Robert Lewis Dabney Collection (11 vols.)

by Robert Lewis Dabney; Thomas Cary Johnson

Publishers:

Presbyterian Committee of Publication; Presbyterian Board of Publication

and

4 more

, 1867–1903

Overview

Nineteenth-century professor and theologian Robert Lewis Dabney captivates his readers with essays and lectures covering a vast array of subjects in this 11-volume collection. Robert Lewis Dabney Collection (11 Vols.) contains ten books of valuable insight into theology, science, and psychology, as well as a biographical volume taking a close-up look into the life of this Southern Presbyterian Confederate.

Included in this collection is a very practical and compelling one-volume resource on the subject of the Sabbath as a day of rest. Dabney also explores the realms of science and religion in another single volume book, titled The Sensualistic Philosophy of the Nineteenth Century. His writings and lectures have greatly influenced the Southern Presbyterian Church. The writings show his biblical scholarship as well as the intriguing historical background in which his life and experiences are set — in addition to his work as a Southern Presbyterian minister and teacher, he was a Confederate in the American Civil War. His biblically-based writings are an excellent resource for any pastor, teacher, or student, and will be the perfect addition to your Logos library.

Key Features

• Biographical volume written by Thomas Cary Johnson
• Lectures of Robert Lewis Dabney
• Four volumes of essays on a wide variety of theological topics

Endorsements

[Robert Lewis Dabney is] the most conspicuous figure and the leading theological guide of the Southern Presbyterian Church, the most prolific theological writer that Church has as yet produced.

—B. B. Warfield

Product Details

• Title: Robert Lewis Dabney Collection (11 Vols.)
• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Volumes: 11
• Pages: 5,549

Discussions of Robert Lewis Dabney, Vol. 1

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Presbyterian Committee of Publication
• Publication Date: 1890
• Pages: 728

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The four volumes of Discussions of Robert Lewis Dabney were written between 1890–1897. The first of these four volumes, a collection of shorter essays, begins with a theological and evangelical study. Dabney’s convincing essays include topics such as Bible translations, God’s grace, and the Sabbath.

Contents include:

• Biographical Sketch
• Principles of Christian Economy
• Breckinridge’s Theology
• The Moral Effects of a Free Justification
• The Light of a Holy Example
• The Bible its Own Witness
• Endless Punishment
• The Doctrine of Original Sin
• Theology of the Plymouth Brethren
• Hodge’s Systematic Theology
• God’s Indiscriminate Proposals of Mercy, as Related to his Power, Wisdom and Sincerity
• The System of Alexander Campbell: An Examination of its Leading Points
• The Doctrinal Various Readings of the New Testament Greek
• The Revised Version of the New Testament
• Refutation of Prof. W. Robertson Smith
• The Influence of the German University System on Theological Literature
• Vindicatory Justice Essential to God
• The Believer Born of Almighty Grace
• The Christian Sabbath: Its Nature, Design and Proper Observance
• An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 3:10–15
• The World White to Harvest: Reap, or it Perishes
• The Gospel Idea of Preaching
• Our Comfort in Dying
• The Christian Soldier
• The Sin of the Tempter
• Meditation a Means of Grace
• The Popular Arguments against Endless Punishment Unsatisfactory as a Sure Ground of Hope
• Prayer Reasonable
• Parental Responsibilities
• A Phase of Religious Selfishness
• Our Secular Prosperity
• The Christian’s Duty towards his Enemies

Discussions of Robert Lewis Dabney, Vol. 2

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Presbyterian Committee of Publication
• Publication Date: 1891
• Pages: 684

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Dabney continues his collection of essays with this second volume, covering a broad spectrum of practical life issues important to the Christian faith from the question “What is a call to the ministry?” to the subject of praying for one’s country.

Contents include:

• Uses and Results of Church History
• What is a Call to the Ministry
• Memorial on Theological Education
• Lay Preaching
• The Public Preaching of Women
• Theories of the Eldership
• On Dangerous Reading
• On Co-operation
• Our Position
• Ministerial Support
• Pastoral Letter on Ministerial Support
• Ecclesiastical Equality of Negroes
• Prelacy a Blunder
• Wall Street Church Decision in the United States Supreme Court
• Speech on Fusion with the United Synod
• The Revised Book of Discipline
• “Christians Pray for Your Country”
• Christian’s Best Motive for Patriotism
• A Pacific Appeal to Christians
• On the State of the Country
• What is Christian Union
• Broad Churchism
• Fraternal Correspondence
• Fraternal Relations
• The Atlanta Assembly and Fraternal Relations
• The Pan-Presbyterian Alliance
• “Pan-Presbyterian Alliance”
• The Southern Church and the Presbyterian Alliance
• The Dancing Question
• The Sabbath and the State
• The General Assembly of 1881
• A Thoroughly Educated Ministry

Discussions of Robert Lewis Dabney, Vol. 3

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Presbyterian Committee of Publication
• Publication Date: 1892
• Pages: 603

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The subject of how science and Christianity relate has been long debated. Robert Lewis Dabney explores the Bible and geology, the science of emotions, and the topic of education in this volume. This third book of essays was published in 1892.

Contents include:

• Morality of the Legal Profession
• Positivism in England
• Liberty and Slavery
• Popish Literature and Education
• Simplicity of Pulpit Style
• Geology and the Bible
• A Caution Against Anti-Christian Science
• The Philosophy of Dr. Bledsoe
• The Philosophy of Volition
• The Emotions
• Civil Ethics
• The Philosophy Regulating Private Corporations
• Inductive Logic Discussed
• Nature of Physical Causes
• Applications of Induction and Analogy
• Spurious Religious Excitements
• Final Cause
• Anti-Biblical Theories of Rights
• Monism
• The Faculty Discourse
• The Standard of Ordination
• The Immortality of the Soul

Discussions of Robert Lewis Dabney, Vol. 4

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Presbyterian Committee of Publication
• Publication Date: 1897
• Pages: 600

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Dabney’s last set of essays, labeled as secular, still contains numerous religious themes throughout. Intertwining recounts of historical figures and events from the American Civil War with theology, many of these essays discuss current issues of the time such as slavery and women’s rights. A narrative of J. B. Baldwin interviewing Abraham Lincoln is included.

Contents include:

• The New South
• Letter to O.O. Howard, Chief of Freedmen’s Bureau
• Abstractionists
• Crimes of Philanthropy
• Defense of Dr. Dabney’s Narrative of the First Battle of Manassas
• Narrative of Col. J.B. Baldwin, of his Secret Interview with Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Disclosing the Origin of the War
• The Real Cause of the War
• The Duty of the Hour
• The United States as a Military Nation
• Stonewall Jackson, Lecture
• The Negro and the Common School
• The State Free School System Imposed upon Virginia by the Underwood Constitution
• Secularized Education
• Review of “Wilson’s Slave Power in America”
• State Free Schools
• Commendation of the Study of Philosophy, Lecture
• Labor Unions, the Strike and the Commune
• Depression of American Farming Interests
• The Dollar of the Daddies
• Economic Effects of the Former Labor System of the Southern United States
• Memoirs of Francis S. Sampson, D. D.
• True Courage. A Memorial Sermon on the Death of General T. J. Jackson. June, 1863
• A Memorial of Lieut. Col. John T. Thornton of the Third Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A.
• Nature Cannot Revolutionize Nature
• Samuel C. Anderson, of Prince Edward
• Women’s Rights Women
• Latest Infidelity. A Reply to Ingersoll’s Position
• The Attractions of Popery
• The Influence of False Philosophies upon Character and Conduct
• San Marcos River
• Death of Moses
• Baptismal Hymn. A Monody. The Dying Christian
• A Sonnet to Lee
• Gen’l T.J. Jackson. An Elegy
• Annihilation
• First Texas Brigade at the Wilderness

Syllabus and Notes of the Course of Systematic and Polemic Theology

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Presbyterian Publishing
• Publication Date: 1878 (2nd ed.
• Pages: 903

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

When professor Robert Lewis Dabney stopped lecturing at the collegiate level, he combined his knowledge and lectures into an effective curriculum, bringing forth Syllabus and Notes on the Course of Systematic and Polemic Theology. Comprised of seventy-four lectures, this book is a gold mine of theological insights. It was later published unchanged under the two titles Lectures in Systematic Theology and Systematic Theology.

The Sensualistic Philosophy of the Nineteenth Century

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Publication Date: 1876
• Pages: 369

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The subjects of psychology, the supernatural, evolution theory, and positivism should all be explored by anyone serious about the Christian faith. Dabney dives into these controversial subjects head-first in The Sensualistic Philosophy of the Nineteenth Century, expounding on his beliefs based on his vast studies in those areas.

The Practical Philosophy

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Eldredge
• Publication Date: 1880
• Pages: 521

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The Practical Philosophy covers hundreds of important and utilitarian doctrinal topics, from A to Z. The alphabetical organization promotes ease of searching, and the subjects are indexed at the beginning of the resource.

The Christian Sabbath: Its Nature, Design, and Proper Observance

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Presbyterian Board of Publication
• Publication Date: 1882
• Pages: 93

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Anyone who has wondered at the significance of observing the Sabbath will profit greatly from Dabney’s wealth of information on the matter. Over one hundred pages of dissertation make the case for the importance of this day of rest.

Life and Letters of Robert Lewis Dabney

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: Richmond
• Publication Date: 1903
• Pages: 575

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Thomas Cary Johnson combined collected letters and biographical information to form the last volume in Robert Lewis Dabney Collection (11 Vols.). Having lived a fascinating life full of historical significance, Dabney is a character hard to contain to one book. His early years in Virginia begin the chronological account of his life, which continues with Dabney's adulthood as a Southern Presbyterian minister, Confederate in the American Civil War, theologian, and professor.

Christ Our Penal Substitute

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: James K. Hazen
• Publication Date: 1888
• Pages: 115

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

If God is love, how can His Son have taken on our transgressions through penal substitution? The act of sacrificing one person for the sins of many has been related by some biblical scholars and students to pagan sacrificial practices and to the idea that God cannot both be love and be our penal substitution. Dabney argues that Christ’s atonement of our sins does not mirror pagan sacrificial practices, nor does it negate the fact that God is love. True to form, Dabney backs his writing with scriptural references and carefully constructed theological points.

A Defence of Virginia

• Author: Robert Lewis Dabney
• Publisher: E. J. Hale and Son
• Publication Date: 1867
• Pages: 358

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The 13th amendment to the Constitution, officially abolishing slavery in the United States of America, was passed in December of 1865 after over two centuries of slavery in this young country. Two years later, Dabney published A Defence of Virginia, a litigious document expressing the other viewpoint to a subject so intensely dividing that it sparked the American Civil War. Exposing an opposing view of Abraham Lincoln’s idea that slavery is wrong, this book shows a theologian’s earnest belief, based on his biblical studies, that slavery is condoned by God. Although the debate itself is now antiquated, the book is a fascinating and historically important resource.

About Robert Lewis Dabney

Robert Lewis Dabney, born in 1820, was a 19th century American theologian, well-known and highly acclaimed for his theological writings, including The Five Points of Calvinism, contained in the Calvin 500 Collection (108 Vols.). A staunchly Calvinist Southern Presbyterian minister and writer, Dabney was also a professor, teaching at both Union Theological Seminary in Virginia and Austin Theological Seminary. During the American Civil War, Dabney served as a Confederate, at one point becoming the chief of staff to Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. He died in 1898 in Texas.