Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

for their merits. These pages will still be open, with a welcome, to such communications. Our reasons for attributing a sectarian and discordant temper to members of that society were simply that we happened to know of several persons, every way estimable and trustworthy, who have pronounced themselves to be suffering discomfort and sectarian suspicion for their dissent from the accepted and predominant opinions, whether doctrinal or ecclesiastical. We believed what we heard. Furthermore, we have now lying on our table quite a little pile of New-Church literature, which is by no means exempt from a controversial quality. "Compaginator" and "Perambulator" are the latest arrivals.. Our reference was especially to the "Convention" question, on which we did suppose a somewhat warm dispute, not to say a divisive feeling, had lately sprung up. We are glad to hear from Professor Parsons that these are only the distrusts of a few individuals, which are already dying away, and that there does not appear to him to be cause for apprehending any schism, but the contrary. So may it be.

Mr. Fernald's sermon, which we commended and quoted, affirmed a principle of experimental philosophy which is quite independent of any system of dogmatic theology,—namely, that the best way of supplanting an evil habit of the affections is, not to fight it on its own level (which, indeed, would have to be done, if at all, by the enlistment of some higher force), but by the introduction into the soul of a new and holier love; as impurity is expelled by a love of the pure, or error by a love of the true. Doubtless those that objected to this doctrine had their own reasons, and had a right to them. But the fact that a Scotch Calvinist happened to receive and preach that doctrine, we take the liberty to say, would be a very poor reason. For the doctrine itself is no more peculiar to Calvinism, than it is to Transcendentalism or Hinduism. As to its vigor and profitableness, the extracts we made from the sermon will enable our readers to form their own opinion.

Studies of Christianity: or, Timely Thoughts for Religious Thinkers. A Series of Papers by JAMES MARTINEAU. Edited by WILLIAM R. ALGER. American Unitarian Association. In a recent (April) number we expressed an exalted estimate of Mr. Martineau, as an original thinker and powerful writer. There is a remarkable uniformity of literary skill and intellectual vigor in all his productions; and

among them, none perhaps are more distinguished for these qualities than those here republished. Many of them are well known already on this side of the Atlantic; but few contributions to English journals so well deserve, on the grounds just mentioned, to be collected and preserved. Some part of the language of encomium used in Mr. Alger's Introduction we could not adopt without considerable modification, — especially that where he compares Mr. Martineau's brilliant discussions to the teachings of Jesus Christ, from which they seem to us to differ very much indeed, and in many respects. In any attempt at a discriminating notice of the theological system to be traced in the articles, sermons, and treatises of the extreme rationalistic school, of which Mr. Martineau is much the ablest representative, one would wish to designate especially a defective apprehension of that character in the Author of our Faith which is best expressed in the term "Saviour," and which contemplates Him both as bringing a Divine deliverance and as sustaining an eternal Headship to his people; an imperfect philosophy of human nature, in not recognizing the power of new motives and the possibility of immediate changes in the central and determining principle of character; an oversight of that affectionate and intimate personal communion of Christian experience with the Son of God, of which the New Testament is full; a certain audacity in criticising the Word which God's spirit and providence have so wonderfully given; and a lack so to speak of catholicity of reverence, in treating the beliefs of earnest families of the Church.

Portrait of a Christian, drawn from Life: a Memoir of Maria Elizabeth Clapp. By her Pastor, REV. CHANDLER ROBBINS, D. D. Sunday-School Society. Our religion never has so real a look as when it appears in real persons; and the nearer those persons are to the scenes and conditions of our own life, the more direct the impression. In this chaste and sacred record of a young woman's unpretending discipleship, we learn that the graces, the fidelity, the obedience, the faith, of the Saviour's chosen ones may be manifest to-day, in a Boston school-teacher, in the daughter of a quiet home, with none but ordinary advantages and private occasions, just as richly and successfully as in St. Christina, St. Agatha, St. Agnes, or St. Margaret. Saintliness is not of climates or periods. Incidentally, this beautiful biography is a testimony to the power of the Sunday School, and it is fitly issued under the auspices of a Sunday-School

Society. It throws a new charm around that form of Christian welldoing, and must encourage many desponding teachers. The work is also of peculiar value, as discovering, in the most uncontroversial and unanswerable way, the superior efficiency and consolation of those exalted and positive views of the Saviour, his work, and his personal presence to the believing soul, which form the central light and strength of the Gospel and the Church.

Memories of My Life- Work. The Autobiography of Mrs. Harriet B. Cooke. Robert Carter & Brothers. Gould and Lincoln. — This, too, is a portrait of a devoted Christian school-teacher. It differs from the preceding, as a self-drawn portrait differs from one drawn by a judicious and discriminating friendship, after the seal of death has been set. Each has its advantages; but it needs great simplicity and lowliness, and a very penetrating self-knowledge, to tell one's own story with no trace of self-esteem. Mrs. Cooke conducts the reader through exciting scenes, through a long and active experience, and relates many striking instances of the power of God's spirit in conversions accompli. hed through her instrumentality.

Essays in Biography and Criticism. By PETER BAYNE, M. A. Second Series. Gould and Lincoln. In this collection of lively critiques, on Kingsley, Macaulay, Alison, Coleridge, Wellington, Napoleon, Plato, Christian Civilization, The Modern University, The Pulpit and the Press, and Hugh Miller's "Testimony of the Rocks," Mr. Bayne sustains his character as a literary enthusiast, finding, at the same time, ample and various occasion for the display of his own genius. In a notice of the former series, mention was made of some of his faults. Whatever these may be, they seem to have little effect in checking the great popularity of his works. Both author and publishers have abundant cause to be satisfied with the success of these republications.

[ocr errors]

Plain Words to Young Men. By AUGUSTUS WOODBURY. Edson C. Eastman. The author of these pointed addresses has the best of all qualifications for a moral teacher of the young, a young feeling in his own heart, an unfeigned sympathy with those he speaks a fresh nature. Nor are other requisites wanting. The views of life and duty are high. The principles are pure. The general

to,

tone is manly. The language is clear and energetic. No one can think of the young men of this age and nation, in city or country, in seats of learning or in commerce and the trades, of what they are exposed to, what they are becoming, what depends upon them, not regard such earnest counsels as these with sincere respect.

and

Immersion not Baptism. By REV. JOHN H. BECKWITH. J. P. Jewett & Co. - The purpose of this brief treatise will be readily apprehended by the title. It shows some favor to the position of the "General Baptists," so called, but argues against the exclusiveness of so making baptism identical with immersion, as to deprive of the benefits of the former those who will not submit to the latter. The reasoning is mostly from Scripture, but sometimes rather forces the text. We observe a few expressions that might wound the reverence of the writer's opponents.

The Indian Rebellion: its Causes and Results. In a Series of Letters from REV. ALEXANDER DUFF, D.D., LL.D. Carter and Brothers. Gould and Lincoln. - These letters, and the Journal of which they are partly composed, record intelligently-from date to date, beginning with May 16, 1857, and closing with March 22, 1858 the principal incidents and aspects of the mutinous war in the East. The opinions and estimates expressed are a compound of those of the loyal subject of Great Britain and the missionary. India is regarded as a great moral and religious trust for the people and government of England. The terrible events transpiring are contemplated in the light of Divine Providence, the promises of the Gospel, and Christian responsibility. Dr. Duff is well known everywhere as a conscientious and devoted laborer for the civilization and salvation of the Oriental heathendom. On questions so intricate as those involved in the Eastern diplomacy and war, there will be great differences of judgment, even among wise and good men. Dr. Duff deserves all the confidence that belongs to a careful, sincere, self-sacrificing observer on the spot. The epistolary form of the work lends vividness to its descriptions, and carries the reader along in a life-like progress. Valuable information is incidentally given on many matters pertaining to the religion and society of Hindostan.

The Reaction of a Revival upon Religion. By REV. GEORGE E.

ELLIS, D. D. — The Annual Sermon before the Convention of the Congregationalist Ministers of Massachusetts is an exercise commonly allotted, by comity, to Orthodox ministers of the Commonwealth two years out of every three, and to a Unitarian on the third. It is customary for the preacher to indicate more or less distinctly the views of his own party, but in such a manner and spirit as to offend as little as possible the party opposed. Mr. Ellis has strictly adhered to this kindly rule. His sermon, which is rather a critique and an interrogation than an exposition or a homily, is frank and forcible, full of freshness in thought and style. In excellent temper, but with pointed sentences, he brings under review and question the policy and methods of the Orthodox churches, with a reference, indeed, to the whole present aspect of ecclesiastical and parochial affairs. Starting with the recent period of religious interest, he raises many queries as to the powers and tendencies of the system it represented. Doubtless he thus indirectly suggests more doubts than really burden his own mind. Some of his cautions deserve to be carefully considered by his theological opponents. There is one passage which we read at first with painful surprise, as countenancing, by implication, the ground most recently taken by the extreme rationalists of the "Liberal body," and involving a dogmatic reduction of the Saviour to the level of sheer naturalism, and an entire emptying of his redemptive office. But what we otherwise know of the preacher's convictions leads us to presume that his language here must be purely hypothetical. The paragraph is as follows:

"The great salvation [in the popular scheme] is identified with a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, and a personal, conscious appropriation of his grace; and yet we find him teaching, in his own words, the lessons of a universal religion, which do not make any personal knowledge of him necessary to their efficacy with man or God. The great disclosure made through the apostolic vision, which opened the Gospel to the whole world, came with the conviction, 'that, in every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him.' Is this, then, salvation through Christ, or salvation through a doctrine which Christ taught? Are men saved because Christ taught that doctrine which he had first, by his agency, made possible and true? or are men saved because there was such a true doctrine for Christ to teach, a doctrine previously ratified by God, and afterwards communicated to men as an existing rule of the Divine government?"

We cannot help wishing the author had paused to explain more

« ZurückWeiter »