New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-16
THE TRIBUN
For The Tribune.
Review Of Parket's Lectures.

per. have had my atteauon, Ter some u.le past,
drawn TO the Lectures of the Rev Mr. Parker, as
ported by your Boston correspondent must say,
however that for the life of me cannot tell what the
Reverend gentleman would be aiming at Every
succeeding Lecture expected would contain some
definition of terms, statement of principles, or
at least something give the reader clear idea of
what the author strenuously defending on the
one hand, and assaiing on the other. Ia this, how
ever, have been constantly disappointed, and the
closing Discourse, published few days ago,ieaves
me much in the dark as ever. The most dei1-
mite conclusion to which can arrive IS, that the
Reverend gentleman is earnestly recommending
something which he styles kce<sgso7s, and with
equal zeal attacking another thing which ne terms
TAeoLoeg. But when we seek to know in what
these two respectively consist,-wherein they
differ,-what is the precise of each, and
what is the cause of That ireconcilabe opposition
which is represented as existing between them
on all these points look in vain for the least
particle of definite information. We are not told
whether the Religion advocated be the Mahometaa,
the BraInincal, the Christian, the Religion of Ma
ture, or Il mixture of tleR all The term Christian,
we admit is occasionally used, but without any dis
tinct specification Of the in which this all,
meaning word is intended to be taken: and ap-
Parently for no other purpose than general
term of excellence, highly popular at the present
day; and therefore, well adapted 10 the authors
most liberal views. In respect to the other word
he is equally indefinite. No one can determine
whether he refers TO the Greek Mythology, or to the
iSysteme de la Nature, the Thirty-Nine Articles
the Saybrook platform.
A I'd
Guilty. suggested that probably Mr.. Parker intended
by all this, tile Religion Of the heart" as dis
,inguished from the sPecuations OF the un-
derstandng,--or living, as..spposed to dead
faith. This, it must be confessed, appeared
plausible solution ef the matter yet the formdah.
objection still remained, that the lecturer seemed
evidently impressed with the idea and wished so t.
impress it upon his hearers, that the views forth
by him constituted some wonderful discovery o.
strange and ranscendent truths until then unknown
and which he was the chosen instrument to proclaim
to mankind. 1t seemed, therefore, impossible tina
the distinction TO which we have adverted coud
have been the one intended by the lecturer. Nam
reasons might be assigned for this. 1t is, in tIr
first place, found every where Throughout. the Bi.
bic, aud it would therefore seem that such
subject he would have been more frequest in his
illusions to- and copious in his extracts from
that volume which processes, on the authority o.
Inspiration to set forth the true nature OF Religion
and Christianity. On the second place, this dis
tinction between the head and the heart, -bctweci
u living and dead faith, has, from the time q
Saint James down. been found in almost every wolt
on Theology, and in almost every Evangelical Dis
from the Pul pit ;-and in the third place. il
has long been familiar to the huInbest and mos
illiterate professors Of Christianity. 1t bu,
few evenings SINCE heard these views set forth in
b,I,
pressed, too, with far more power and distnctness
than are to be found in the Lectures referred to
A great many who talk much about the philosophy |
OF Religion are, perhaps, not at all aware of the
sublime truths which such occasions may b. |
heard from those plain people, who derive both |
their Religion and their Theology from the BIZ
BILE. They would there hear language far more
transceudeatal than that of Mr.. Parker, because
derived directly from that transcendent of all
books They might hear them talk Of :" the wit
of the Spirit of (" Christ formed in the
soul, the hope Of glory of " the love of God
shed abroad in the heart +" the governing prin.
ciple of all right action,-o the love of Christ as
the bond of union in the Church, and the onlg
source of all true love to Man-of the life of The
soul derived from the Redeemer as the branch de-
rives its life from the vine-of Faith that works BY
Love- and of the utter holowness of all Religious
speculation without this. They might hear, too,
certain strange declarations which are, perhaps,
far too transcendental for Mr.. Parker's Theology
about :" wedding garments, - and "robes of right
eousness," and ''being washed in blood" and
q the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins OF
the world, '-interspersed it is true, with certain
wildly solemn songs about "Jordan's banks and
Canaans happy Shores" and occasionally with
strange CALCULATIONS of 20 Glory" and /" Halielu-
jah,"-yet amid it all, setting forth philosophy
far TOO sublime for many Boston audience and
which Plato would have studied with rapt aston
shment.
All this have / repeatedly listened to with tho
deepest emotion, and yet without the least sur
prise, because there scores of places in
City, (f we would inquire for them,) in which it
may be heard almost every evening in the week.
Transcendent as such views are, yet are they
be found in the common language of many hum
bic and iterate person who could boas,
acquaintance with the writings of Charming
Parker. BY the way, Mr.. Edtar, having late,
become very much interested in some meetings oil
the kind to which l refer, and which l have at,
tended as sort of philosophical spectator, nigh,
| suggest the propriety of occasionally reporting
of their proceedings for your paper Il
might give variety, and assure you that in
this way you might obtain matter equal in excel
lence and Interest to any derived from Boston.
But to return to this distinction between Re-
hsion and Theology: whatever it may mean, | fnd
1t is becoming quite favorie with certain class
of writers. II formed as are all aware ia
vorite topic with the late Dr. Charming The
author of recently published Sermon dwclls very
much the same idea, and with as little attempt
at definition clearness of conception as Mr. Par
ker. We find something of it in the writings of
Boz whom the author last named once repre-
sented with true uanscendental bathos las diving