Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-10-06
Original 4aper.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
"REUeHLIN" AND REV. VIC. DAVIS.
NUMBER FIVE. i

Mr.. Editor: Having disposed of f"Reuch-
Inns" attack on the memory and ministerial
character of Rev. VIM. G Davis, in numbers
one, two and three and having also noticed
some of his statements with reference to the
"Ipdependent Body" in No. 4, we now zap
proach the third question:. viz:
."Whot are the characteristics of these
books s' Although feel no desire to die.
tate to "Reuchlin" as to the character OF
style of his literary communications, l. will
venture the opinion that his criticism would
have manifested spirit equally creditable tc
himself, if be had left the preceding ques
tions un-"raised, and confined himself more
especially to the third He would, at least
have been spared the necessity of speaking
unkindly, and -unjustly Of the dead ; and be
would not have manifested the weakness oi
sneering at people because their numbers
are small. ..,.
But let US notice the criticism. His en-.
tire article is sweeping, and, as he nc
doubt supposes, an Overwhelming condemna'
ton.
His first ground of condemnation seems to
be, that "the Books were written forty (40)
years ago." How unfortunate And how
stupid was the General Convention not to
notice that factl But, if volumes so "an-
tique" as these (written 40 years ago. must,
therefore, be discarded, how deficient must
we considersuch books as those of Calvin and
Owen, Baxter and Flavel, Brown, Edwards
and Davies J. and how unwise in hePresbyte-
rian Board of Publication to give their "fm-
primatur" to such volumes
But further: be says these books care very
notwithstanding in commonplace ut
terances, dogmatic assertions put for argu-
ments, and far-fetched conclusions from lilo
logical premises" I simply answer, that diff
fereDt minds, engaged in the search. for truth,
although with equal advantages, often arrive
at widely different conclusions. Others find
reason to differ from this critic very materi-
ally; and as he hasnot seenproper to offer a
single instance of what be says is so abun-
dant in the books, presume the public will
choose to judge for itself in this "matter."
But'I will concede this point entirely, and
allow that Mr.. Davis books are gerry obnox-
ious to the charge here made, if there can be
found in them, more of "dogmatism," 'as-
sertiou put for argument" &C., than is ex-
hibited in the article now under considera-
alton. If, therefore, the existence of these
in religious works be serious objection, and
if "Reuchlin's" article in the ". @. Presby-
terian be fair specimen of his style Of wri-
ting, 1 would humbfy, but most earnestly yad-
wise him neuer to aorite any Theological
Books.
The reuiewer objects further to these VOL
umes, that "they are very pretentious to
Theological scholarship, and bubble much
in Biblical criticism after all, the
author gets no further from home, than to
Dr. Scotts Commentary, Doddridge's Ex-
positor, and DR.. McNight's s, and DR.. W hitby's
Notes." To all this, 1 have to say, that I
deem it superlatively childish. Mr.. Davis,
in writing his Lectures, had a higher and
a pobler aim, than to exhibit a familiarity
with variety of authors. His writings show
clearly that he had studied very closely, one
book at least-the Bible-which is able to
make US "truly WISE" would rather have
it justly said of me, "He was mighty in the
Scriptures" than to have been entirely fam.
iliar with the works of all the Theological
Doctors in christendom.
If "Reuchlin" afirms, however, in the
quotation above, that Mr.. Davis, in these
volumes, does not quote or refer to other
authors than those named, we must conclude
that either he has never read the books
carefully, or be has read them for another
purpose than to ascertain the extent of the
authors researche.
But, according to thejudgment of" "Reuch-
lin," these books are not only most offen-
sive to the modern, refined taste, on account
of their "autique" and uucouth style, but,
ifreceived, they would prove very dangerous,
Oh account of the many "revolting," and hor-
rible "errors" Shich they contain. After a
close examination of the books, to detect what.
ever ia of danrerous tendepcv (wa nreannao