Bid for Logos edition of Rev. Thomas Smyth's Complete Works
- Thread starter Shawn Mathis
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Rev. Todd Ruddell
Puritan Board Junior
Thank you for this notice, Rev. Mathis. Smyth is worth having.
One Little Nail
Puritan Board Sophomore
Hello, Thomas Smyth has some great ecclesiastical writings, Ive been especially blessed
by his Catechism of the Presbyterian Church, the only drawback i found was that he
puts a division in the eldership by only counting the ruling elder as a Bishop the same
as Charles Hodge,whereas Samuel Miller Northern Pressy who's book The Ruling Elder,
Dabney & Thornwell Southern Pressy's, & virtually the whole of Scottish Presbyterianism
held to an Eldership which had both a ruling & teaching distinction with an Ordained Minister
(Pastor &/or Teacher)being the Teaching Elder as per 1 Tim 5:17.Samuel Millers book ought
to be made a mandatory read for every Elder & Minister in my opinion, Smyth & C. Hodge
held that the NT Elder Qualifications in Timothy were only for Ministers as they held
that the Qualifications for Ruling Elders were given by Moses, this error,the seperation of
the Eldership,was espoused by some Early Church "Fathers" ie Cyprian,I believe this was
one of the reasons why the Church gradually Apostatised into Prelacy,the thin edge of the
wedge if you will. Nevertheless Thomas Smyth's writings are well worth reading most can
be found & downloaded for FREE at Google Books.
by his Catechism of the Presbyterian Church, the only drawback i found was that he
puts a division in the eldership by only counting the ruling elder as a Bishop the same
as Charles Hodge,whereas Samuel Miller Northern Pressy who's book The Ruling Elder,
Dabney & Thornwell Southern Pressy's, & virtually the whole of Scottish Presbyterianism
held to an Eldership which had both a ruling & teaching distinction with an Ordained Minister
(Pastor &/or Teacher)being the Teaching Elder as per 1 Tim 5:17.Samuel Millers book ought
to be made a mandatory read for every Elder & Minister in my opinion, Smyth & C. Hodge
held that the NT Elder Qualifications in Timothy were only for Ministers as they held
that the Qualifications for Ruling Elders were given by Moses, this error,the seperation of
the Eldership,was espoused by some Early Church "Fathers" ie Cyprian,I believe this was
one of the reasons why the Church gradually Apostatised into Prelacy,the thin edge of the
wedge if you will. Nevertheless Thomas Smyth's writings are well worth reading most can
be found & downloaded for FREE at Google Books.
Wayne
Tempus faciendi, Domine.
More about Smyth's works, here:
http://www.pcahistory.org/findingaids/smyth/Waugh_2012_SmythGuide.pdf
Also, if you download them from archive.org, they are typically available in multiple formats.
Links to each of the volumes are currently featured on the PCA Historical Center's homepage:
http://www.pcahistory.org/
http://www.pcahistory.org/findingaids/smyth/Waugh_2012_SmythGuide.pdf
Also, if you download them from archive.org, they are typically available in multiple formats.
Links to each of the volumes are currently featured on the PCA Historical Center's homepage:
http://www.pcahistory.org/
Shawn Mathis
Puritan Board Sophomore
Free yes. But not fully searchable and integrated in logos. More people sign on the cheaper it gets!
Shawn Mathis
Puritan Board Sophomore
Joseph,
Smyth wrote several books and essays on this debate (contra Thornwell and Dabney) and the broader issue of Presbyterianism vs. Prelacy.
I am unclear about what you are saying concerning a "division' in the eldership (e.g. "ruling elder as Bishop"). I think you are referring to the 2 office vs. 2.5 office. vs. 3 office. Hodge, Miller, Smyth, Calvin and the original WCF Form of Church Government (google book that) were clearly 3 office (and four if teacher and pastor are different)--even if they may use different texts and arguments. Unfortunately, I do not know of any one article that summarizes these historical facts.
But just look for other threads here to find that discussion. You are right: much good stuff here!
Smyth wrote several books and essays on this debate (contra Thornwell and Dabney) and the broader issue of Presbyterianism vs. Prelacy.
I am unclear about what you are saying concerning a "division' in the eldership (e.g. "ruling elder as Bishop"). I think you are referring to the 2 office vs. 2.5 office. vs. 3 office. Hodge, Miller, Smyth, Calvin and the original WCF Form of Church Government (google book that) were clearly 3 office (and four if teacher and pastor are different)--even if they may use different texts and arguments. Unfortunately, I do not know of any one article that summarizes these historical facts.
But just look for other threads here to find that discussion. You are right: much good stuff here!
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