Error sprouts rankly in human bosoms without any help of ours; but truth needs some kind hand to plant and water it, and keep it in the sunshine.
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson,149.
Monthly Archives: November 2025
Help and Guidance
The popular mind, so acute in the business of everyday life, is but a dull learner in the things of God, and at every step needs help and guidance, in order that it may reach right views on spiritual matters.
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 143.
The Presbyterian System
But if, on the other hand, our distinctive principles are very important as well as true, then duty to God and the church demands that we avow, illustrate, and defend them, and press them on the notice of the world.
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 140.
Christ is King and Head of His Church
All Presbyterian churches rank among their most cherished, as well as distinctive principles, that Christ alone is King and Head of His church.
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 135.
We Feel Bound to Declare
. . . we feel bound to declare our conviction that the government of the Church of England is repugnant to the Word of God.
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 128.
Helpers of Their Joy
Nor was supreme spiritual power lodged in the hands of any office-bearer of the church, however distinguished by his gifts, his sufferings, or his abundant labors . . . Even the apostles did not claim to have dominion over people’s faith, but only to be helpers of their joy (2 Cor. 1:24).
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 122.
Ordination
Ordination is the solemn designation of a person to ecclesiastical office with the laying on of hands . . . In its outward form it consisted of three things — fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands. The imposition of hands was used when spiritual gifts were conferred (Acts 8:17; 19:6).
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 114.
No Portion Useless
Human wisdom may be baffled in attempting to specify the design of every truth that forms a component part of divine revelation, but eternity will show us that no portion of it is useless. All Scripture is profitable.
Thomas Witherow, I Will Build My Church: Selected Writings on Church Polity, Baptism, and the Sabbath, edited by Jonathan Gibson, 87.