William Arnot: his life, work and thought

Abstract

This thesis concerns the life, work and thought of one of the most respected and beloved of the Disruption fathers, William Arnot (1808-1875). It traces his rise from a humble beginning as a gardener on the banks of the River Earn to a place of great distinction as a preacher and writer, and follows him through twenty-four years of popular ministry in Free St. Peter's Church, Glasgow and twelve years in the Free High Church, Edinburgh. It discusses the general characteristics of his preaching, emphasising the fact that he was primarily a pictorial preacher known for his ability to draw from the work-a-day world striking analogies of the spiritual life. As a pastor it shows him as a social reformer and an educationalist, and stresses his doctrine of kinship by which he identified himself with his people.

The discussion of his book, The Parables of Our lord, which was the only one of his works attempting to give a complete exegetical treatment of a branch of Scripture, indicates his style and method of exposition, stressing his rigid adherence to the interpretations given by Jesus, his cautious approach to all allegorical symbolism, and his insistence upon analogies being explained consistently throughout and in keeping with nature and fact. Representative examples from his work on the Proverbs are also included,

The sixth chapter deals with his theologica thought, his ecclesiastical emphasis, and his contributions to the Temperance Movement. It stresses the fundamental ideas on which his expository work is based, emphasising the major trends of his preaching end revealing some of the strong and weak points of his thought. /mot as an ecclesiastic is seen through an investigation, principally of his General Assembly speeches, which indicates in which areas of church life he was primarily interested; and the survey of iris temperance labors shows, not only his convictions on the subject, but how successful he was in defending them.

Amot was neither primarily a systematic theologian nor a churchman. He took no leading part in the disputes leading to the Disruption and, with the exception of his temperance stand, remained almost entirely apart from all controversies. His great forte lay in his ability to apply the laws from heaven for life on earth, to present the old story of the Cross in such a way as to make it over new, and to reach thereby the ears and hearts of thousands. While Arnot cannot be said to be a "lieutenant" of Chalmers, and cannot be classed with giants like Gaulish end Cunningham, still he was exceptional for his capacity to love his fellows, for his powerful influence for good especially among young men, and for his winning, genial manner which served to commend the gospel to ell to whom he ministered. It was as a man-perennially sunny in disposition, joyfully dedicated to the work of the gospel, and ever sensitive to the needs and cures of others - that his memory was cherished most "by those who knew him best.