1799–1871
Gibson was one of the Disruption fathers and a professor of Systematic Theology in the Free Church College
Books
The Church in Relation to the State, 1872, 220 pages, this book consists of a 170 page treatise written by Gibson in 1833 and a 45 page lecture given by Gibson in 1853, edited and compiled by James M’Naught
The first part of the book is a historical essay. It is often claimed that the establishment of religion instituted by Constantine in the 300’s was the major contributing factor to the later Romish and priestly domination of the Church. Gibson argues from history that the Church would have been much helped from the Establishment Principle under Constantine, but in fact it was due to the Voluntary Principle that the later Romish domination came about. This essay was highly recommended by the Doctors M’Crie and Cunningham, and (according to them) had not been answered.
The second part of the book demonstrates the Establishment Principle from the moral law of God’s application to the civil constitution. The book as a whole was highly recommended by James Begg, George Smeaton, and John Kennedy, amongst others.
The Connection Between Popery and Infidelity: Historical Illustrations, 87 pages
The Connection between the Decalogue and New Testament Morality, 1865
Family Worship: a Series of Prayers with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on Passages of Scripture for every Morning and Evening of the Year, 1851, 964 pages, edited by James Gibson, with contributions from 180 ministers of Scotland
This is a manual for help in Family Worship. For every morning and evening of the year it gives a selection for a psalm to sing, two scripture passages, then doctrinal remarks followed by practical remarks, with a prayer to pray at the end. Try this for family worship.
Inscriptions on the Tombstones and Monuments Erected in Memory of the Covenanters, 1875, 334 pages
This is a compilation of descriptions and epitaphs of the graves of the 1600’s covenanters throughout Scotland, organized by town. It has a helpful 17 page historical introduction to the history of the covenanters in Scotland. Read here of the remains of these saints that were faithful to the death, and then take a vacation to Scotland and see them first-hand.
The Marriage Affinity Question: or, Marriage with the Sister of a Deceased Wife, Fully Discussed, in the Light of History, Ecclesiastical and Civil Law, Scripture, Reason and Expediency, Buy 1854, 198 pages
The last half of last half of WCF 24.4 defining the extent of the laws of consanguinity was cut out by the American revisions. The original Confession was right. Gibson’s book is an exhaustive defense of the Biblical (Mark 6:18, Lev. 18:9), majority historic view.
Present Truths in Theology: Man’s Inability and God’s Sovereignty in “the Things of God,” with Their Relation to Gospel Doctrine and Moral Responsibility, 1863
Principles of Bible Temperance: A Speech Delivered in the Free Church Presbytery of Glasgow, 1855, 34 pp.
1869, 186 pp.
This book argues for the Biblical practice of exclusive psalm singing from a day when hymns were beginning to be brought into the Free Church of Scotland. Gibson first shows that scripture regulates the worship of God, then applies it to singing praise, then answers alleged arguments for hymns, reviews the history psalmody in the church and the entrance of hymns, argues against musical instruments in worship, and then reviews numerous hymn books from his own day.
Speeches… with a Review of the Principles Maintained in the Speeches of Candlish an others on Christian Union 1846 101 pp.