New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-18
NEW PUBLiCA T[ONS.

HISTORY OF TIE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. ~ Dr..
CHFLrs HAst TIEnslLted from the H.rman ey HaSS' p
BLunTNrHAL and CONWAY 7. WING. 60. PIP. IN d. Ap.
pleton Go.
Tho point of view in which Dir. I!ase regards
the history Of the Church is the manifestation of
the life of Christ in Humanity With him Chris
tianity is not so much dogmatic system or an
ethical development as dispensation ofspiritual
life. The Church was founded in the first H.
stance by the Spirit which proceeded from Je-
sus. II embraces in its communion all the rei-
gious life that can be traced TO his influence
however imperfcctly it may be exhibited. But
the Christian spirit is manifold in its nature, and
while it is unfolded in accordance with its own
peculiar law assumes an infinite diversity OF
form in the lives of individuals. IL is the prov
ince of ecclesiastical history to represent the
progress of the Church, according to the princi-
pie OF unity in multiiorm development, by an ex
hibi;ion of the facts which have occurred under
lite influence in the course OF ages. DIR. Hase
divides this extensive field into three portions.
The first is Ancient church-histOry, extending
10 the establishment of the Roman empire among
the GeTmanic nations in the year 500. The Sec
ond is Medieyal church-history, reaching to the
epoch of the Reformation, 1917. The third is
Modern church-history, coming down to the
present time. The first division embraces the
victory of The church under Constantine and the
development of Catholicism; the second the tri-
umph of the papacy and the symptoms of reac-
ton foreboding a reformation in prospect; and
the third the conflict of Professionalism with Ca
tholicism. In treating the subject DR.. Hase ex-
hibits genuine historical instinct, combined
with the spirit of sound philosophy His cru
dition is extraordinary even for German. lie
has explored every nook and corner In his field
of investigation, carefully submitting apparent
facts to the test of rigid evidence Bat the
freshness of his intellect is never overlaid by the
weight Of his learning. His mine is perpetuaiiy
on the alert, watchful for every trace OF truth
and beauty amid the wilderness of details ana
showing quick sympathy with excellence even
ppder ouaint DISCUSSES. His delineations of
character are admirable. In few pregnant
words he portrays the features OF the prominent
personsges whose names are connected Win TIE
formation of epochs, throwing broad hsht on
the secret Of their intellectual strFinss As
well as the peculiar traits Of their personality.
In the same way he lays bare the character, the
aims ard the tendency of celebrated systems oil
thought. Connected with the Development OF
religion he extends rapid but searching glance
into the prevailing modes Of culture, presenting
compact but luminous view of the state oil hu-
man progress in the various periods OF its ca
reer. His work is singularly free from scho-
lastic spirit. 1t bears the incontestble stamp OF
an active and progressive age. While certainly
ADAPTED 10 the wants Of theological students
it is not limited to partial sphere, but will be
found eminently informing and attractive TO the
general scholar.
Some examples of the authors skill IN char