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nal" of the existence of a finite being after death in the sense of exemption from the limitation of duration in time, it falls into contradiction. God alone is unlimited by time. To predicate eternity in this sense of finite existence is as meaningless as to say that the finite is infinite, or independent, or unconditioned, or absolute. Dr. Emmons used to say that the "eternal now" "eternal nonsense even when predicated of the existence of God. And when applied to finite existence it carries in it ás much nonsense as a finite mind is competent to take in. To substitute for the final judgment a continuous process of deciding destiny by the formation of moral character is not accordant with the conception of the historical Christ, the historical action of God in Christ redeeming the world from sin, and the historical kingdom of God in its grand course through human history to its sublime consummation. The sermons are of much literary excellence and are full of fresh thought.

THE WISDOM OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.*-The twelve first essays of this volume treat of the Mosaic Cosmogony and the temptation and fall of man as described in the opening of Genesis. The aim of the author is to get at the true significance of the events recorded and to answer the objections of sceptics pertaining to them. The subjects of the remaining essays are the Sabbath, the Institution and Organization of Society, Population, the Moral difficulties of the Old Testament, the Paramount Character of our Lord's Teaching, Creeds and Confessions, Religion and Politics. The volume contains much that is suggestive and that awakens thought. The speculations occasionally seem to border on the fanciful. The author seems to regard evolution as incompatible with Christianity and Theism, and its refutation as the only defence of Christian truth. This we think is greatly to be regretted. However crude the existing theory of evolution may be in some of its parts, a law of evolution seems destined to be established declaring the order and course of nature through all time as the law of gravitation declares it through all space. And a law of evolution declaring the uniform ongoing of nature through time is no more inconsistent with Theism and Christianity, than is the law of gravitation. On the contrary, in some particulars it is helpful to

* The Wisdom of Holy Scripture with reference to Sceptical Objections. By J. H. MCILVAINE. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883. iv. and 488 pp. Price, $2.50.

us in throwing light on obscurities and in confirming Christian doctrine. Nevertheless the volume is timely and instructive, and may be read with interest and profit.

THE GOSPEL OF THE SECULAR LIFE.*-These sermons and the prefatory essay all bear on the separation of Christianity from the secular life, the identification of religion with church services, instead of recognizing it as intended to regulate and purify life in all spheres of action. Each discourse treats of some one topic pertaining to the carrying of religion into daily life and making it a power of renovation, of moral strength and right living in education, in art, in politics, in business, in science, and in all the details of human life. The subject is one of the highest importance, the sermons are bold and incisive in exposing defects and errors in the current aspects of Christian thought and life, and are rich in suggestions as to how a better state of things can be realized, and thereby current unbelief, and indifference to the services of the church be removed. He takes strong ground in rebuking the exclusiveness of the Anglican church. He asks: "Are we bound to stigmatise forever as schismatics the members of Christian communities not episcopally governed? Are we to be debarred from using in the pulpit the services of men not episcopally ordained, because former ages have seldom used them." It is a timely and vigorous book.

THE DOOM OF THE MAJORITY.t-Rev. George E. Ellis, D.D., in a paper in the Christian Register, last November, said: "Orthodoxy cannot readjust its creed till it readjusts its estimate of the scriptures." In the prolonged discussion arising from this paper, Dr. Ellis incidentally said that "the Orthodox" held that certain texts of Scripture "certified that the vast majority of the human race are to be victims of endless woe." Rev. J. L. Withrow, D.D., declared this to be "an absolute and abominable misrepresentation of orthodoxy." Mr. Barrows, editor of the Register, replied in a series of articles. These articles are the basis of the book before us. The author has made diligent search and has cited evidence in support of the assertion of Dr. Ellis from * The Gospel of the Secular Life. Sermons preached at Oxford, with a prefatory essay. By W. H. FREMANTLE, Rector of St. Mary's and Canon of Canterbury. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883. 256 pages. Price, $1.00. The Doom of the Majority of Mankind. By SAMUEL J. BARROWS. Boston: American Unitarian Association. 1883. vi. and 154 pages.

authorities, ancient, mediæval, and modern, including both creeds and confessions, and the writings of eminent theologians. It is a curious and interesting collection of quotations and comments on them; but the author does not give due weight to the common modern belief that, in view of the salvation of all dying in infancy and the ultimate millennial triumph of Christianity, the number of the saved in the final issue will vastly exceed that of the lost. Albert Barnes says: "The gospel of the Reedemer is yet to become and to be for ages the religion of the world. Age after age is to roll on when all shall know him; and in those future times what immense multitudes shall enter heaven. So that it may yet be seen that the number of those who will be lost from the whole human family, compared with those who will be saved, will be no greater in proportion than the criminals in a well organized community who are in prison are, compared with the number of obedient, virtuous and peaceful citizens." (Commentary on Isaiah liii. 11.)

In reference to the hypothesis of Future Probation, which is now so prominent, the author expresses this opinion: "Once let such conceptions have full freedom, and the dogma of endless punishment will eventually be carried away like a rotten pier before a spring flood."

GRIESINGER'S "THE JESUITS."*-The volumes before us, published in stately form by the Putnams, have a significantly conscientious title page. They contain a "Complete History of the Jesuits, as told to the German people by Theodor Griesinger." That is the strict and literal truth; for there are no authorities given for any statements, no corroborations from contemporary histories, the reader has to submit simply to be "told" these things by the author. There is not a list of books even, to show where the author's facts were gleaned; nor an index, to guide the reader's eye to the facts when gleaned.

Despite these defects, the volumes are of value as containing in a connected form, the story of the Jesuit movement. And, from the fact that this is the second edition, we are to suppose that the work has been of service, in giving the general reader "a proper idea of this society so worthy of condemnation."

* The Jesuits, a Complete History of their open and secret proceedings, from the foundation of the Order to the present time. Told to the German people by Theodor Griesinger. 2 vols. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

1883.

"The Origin of the Jesuits; their Shrewdness; their Morality; their Disinterestedness," comprise the first volume. The second opens with "the Probity of the Jesuits," under which are detailed their "conflicts with other Catholic Ecclesiastics," their "Repulsive Doctrines," and the "Increasing Enlightenment by which a Storm arose out of their own midst;" then follows a "Book" upon their "Benevolence, or the Permission to Murder and Assassinate;" the History concluding with the "Apparent Death of Jesuitism, and its Terrible Revivication."

According to the author, in the founding of the Order, Loyola's thoughts ran in the following form: (1.) Rome needs new supports; (2.) That she be upheld, heresies must be suppressed; (3.) The most efficient way to do this is to destroy the heretics; (4.) In order to do this men must be had whose wills shall cease to be for themselves, but for the exaltation of the glory of God." Identifying the Papacy with the "majorem dei gloriam," the members of the Society of Jesus sank all scruple touching life or truth, if so be that the chair of the Holy Father at Rome might be upheld. As a sample of how little it signified to them by what means they slew their enemies, the author reports this "colossal" misrepresentation concerning the death of Luther, "read verbatim in a Jesuit report from the pulpit:" [the author does not say where, nor when.]

"I may not make mention of this hellish monster by name, this traitor to the Catholic religion, this fugitive from the cloister, this hideous wretch before God and man. He died in the eighteenth year of his fall, after having become fearfully intoxicated in partaking of a banquet, when, as was his custom, he had there made a fool of himself; so his vile spirit became a delicious morsel for the devil, who might well sate himself with such like tit-bits."

The best parts of these volumes seem to be those in which the author appeals, even incidentally, to general history for facts to make his story good,-see the Jesuitical power disclosed in the Gunpowder Plot, the death of William the Silent, the machinations of Philip II., divulged by Walsingham to Queen Elizabeth. Vol. II., Book VI.

As to the style, the translator has evidently done justice to its force and freedom. The volumes are eminently readable, though the coarseness of his historical materials has evidently infected the author's own expressions with an occasional roughness. Here is a fair specimen of the writer's clear and hearty deliverances: "Such changes (while meditating his plans in his sickness) took

place in the mind of Loyola in the short space of one year, and one may see from this, what enormous results may be brought about by a broken leg, defectively healed."

TEN GREAT RELIGIONS: PART II.*-This volume is the complement of Dr. Clarke's previous work, bearing the same title. He here systemizes the results of his former investigation, and presents under distinct topics, a comparison of the principal faiths of mankind. Dr. Clarke has signal merits as a writer on this class of subjects. He is a religious man himself, and has this prime qualification for appreciating religious phenomena. He is not misled into an adoption of the bald empirical theories now so much in vogue, respecting the origin of religious belief and worship. He finds in man an inbred sense of the supernatural and of the Infinite. His reading is wide and his judgments candid and independent. In some points, we are compelled to differ from him. He goes too far, according to our way of thinking, in his consent to evolutionary speculations in connection with the rise of religious beliefs and forms. In his treatment of particular religions—for example, Buddhism as one not able to agree to the views taken of this system, especially as regards God and the future life. The references to literature are full and helpful.

HEFELE'S HISTORY OF COUNCILS: THIRD VOLUME.t-This volume of Hefele's great work includes the history of Nestorianism and Eutychianism, and a full account of the Councils of Chalcedon (A. D. 451), in which the doctrine of the Person of Christ was formulated in the shape in which it has generally been accepted by the Church of subsequent ages. We have had occasion to speak in admiration of the learning and ability of this important work, and of its general impartiality, except that the inevitable bias of a Roman Catholic bishop is here and there perceptible. Hefele was a Catholic of the moderate German school. He opposed the dogma of the Pope's infallibility, but acquiesced in the decree of the Vatican Council. We shall look for the translation of the next volume, in which the case of Honorius will be treated, with much interest.

*The Ten Great Religions; Part II. A Comparison of all Religions, by JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1883.

A History of the Councils of the Church, etc. By the Right Rev. C. J. HEFELE, D.D. Vol. III, A. D., 431 to A. D. 451. Translated, etc. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1883.

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