James MacGregor: Preacher, Theologian and Defender of the Faith

Book excerpt: This is the first biography of a 19th century Presbyterian minister and theological Professor, James MacGregor (1829-1894). MacGregor was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland before being elected Professor of Systematic Theology at New College, Edinburgh. He served in that capacity from 1868 to 1881 before immigrating to New Zealand where he took a charge at Oamaru in the South Island (1882-1894). He was a staunch defender of orthodox evangelical views and in his later years wrote three great tomes in defence of Christian faith. He produced two of the best Christian books of their genre to come from the 19th century church: Christian Doctrine (1861) and The Sabbath Question (1866). This is the first biography of the subject and it contains a complete listing of all his writings.