Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

have no separate locus on the Church in their dogmatical works and, in fact, devote
very little attention to it. Only the works of Thornwell and Breckenridge form an
exception to the rule. This might create the impression that, in their opinion, the
doctrine of the Church should not have a place in dogmatics. But this is extremely
unlikely, since none of them raise a single objection to its inclusion. Moreover, Turretin
and their Scottish forbears, on whose foundation they are building, devote a great deal
of attention to the Church. Walker says: “There is perhaps no country in the world in
which all kinds of Church questions have been so largely discussed as in our own.” 1
And, finally, Dr. A. A. Hodge informs us that his father lectured to his various classes on
the subjects of Ecclesiology, practically covered the entire ground, and intended to
complete his Systematic Theology by the publication of a fourth volume on the Church;
but was prevented by the infirmities incident to his advanced age. 2 Dabney says that he
omitted the doctrine of the Church, because this was ably treated in another department
of the Seminary in which he labored. 3 Shedd in giving his scheme asserts that the
Church comes into consideration in connection with the means of grace. 4 However, he
devotes very little attention to the means of grace and does not discuss the doctrine of
the Church. And the editor of Smith’s System of Christian Theology incorporated into this
work the author’s views on the Church, as expressed in other works. 5
1 Scottish Theology and Theologians, p. 95; cf. also McPherson, The Doctrine of the Church in Scottish Theology,
pp. 1 ff.
2 Preface to Hodge’s work on Church Polity.
3 Lect. on Theol., p. 726.
4 Dogm. Theol. I, p. 10.
5 pp. 590 ff.
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