New-York daily tribune., 1843-05-26

Broadway.
So far as we have been able to examine this
york, we deem it one Of the most important and
rooundly able Theological publications OF the
3ay. 1t discusses every branch of the great sub
,ct which It's title announces with cornprehen
sye learning, logical power and an earnest elo-
aence seldom equaled; and in the light OF that
heh Spiritual Philosophy winch for the last
,senty years has been making such silent bat
decided and irresistible progress IN the hearts OF
the studiou: and thoughtful. The treatise is in
reduced by Dialogue with Quaker, in which
the reasons of the latter for being discontcntcd
with his own Society are given. The author
then proposes to inquire at large into the grounds
m which the carly Quakers asserted that there is
IN the world KINGDOM OF CHRIST far above all
,hc sects into which the religious world is divided
% INQUIRE whether the existing Quaker system
be or be not the realization of the Quaker idea
10 investigate the principles Of those religious
bodies who reject Quakerlsm; to consider the
claims of the Catholic Church, and then to speak
Of the position Of the Church in England. Tie
Frst Part of the work discusses accordingly the
Principles Of the Quakers and of the different Re
Ggioas Bodies which have arisen since the Re-
formation, and of the Systems TO which they have
given birth. The first Chapter under this head
considers Quakcrism, the positive doctrines of
The Quakers, the ordinary objections to them, the
Quaker System and its practical workings. The
Second takes up Pure Protestantism,- lead.
ing principles of the Reformation, the objections
70 them, the Protestant Systems, such as Luther
lisn, Calvlnlsn, &c, and their practical work
ngs. The Third Chapter is devoted to Unita
'anism' The Fourth discusses the tendency of
the religious, philosophical and political move
Eents which have taken place in Protestant Bo-
nslncc the middle of the last century, each be-
ng considered in order. The Second Part Of the
Work proposes as It's subject the Catholic Church
and the Romish System, the successive Chapters
pesenting the popular notion respecting the grad
ul substitution of the Ideal for the Personal and
Historical in religious systems, the substitution
Of an Idea for a Spiritual Society, and the notion
that there may be universal Society not ground
ed upon Revelation the Indications Of Spirit
Oal Constitution; the Scrptural view Of this Con-
altution; the Signs of a Spiritual Society; and
the Relations of the Church and National Bodies
Part Third considers the English Church and the
Systems which divide it. This summary will
gve a general notion of the scope of the work,
hough II cannot convey any idea of the ability
anderudition with whichitis accomplished. The
Predominant thought which guides the author in
all MS reasonngs is well set forth in this sentence
which follows the statement of the general course
cirefecon which led him TO undertake the worl,
u in tins way he says. F" there rose up before me
the idea OF Church UNIVERSAL not built upon
human inventions or human faith, but upon the
very nature of God himself, and upon the union
which he has formed with his creatures "a
Church revealed TO man as a fixed and eternal
reality by means which infinite wisdom had itself
dcvised''
The discussion of themes connected with Lit
'ra'nre, Philosophy and Politics in the work are
no less able, and perhaps more generally interest
ing, than those of topics more exclusively ,hco-
logical
We copy the following passage, as ii not only
Will serve to give some notion of the general
Nglcal c!osenesS of the authors style of thought
sha argument, but presents considerations which
nave peculiar perinencc and force with reference
the condition and prospects Of Literature at the
resent day. There is even yet too prevalent
aspositon to slight the labors of those who SUBJ
c' themselves to rules and forms, and TO honor
most those who follow the "vagrant impulses of
ssnius':
IN the last age 1t was customary to divide
@ea OF letters into two classes those who fol-
1Teo the vagrant impulses Of genius, and those
Fao were content to subject themselves to rules
10 ioFnlS. The first received a patronl2lng and
iuahhed admiration, but they were beacons rather
ssn examples; the latter, because they had less
asna!'ty, might be more safely followed. The
saPuse OF men just recovering the feeling that
y mad strange powers within them was cS-
"as 10 reverse tins decision. to assert the pre-
s.lSes OF genus, to boast of its chartered lib
sa ss,ush, ana TO denounce forms as inconsistent
80 l. But thlSls a language which cannot last
Waen men began TO compare the writings
~'l nave stood for ages with those which ai-
~ y, 'aer nature and freedom. it was perceived
- - 'e secret power does not lie in its careless
~ ssW yagrancy; that wantonness is allied to
SAness; that it is the very characteristic of
1 i-1S 10 own principles, not to despisc them.
1s oeen shown that the last age was not at all
az S;s'eiul IN asserting the existence of laws TO
! 10y sa all art and poetry must conform itself; /;
( Ag Mistook the character Of those laws ii
I ~ TPsee them to be mere rules respecting the
4 soes OF expression and construction, not forms
Z Gylng to the thought and mind itself II
Z seoe such principles and forms, then the intu.
.loi them, accompanied with the capacity Of
AAs according TO them, is the very quality of
k ss;as and the study OF works of genus in a
I - ol submission, no, of dictaton, is the way
{ sss,Rg mining that knowledge which the arti6ccr