The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-27
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS
Life thoughts ofHENRY WARD BEECHER. Phillips
Sampson & Co., Boston, 1858.
We have received from Messrs. Cushing & Bailey
copy of this work, which presume will be ex
tensvely sought after, account of the reputation
of the author which has spread far beyond the
neighborhood where his influence is widely recog
nized. We confess to have read the book without
much pleasure, and we fear with less of profit. Ii
point of literary merit it rises no way above medi
ocrity. The SMILES and metaphors which are mos
prouscly pressed into service are trite and simple
in themselves and have been here made to serve nj
new purpose, while the labor which has been ex
pended in their collection is apparent throughout
The few that may be called original or that at Least
are not hackneyed, not very delicate or brilliant
whatever may be said of their applicability.
As illustrative of different phases of a religious
life, have Christians ''at station houses" or of
con switches" Christians calling out can RIGHT
to the conductor, or left behind by the departing
train; in fact under all the circumstances incident
to railway travel, they journey on watching the
brakes, and liable to the usual casualties, so on
every page will the imagery be found to be forced
and only commonplace. Nor do we think the
matter of Mr.. Beechers ''Ife Thoughts much
more striking than the style in which they have
been phased. There is certainly rude vigor about
| them which will make them, perhaps, popular with
many readers, and there some plain and practi-
cal views scattered here and there which deserve
| commentator; but by those, who have access to
even limited libraries Mr.. Beecher's book will not
be thought valuable contribution to literature
The ''Thoughts sometimes simple in statement
and we think we are justified in adding absurd like
the following process for rendering a law nugaorv:
| "When laws, customs, institutions cease to be
beneficial to man, they cease to be obligatory
Others are more complicated and may possibly con-
tain the essence of truth and wisdom though each
man in that case must distil it for himself, and we
cannot undertake to say exactly the measure to be
obtained from an apothegm like this:
''New Engandism is but another word for Puri-
tanism in the Independent sense. and that is but
another word for New Tcstamentism'.
If, however, we are mistaken in our estimate of
this intellectual capacity developed in these "Life
Thoughts, we are clear that our Judgment, upon
other Objectionable points, is well founded The
tone and temper in which the subjects treated of are
handled, neither accord well with the position of
the author, nor with the subjects themselves.
hilarious satisfaction with his views, and dog
matte contemptfor every body else's find continual
expression.
Mr.. Beecher thinks ''Doctrne is nothing but the
skin of Truth and stuffed and is very little par
ticuar about forms; and he claims vehemently the
liberty of thinking for himself in these matters vet
when other people presume to hold the notions that
such things not uninportant, he cannot refrain
from denunciation of the ''hundreds of churches
which are nothing but mutual insurance compan-
es.' Because he fances his unccremonious WAYS,
he must needs boot at the ''infidety of rich and
orthodox churches"
Nor is this his worst fault. His rreverent famil-
iarity with all that is most holy and most aw-
full, common as this is in these latter days, de-
serves rcprobation. That the motive with
which he speaks is pure, we are ready
to concede, but that the result of such teach
ings is amentable in the extreme we have as little
doubt. We have always supposed that it was the
main object of religious instruction to elevate mems
ideas above their ordinary level-to purify their
hearts and refine their thoughts beyond the common
standards by which they may usually be measured.
But if they only to be reached through the me-
dunn of vulgar language, or can only be made to
comprehend by means of degrading illustrations.
we have little hope that the knowledge so attained
can much exalt them. If our object was simply to
indulge in literary criticism We should feel that
an apology needed for the introduction of such
things as we here desire to quote, but the end we
aim at is higher and better one and we therefore
require no justification. The following are exam
pies of the style which we earnestly condemns:
al marvel how woman with her need of love
with her sensitive, warming, clasping nature can
look into the face of the Lord Jesus and not mt
her arms about his neck and tell him with gushing
love, that she commits herself body and soul into
his sacred keeping"
Again:
"But Gods promises are from Everlasting to
everlasting, and he always stands up to them
There never was a run on heaven which was not
promptly met. No creature in the world, or in
lying audacious hell, shall ever say that he drew A
draft upon heaven, and that God dshonored it."
We but venture
"Many people seem to imagine that God keeps n
gracious apothecary's shop above, with faith and
meck ness and humility put up in bottles ready for
mers here below and ask for this or that extract
so they can go to God and ask for this or that
grace"
Such is the miserable fashion in which Mr.
Beecher expounds the solemn truths pertaining to
our spiritual we-being. We have heard that his
congregation is large and that his discourses
enliven them, and we cannot question the fact
Grotesque planness will attract many who are deaf
to less stimulating appeals. The reverend awe
with which men were wont to approach these sol
emn themes, the hesitating step with which they
fingered "aiar off, in the sacred sanctuary and the
timid doubt with which they questioned the myste-
rious Infinite have place in the practice which
this author would establish BY his rude hands
even ''the vail of the temple would be rent in
twain"
But we have already gone beyond our intended
point in this notice, and must refrain from dwell
ing longer on the volume before us. The faults to
which we have called attention. are on the increase
among us, and many good people are so prone to
excuse or admire any novelty that shelters itself
under the plea of earnestness that we have been
tempted by this opportunity to give our opinions
mus much at length. The arrogance which lies at
the foundation of these "Life Thoughts is not
| unusual, either, though we shall not now enlarge
! upon 1t. We have not commented unon the SINGER
| ty OF Mr. Beeehers principles, nor do we mean to
do so. We presume him to be seriously seeking
the Fright way but as he assumes tn guide 9TH
ers, it is our privilege to inquire how far bs moth
cd of so doing may be calculated to o;s,aod H.,
We dissent even less from the lessons nrono,,,dod
in this volume, than do from the spirit in whioh
| they are enunciated To draw a comnariso, e.,
his own favorite field, he seems to us to be nnrsnn
| his career after the manner of a high pressure on
CINE, flying with resounding energy at top speed
along an air line, never doubling but that he shall
reach the terminus according to the time tables
Bon Uoyage Mr.. Beecher.
| We are indebted to Hon. A. Kennedy for Public