Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

8vo.

pp. 59.

Discourses on the Vitality of Christianity: the Pilgrim Fathers. Also, a historical sermon at dedication of church edifice. By T. M. POST, D. D. St. Louis. R. P. Studley & Co. 1860. Cassell's Illustrated Family Bible. In Parts. Peter & Galpin, Park Building, 37 Park Row. 4to. pp. 32.

New York: Cassell,

The Bible and Politics; or, an humble plea for equal, perfect, absolute religious freedom, and against all sectarianism in our public schools. By Rev. W. A. Scorт, D. D. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft & Co. 1859. 8vo. pp. 146.

American Nationality. An address delivered before the Irving Society of the College of St. James, Md., June 11, 1856. By PHILIP SCHAFF, D. D. 8vo. pp. 24.

An Historical Inquiry into the relation of the Federal Constitution to African Slavery. By Rev. R. S. CUSHMAN. Orwell, Vt. 8vo. pp.

26.

Bible History. A Text-Book for Seminaries, Schools, and Families. By SARAH R. HANNA. New York: A. S. Barnes & Burr. 1860. 12mo. pp. 290.

The Present Crisis. With a Reply and Appeal to European Advisers, from the Sixth Edition of Slavery and the Remedy. By SAMUEL NOTT. Boston: Crocker & Brewster. 1860. pp. 43.

Andover and Danville. A Reply to an Article in the Bibliotheca Sacra, for October, 1859. Containing a Review of Breckenridge's Theology. Louisville. 1859. 8vo. pp. 15.

Review of Dr. Scott's Bible and Politics in the light of Religion and the Law. By Rev. W. C. ANDERSON, D. D., and FLETCHER M. HAIGHT, Esq. San Francisco. 1859. 8vo. pp. 92.

LIST OF BOOKS NOTICED IN THE NEW ENGLANDER OF AUGUST, 1860.

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

SEWING

HARRIS'S

MACHINE.
PATENT.

The above machine has now been before the public three years, and several thousand of them have been sold, and it has always been a popular machine, and references can be given to the first families in the country of its superior merit over all other low priced machines.

It works with two threads, making the justly celebrated Grover & Baker stitch, duly authorized by them, and protected by eleven different patents, and with the addition of some new and valuable improvements just adopted, is the simplest and best Family Sewing Machine that can be purchased, for the low price of FORTY DOLLARS. It will run in all kinds of fabrics, without any rewinding of spools-using any good thread. It will Stitch, Hem, Gather, and Fell, equal to any high priced machine in the market. It runs easier, faster, and will do better work than any other machine; and any child twelve years of age can learn to manage it and do the work of a family.

No family can afford to be without one, and no lady will purchase any other low priced machine after she examines this. Full instructions given without charge. Every machine warranted and kept in repair for one year. A liberal discount to Clergymen.

MUNSON'S AUTOMATIC GAUGE,

for all kinds of straight sewing, with which you cannot fail to sew a straight seam-adapted to any machine. Price, $8.

Agents wanted in every city and town, and liberal terms given.
Send for a circular, or call at

43 Tremont Street, Boston.

L. A. BIGELOW, AGENT.

THE

NEW ENGLANDER.

No. LXXII.

NOVEMBER, 1860.

ARTICLE I.-THE DIVINE HUMANITY OF CHRIST.*

THE doctrine of Christ's person, or the question, Who and what was Christ? is the great question, the fundamental and all-inclusive doctrine of Christianity. Yet this question, important as it is, is not definitely and finally settled, as is evident from the many and diverse theories respecting Christ which still prevail in the world; from the fact, moreover, that acknowledged Christians, and some of the most devoted and wise of Christian teachers, differ, if not radically, at least widely in their interpretations of his person; and also from the fact,-a most significant one,-that the Christian mind of the present age is turning itself with more and more

*This Article was originally written and preached as a Discourse before the General Association of Illinois, at Aurora, May 25th, 1860, from the texts, John i, 14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Hebrews ii, 17: "Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things per taining to God."

[blocks in formation]

of interest and gravitating tendency towards this great question-revolving about it with holy curiosity, desiring with the angels to "look into" this mystery of godliness with a profounder and more intelligent gaze.

If it be said that this question, and the doctrine of Christ's person, was settled authoritatively by the councils of the fourth and fifth centuries, when the various heresies concerning it were eliminated and proscribed, and the whole truth defined and circumscribed by logical boundaries, yet, like many other questions, it will not stay settled, but rises ever and anon, like Hamlet's ghost, after being "quietly inurned,” inviting and demanding reinvestigation.

There are reasons why this question could not be finally settled in the earlier ages, besides the skeptical tendency which is more or less rife in all ages. The science of man, to say nothing of the science of God or Christian theology, has been advancing. The man of modern anthropology is not precisely the man of Plato and Aristotle, any more than the cosmos of modern science is the same cosmos which Hipparchus and Ptolemy understood. And this very advance is owing, in no small degree, to the new light which Christianity or the ideal humanity revealed in Christ has contributed. Christ is himself the key to a true interpretation and science of man, as he is the type of a true and perfect manhood. And just as the key which unlocked the mysteries and motions of the starry universe was seized by Newton, in connection with new discoveries which it alone could explain, so a deeper and truer knowledge of the person of Christ is to be understood, if at all, only in connection with a deeper and truer knowledge of man, of which he is the divine head and type.

In attempting one more reply to this greatest of all questions, we do it in no spirit of vain speculation, or conceit of superior wisdom. Rather do we feel that it were more befitting the writer, and more honoring to the Redeemer, to be silent and adore with the humblest disciple, than to contend and argue with the ablest. But we also feel that we may no* shrink from uttering the truth, through modesty or fear of reproach; and that a profound conviction of truth on a subject

so vital to the faith and comfort of the church, a fit occasion. being given, is a distinct call to utter it.

Let us first glance at some of the existing beliefs and theories respecting Christ, as preparatory to the true doctrine.

Rejecting the manifestly unscriptural theories which deny the real divinity of Christ, the faith of the Christian church seems to be practically settled in the great two-fold truth or doctrine, that Christ is in some real and true sense divine and human. He is both the Son of God and the Son of Man. No faith can be Christian or Scriptural which leaves out really and practically these two elements of his being. But how they coëxist, or are united; what is the relation of the one to the other; in what sense Christ is divine, and in what sense he is human, and how he is or can be both ?-here is a large and undivided field of truth, where different claims and theories are put forth, which in their conflict confuse and mar the faith of the church, and greatly obscure the light of Christ, for want of a single eye to discern it.

The most prominent and prevailing theory is the common orthodox belief of "two natures and one person," meaning by two natures two distinct subsistences, one the Logos, or divine nature, the other a human nature, consisting of a physical body and a reasonable soul; and all included in a metaphysical unity called a person.

The theoretical objections to the duality of Christ's spiritual nature, or the doctrine that he had two distinct souls, a divine and a human, are too obvious to need anything more than a statement of them. How, on the one hand, these two souls or wills, and their several activities, could exist together, and yet form but one person; or how, on the other, they could exist in one personal consciousness, and yet preserve their individual integrity;-how, moreover, to conceive of such a spiritual conjunction of two rational souls in one person without a confusion too great and insurmountable for a rational faith in him; and finally, where is the need of supposing a distinctively active human soul in Christ when a divine soulthe Word made flesh-will answer all the conditions and terms of the problem;-and especially and last of all, since

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »