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to be confessed, little more than stated; they are neither so carefully stated, nor so fully defended, nor so watchfully guarded as we could desire, or as the vindication of the Old Testament requires; but the eloquent assertion of them by the author would of itself suffice to relieve the difficulties of many an honest but troubled inquirer.

The second sermon is on "God spake by the Prophets," and treats of the various functions and the wonderful adaptations of the prophetical office. In explaining these he inquires, "What, then, is the essence of this prophetic teaching? It may be divided into three parts, according to the three famous words of St. Bernard-Respice, Aspice, Prospice. The interpretation of the divine will respecting the Past, the Present, and the Future." According to this division the prophets are viewed as the Historians, the Preachers, and the Seers of the Covenant People. Each of these functions is briefly described and well illustrated.

The third sermon is on "God hath spoken by his Son," and the theme is "The final Revelation of God is in the person and character of Jesus Christ." This the highest and the most difficult of themes proposed by the author, is far from being exhausted. It is scarcely entered upon before it is abandoned for the conclusion of the discourse. But the author does not leave it without suggesting truths of the profoundest importance to the theology of the present day.

This brochure cannot be considered as a finished or satisfactory discussion of some of the most important topics in Christian Theology; but as an eloquent vindication of the authority and claims of the Scriptures, it is, in our opinion, admirably adapted to produce a strong and happy impression upon the educated young men of the present day.

CHRISTIANITY THE RELIGION OF NATURE.*-The title of these lectures may startle some of our readers. In former times it might have provoked sharp controversy and unrelenting criticism. As used and explained by the author, it signifies no more than that the truth which Christianity reveals is as old as the Universe, that it did not begin

* Christianity the Religion of Nature. Lectures delivered before the Lowell Institute. By A. P. PEABODY, D. D., LL. D., Preacher to the University and Plummer Professor of Christian Morals in Harvard College. Boston: Gould & Lincoln., 1864. Royal 12mo. pp. 256. [New Haven: T. H. Pease. Price $1.25.]

to be in the counsels or character of God because it has been brought to man's knowledge at a later period in man's history. The title was selected because the author was requested to deliver a course of lectures on Natural Religion, and at his own desire was permitted to incorporate with it a special argument, showing that Christianity harmonizes with the teachings and intimations of Nature. This special desire of the author gives additional interest to the discussions contained in the volume, though it interferes somewhat with the clearness of its divisions, and the orderliness of its development.

If we lay aside considerations of this sort, and examine the handling of the several topics proposed by the author, we find abundant occasion for commendation.

The first lecture is on Natural and Revealed Religion. We quote a few sentences to show the stand-point of the author, and the general strain of theological sentiment which pervades the volume:

"We come now to the distinction between natural and revealed religion. These terms designate, not different classes of truths, but the different methods in which religious truth becomes known to mankind. What is ascertained by the unaided exercise of man's own powers is called natural religion; what is received on testimony is called revealed religion. But the latter is no less natural than the former. The fatherhood of God, the forgiveness of sins, mediation, atonement, retribution, if truths, are truths of Divine and human nature, essential, everlasting truths, no less so because unknown, formerly to all, and still to the greater part of mankind, than if man were born to the knowledge of them. The Bible, indeed, recognizes the validity of this statement. Its Gospel is 'the everlasting Gospel.' Its promises are 'the eternal purpose of God.' Its redemption sacrifice is 'the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Lecture second contains a very able and well-put argument in support of the a priori probability of a direct Revelation from a personal God. For fullness, force, fervency, and beauty, as well as for its felicitous adaptation to the audience for whom it was designed, it deserves the highest praise. The third lecture on Miracles is clear and outspoken in its vindication of the supernatural origin of the Christian miracles, and in the main is successful in its exposition of the doctrine of the nature, necessity, and credibility of miracles in general. Were we disposed to be critical, we should both add and subtract somewhat to and from what he says of the inviolability of the laws of nature, and of the evidence that they may at times be overruled. We think Dr. Peabody too unguarded in his assertion, that we know too little of the Universe to be war

ranted in presuming that any of the laws are fixed; and on the the other hand a little too unexacting in his views of the character of those exigencies, which will justify the belief that these laws have in fact been set aside. His handling of the objection of Hume does not quite meet the case; not fully satisfying either the objections of modern science, nor the requirements of the modern theologian. Had Dr. Peabody felt authorized to press into his service the length and breadth of his own views as to what Christianity is, his argument would in our view have been far more successful. It is however so out-spoken and decisive on the principal points, and conducted with so much skill and felicity, that we find no disposition to criticise it minutely.

Lecture fourth is on the Records of Revelation. Here we might find somewhat more to criticise as imperfectly or incautiously stated. But yet on the other side we find such reverent treatment of the Scriptures, and such devout homage to their worth, that we only desire to commend.

Lectures fifth, sixth, and seventh, on The Love of God, The Providence of God in Human Art, The Providence of God in Human Society, all treat of themes which are finely adapted to the author's peculiar powers, and in the treatment of which he is uniformly successful by eloquent and beautiful achievement.

Of Lecture eighth, The Holiness of God-God in Christ-we can hardly trust ourselves to speak in a single sentence, not even in a single page. It is so excellent, so beautiful, and so true, as far as it goes, that we can only express the desire that it went still farther. Lectures ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, on Immortality, Christian Morality, The Natural Religion of the State, and the Sabbath a Law of Natural Religion, fully sustain the interest of the reader to the end of the volume, and we close it with the assured conviction that the much esteemed and greatly honored author has produced a volume that will not suffer by comparison with those which have preceded it in the series of "The Lowell Lectures," and is a valuable contribution to the argument for the defense of Christianity, as Christianity needs to be defended in these passing years.

RENAN'S LIFE OF CHRIST.*-M. Renan is a man of learning, and

* The Life of Jesus. By ERNEST RENAN, Membre de l'Institut. Translated by Charles Edwin Wilbour. New York: Carleton, 1864. [New Haven: Judd & Clark. Price $1.50.]

especially distinguished in Oriental studies. He writes with the compression and liveliness of an accomplished Frenchman-with a piquancy, indeed, that closely borders on flippancy. Regarding the four Gospels as legendary histories,-like the Lives of St. Francis he is left at liberty to take and to reject whatever he pleases. He avails himself of this liberty to the full extent, throwing out whatever is inconvenient for the web which he sets out to weave. But what of the result of his combinations? So far from having the character of plausibility, the representation he gives of Christ is a medley of incongruities. After reading his work, we are utterly unable to frame any consistent conception of the personage whom he undertakes to construct for us by the free handling of the sacred documents. So that were we to allow his position to be correct as to the unhistorical character of these, we could not say very much in praise of M. Renan's conjectural criticism. Moreover, his book abounds in misrepresentations of the meaning of New Testament passages. Not unfrequently he ascribes to Christ, and the early disciples, doctrines which they never held,—for example, the obligation to poverty and celibacy. What, we are impelled to ask on laying down this book, is the essence of Christianity, according to the author? What is there substantial and peculiar to this world-conquering religion? The lack of any satisfactory answer to these questions is a curious weakness of M. Renan's work.

Nevertheless, there is not a little of vivid description, which is rendered the more life-like from the author's personal knowledge of Palestine, and familiarity with Semitic languages. To one who has the leisure and the means to pursue to the end the inquiries which are brought forward in this book, it will be profitable. But for those who cannot investigate thoroughly these most important topics, it will be likely to prove very harmful.

On a preceding page (pp. 128-9) the reader will find additional remarks on M. Renan's book; and some of its prominent positions we shall take occasion hereafter to canvass.

SHEDD'S HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.*-We have received from Mr. Scribner, Professor Shedd's Lectures on the "His

* A History of Christian Doctrine. By WILLIAM G. T. SHEDD, D. D. In two volumes. New York: Charles Scribner, 1863. [New Haven: Judd & Clark. Price $6.]

tory of Christian Doctrine." This important work is, in respect to paper and typography, truly beautiful. We are obliged to postpone our notice of its contents to our next number. We simply call the attention of our readers, at present, to the fact of its appearance.

PALMONI.*-The signification of Palmoni, as rendered in the margin of our English Bibles, is the Numberer of Secrets, or the Wonderful Numberer. It is therefore appropriately made the title of this essay, of which the object is to show that many of the numerals of the Scripture have a symbolic signification, and that this higher or more spiritual meaning is a decisive proof of inspiration. It is divided in three parts. The first is a summary of the six epochs and six days of preparation for Christ's kingdom. These epochs are marked by six great events, viz.: the expulsion from Eden, which closes a day without limit, and is called the Lord's Day; the second: the Flood, which terminates Adam's day; the third: the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, ending Noah's day; the fourth: the judgment upon Pharaoh, completing Abraham's day; the fifth: the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity, closing the day of Moses; the sixth: the final desolation of the temple, the evening of the day of the Prophets and the morning of the day of the Son of Man.

The second part is devoted to the summing up of many of the dates and numbers given in the Scriptures, for the purpose of showing that these present correspondences and recurring similarities, such as cannot be accounted for except on the theory of symbolic and spiritual significance. The third part is given to the consideration of some of the so-called sacred numbers, as eight and seven, nine and thirteen. We cannot enter into a criticism of the views of the author, and must content ourselves with referring our readers to the volume, if they desire to investigate the topic itself, or to gratify their curiosity in regard to the views of the author.

Palmoni; or, the Numerals of Scripture a Proof of Inspiration. A Free Inquiry. By M. MAHAN, D. D., St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the General Theological Seminary. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1863. 12mo. pp. 176. [New Haven: Peck, White & Peck. Price $1.]

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