The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-09 00:00:00

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LITERATURE.
THE TEMPORAL BENEFITS OF CHRIS-
TIANITY, exemplified in its Influence on the
Social Intellectual, Civil, and Political Condition
of Illanhind. By Robert Blakey, author of "The
History of the Philosophy of Mind."
" There is a notion very prevalent among Christians
of all sects (observes the author of this volume) that
the Bible is entirely a spiritual instrument, that it has
little or no connexion with temporal or worldly ob-
jects; that the.general benefits of civilization and im-
provement are produced solely by the unassisted
faculties of the human mind ; and that whether they
adopt or reject the Scriptures, it is all the same as to
social and political matters." To show the unsound-
ness of such opinions is the avowed object of Mr.
Blakey's work, and most succesfully is that object
achieved. The very voluminous materials necessary
for a history stretching back almost to the Creation
have been condensed into one volume, containing
somewhat less than 400 pages, nevertheless the argu•
meats enforced lose nothing by the condensation ; on
the contrary, the whole multiform system
is brought at once under the consideration
of the reader. This will be more evident
by a brief analysis of the work—a work of
which the interesting style and judicious mode of
treatment are only inferior in attraction to the en-
thralling matters of which it relates. It is divided
into three parts—the first treats of " the social and
religious influence of Christianity." Prefixed to this
section is a very interesting summary of the Jewish
code of laws, a necessary introduction to any consi-
deration of the influence of Christianity, for, accord-
ing to a beautiful saying of the great panegyrist of
the Jews, Mr. Disraeli—
" Judaism is incomplete without Christianity, and
Christianity is incomprehensible without Judaism."
On concluding the perusal of this interesting intro-
duction the reader fully coincides with Mr. Blakey's
judicious comments on the beneficial effects of the
government of Moses :
" In all the governments and empires of the East the
people were held but of little account. In Rome they
were fighting slaves, in Sparta Helots, in Athens idle
vagabonds, and throughout the whole ancient world the
masses of the people were degraded, brutalised, and op.
pressed by political despotism. To this general rule the
Jewish republics are an illustrious exception. No better
organization ever existed than that of the Hebrews:
ready on a moment's call to resist an attack on their
country, they may well be regarded as the noblest spe-
cimen of an independent nation the world has ever seen,
and realising the beau ideal of a truly powerful and in-
telligent commonwealth."
We now come to consider " the influence of Christi-
anity on the social, intellectual, and religious cha-
racter of mankind," which softening influence is
visible in nine different ways—" The general current
of philosophical thought gradually changed by
Christian doctrines and precepts ; the social effect of
monastic institutions, in reference to which Mr.
Blakey observes, ' As a Protestant, I have my own
opinions on their general expediency in a religious
point of view ; but these must not be allowed to blind
me as to certain effects or influences which resulted
from the monastics, and which are visibly imprinted
on a portion of the world's history. This would be
unjust both towards them and to the cause of histori-
cal truth. The very nature of these institutions, and
the general and personal rules enjoined by ecclesias-
tical authority for their regulation, must naturally
have produced mild, sociable, and humane feelings in
the large masses of mankind by whom they were
surrounded.' In support of this view of the subject
Mr. Blakey here quotes M. Guizot, (a Protestant) ;
political duties and obligations became viewed through
the medium of Scripture truth ; the establishment of
the Christian Sabbath ; the endowment of schools and
colleges for general instruction ; the establishment of
communes, free cities, fraternities, guilds, and
corporations; the influence of Christianity in
softening the horrors and cruelties of war;
the influence of the Christian system on the rights
and comforts of the poor ; the benefits indirectly,
derived from the cultivation of the scholastic philo-
sophy." By these various channels the ennobling in-
fluences of Christianity gradually but effectually
exerted a most salutary influence over the hearts and
intellects of men brutalised by the ferocities of barba-
rism or debased by heathenish corruptions. This
pure and peaceful revolution is briefly but empha-
tically depicted by Mr. Blakey in the most interesting
and admirable manner. The same remark applies to
Part 11., " On the Legal Influence of Christianity."
The strenuous and unceasing efforts of the Church to
effect the abolition of slavery are not among the
minor benefits of Christianity. These efforts form
the topic of the first section of" The Legal Influences."
On this subject Mr. Blakey remarks :
" The important principle of the perfect equality of
man is clearly laid down in the Scriptures. We are not,
however, to consider this phrase as affirming that all
mankind are equal in point of bodily strength,
riches, intellectual sagacity, or that all are
entitled to an equal portion of civil authority
and influence, as some speculative .philosophers
have maintained. The natural equality which the
Bible establishes is just this—that all mankind were
originally derived from one parent; that they are all
objects of equal care to their Creator, so far as their
bodily wants are concerned, and that all have an equal
right to be treated in a just and humane manner by the
laws of all nations recognising the word of God for
their guide and directory. We cannot look at the laws
of heathen legislators without perceiving that many of
them, and of great importance too, in reference to the
liberty and happiness of the subject, had been founded
upon the openly avowed principle that one part of man-
kind were better in nature than another, and that the
poor and humble of station had no right to the same
impartial justice as the opulent and distinguished in
rank. This was one of the leading defects which lay
lurking at the bottom of all the laws of Greece and
Rome."
" There is rio feature of European civilisation
more strikingly developed," continues Mr. Blakey,
" through the influence of the religious principle,
than that of the abolition of slavery. We find the
Church waged an incessant war against it."
The second of these legal benefits is the
change effected in the institution of mar-
riage. The Church, notwithstanding the con-
tinual efforts of powerful opponents, proclaimed
the indissolubility of the marriage tie, thus effecting
an almost incalculable change for the etter in public
manners and individual moralty. • The facility of
divorce under the Roman laws had produced such
lamentable consequences, that according to Seneca,
the Roman women reckoned time, not by the years
of the consuls, but by the number of their husbands I
Again, the salutary influence of the Church is seen in
the modification of the arbitrary authority vested in
the father of a family. The Roman law gave the
father the power of life and death over his children,
and (says Mr. Blakey) " we find that when the Chris-
tian spirit had gained a little strength, and began to
make its voice heard among the rulers of the earth,
one of the first things which called for its benevolent
energies was the Roman law or parent and child.
We see this in many writings of the early fathers of
the Church." As the fourth of the legal benefits of
Christianity, Mr. Blakey mentions the salutary in-
fluence of the canon law. "It is manifest," he says,
"that the canon law must have exercised a prodigious
influence on the general spirit of legislative and civil
jurisprudence throughout every state in Christendom,
an influence which is felt in every department of law
and equity at the present moment. In no legal depart-
mentcan we direct the eye where it is not perceptible."
The third division of this volume considers the political
or general influence of Christianity. It is hardly
necessary to say that this portion of the work is
possessed of a most enthralling interest when we
notice among its contents a brief but spirited history
of the Crusades and a glimpse of the peculiar features
of chivalry—topics, the briefest mention of which con-
jures up visions of romance and heroic enthusiasm ;
and these topics have been dealt with by Mr. Blakey
in a gentle and right chivalrous spirit. This section,
likewise, comprises a reference to the political and
ecclesiastical revolutions of modern times—the Pro-
testant Reformation and the English Revolution; the
history of social and political literature and philosophy
—general literature and the philosophy of human
nature, and also (which we have omitted to enumerate
in its proper place) a chapter en the influence of the
Papacy. Rightly has Mr. Blakey declared in his
preface that 'he has avoided the spirit of sec-
tarianism. " I have" be says, " been invari-
ably desirous of doing justice to all parties."
He has been animated by a spirit of Catholic
universal) Christianity. As a proof of this, while he
considers the Reformation as a further development
of the blessings of Christianity, and while he speaks
of the rreabyteriain end jAdependents as of men

WESTERN LITERARY INSTITUTION.—Last evening
the first of a series of " Glee Concerts" was given at
this excellent institution. The programme was ex-
tremely attractive, containing, as it did, some of the best
compositions of our old English masters, which were
well executed by the professionals, both vocal and in-
strumental. We were glad to see the concert so highly
appreciated as it was by the numerous and respectable
audience assembled within the theatre of the institution.
It would be an injustice did we omit to mention the
great ability with which Mrs. Fentum, Miss Melvin,
Mr. May (director of the concert), and Mr. Griesbach,
acquitted themselves.
LAMBETH CHORAL SOCIETY.—The members of the
Lambeth Choral Society held a public tea meeting and
gave a concert last night in the large school •room,
Chapel-place, Great Suffolk-strer.t, Borough. The tea
meeting was most fully attended, and the performances
of the society were much applauded. The concert con-
, sisted of selections of anthems, odes, &e., from the
Union Harmonise, with a variety of new sacred music.
The Rey. W. Chalmers, A.M., officiated as chairman of
the tea meeting, while Mr. Hawker, organist of All
Saints, St. John's Wood, presided at the pianoforte; and
Mr. W. Smith, the precentor of Marylebone Presbyterian
Church, conducted the concert.
THE EGYPTIAN LOCUST.—A specimen of this insect
was captured near Handsworth church on Saturday last.
Another specimen taken near Smethwick, a few days
since, is still alive, and feeds upon various kinds of
leayea and plants.=—,l3irmingliarn Mercury.