Church's care of schools.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1863

The Union and the War: A Sermon, Preached November 27, 1862

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1863

God’s Exhaustive Knowledge of Man

Sermon: human self-consciousness affirms dignity, yet God's omniscience far surpasses it—He exhaustively knows our thoughts, motives, and secret sins (Ps. 139).

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1862

The Confessions of Augustine

Overview of Augustine's Confessions: a candid autobiography blending deep devotional confession with metaphysical theology—sin, conversion, faith vs. reason, and Genesis/Trinity exegesis.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1860

The Atonement, a Satisfaction for the Ethical Nature of Both God and Man

Shedd argues Christ's atonement is a real propitiation that satisfies God's ethical nature as well as human conscience; in the incarnation God self-sacrifices to reconcile sinners.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1859

Congregationalism and Symbolism

Two 1858 essays: one traces the Greek Church from Constantine's founding of Constantinople; the other urges Congregationalists to strengthen denominational unity via creeds and Reformed theology.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1858

A Manual of Church History, Vol. 2

Introduction and TOC of Guericke's Medieval Church History (A.D. 590–814): spread of Christianity, Islamic persecutions, papal development, church-state relations, and doctrinal disputes.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1870

A Manual of Church History, Vol. 1

Preface and table of contents for Guericke's Manual of Church History (Ancient Church). Emphasizes doctrinal/internal history, method, sources, apostolic era, persecutions, and Church Fathers.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1872

Africa and Colonization: An Address Delivered Before the Massachusetts Colonization Society, May 27, 1857

1857 address urging American colonization and Christianization of Africa, arguing Africa's latent capacities and destiny for civilization through colonization and evangelism.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1857

Lectures upon the Philosophy of History

Shedd’s lectures argue that history is a continuous, organic development rooted in a created beginning and governed by divine providence. They reject atomistic and chance accounts in favor of connected, teleological growth.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1857

Discourses and Essays

Shedd argues theology is the science of the supernatural, not reducible to natural theology. Theological method should descend from supernatural realities to explain nature and divine attributes.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1856

The Influence and Method of English Studies

Two essays: one defends the innate moral faculty and its bearing on psychology, ethics, and theology. The other urges deep, historical philological study of English to enrich education and culture.

William Greenough Thayer Shedd ⬩ 1856

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