The Voluntary System

The Voluntary System: A Prize Essay In Reply To Dr. Chalmers On Church Establishments is a book written by Joseph Angus and published in 1839. The book is a response to a lecture given by Scottish theologian Thomas Chalmers on the topic of church establishments. Chalmers argued that the state should establish and support a national church, while Angus advocated for a voluntary system in which churches are supported by their own members. In his essay, Angus argues that the voluntary system is more just and equitable than a state-supported church, as it allows individuals to freely choose which church to support and ensures that all churches are treated equally. He also argues that the voluntary system is more effective in promoting religious freedom and preventing government interference in religious affairs. The book is written in a clear and persuasive style, and provides a valuable historical perspective on the debate over church establishments in the 19th century. It is an important work for anyone interested in the history of religion and politics, and remains relevant today as debates over church-state relations continue.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.