The Spirit and Origins of American Protestantism by John A. Hardon, S. J. (review)

520 BOOK REVIEWS The Spirit and Origins of American Protestantism. A Source Book in its Creeds. By JoHN A. IIARDON, S. J. Dayton: Pflaum Press, 1968. Pp. 516. $9.75. Father Rardon has gathered useful documents, creeds, confessions of faith, declarations, platforms of the churches of Reformation origin and of the churches of American origin. The anthology, of course, is not complete and is not meant to be. But it gives good and representative samples of doctrines held by many diverse Protestant churches based or born in the U. S. A. The choice is very ecumenical. It goes from classical texts, like the Augsburg Confession and the Thirty-Nine Articles, to Adventism, Ethical Culture, and New Thought, recording in passing a quaint letter of Thomas Jefferson against the Calvinist "deliria of crazy imagination," defending Unitarian Principles and sound moral principles which are rather puritanical. He writes to Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse: "I have received and read with thankfulness and pleasure your denunciation of the abuses of tobacco and wine. Yet, however sound in its principles, I expect it will be but a sermon to the wind." Perceptive politician! According to one's taste, one will prefer more classical texts or, on the contrary, some coverage of the non-established underground churches. Though the sampling is really quite wide, it is a useful book of reference with two indexes confessional and analytic. It is also exclusively a book of reference. The historical introductions to confessions or documents are very short indeed and I would have liked them a little more substantial. Darthmouth CoUege HanCYVer, N. H. AuGUSTIN P. LEONARD, 0. P. Thessalonians. By D. E. H. WHITELEY. (The New Clarendon Bible Series). London/New York: Oxford University Press, 1969. Pp. 115. $4.00. New Testament scholars are already familiar with the work of D. E. H. Whiteley, especially his studies in the Theology of St. Paul (1964). Quite possibly it was his knowledge of Pauline thought that prompted him to undertake this exposition of the Apostle's writings to the Christian community at Thessalonica. Many of Ius insights into the thought of St. Paul have appeared here in a more concise form. Thessalonians is a short volume, yet one which surveys the entire question posed by these epistles. There are maps, illustrations, and a selected bibliography to assist the reader. The Introduction to this study is proportionately long (31 out ...