Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-30
NEW hooks.

THE BIBLE AND SOCIAL REFORM; or, The
Scriptures as a Means Of Civilization By r.; II.
Cincinnati: Hickey, Mallory 4 Co.
The religious literature of the present day is dc
voted mainly to the work Of sustaining the Bible
against the actual supposed, implied progress of
unbeef. The defense IL made in two ways, each of
which is entirely inconsistent with the other: one
insists upon the reception of the Scriptures literally
as work whose every word being inspired, is to be
accepted matter Of belief the other holds to sub
stantial general inspiration in respect to senti.
ment, with latitude for rational Interpretation of
particular passages ....'
The force Of these two parties is neutralized by
their antagonism, than which nothing can be more
Ingenious to the cause in which they profess to be
enlisted. This weakness in the camp is curionsly
eontrasted with the bgotry exhibited toward such as
wthoutit. Unbelief is Just as promptly ceDsured,
and bitterly punished If believers were able to
agree how much and why to believe. And as the
Bible, not God ia the matter in dispute It ls soci-
ally, much more dangerous to doubt the authority of
the former, than TO deny the being Of the latter In
other words more jealous for the Bible IL an
for the God of the Bible There is Bible idolatIy
which sets the Deity away in an obscure corner
while IT simultaneously wranges with its inner, and
persecutes with its outer aspect.
The work before takes the side Of the literal in
spirationists-that "God spoke" the Scriptures
'audibly, or inspired them In the words which are
written in the minds OF the sacred writers whom he
appointed to receive and utter them, word for word
as they received them from him." Although writ
ten by a lawyer, the logic ia purely clerical 1t is
in fact, elongated and indiscriminRte pun of the
| Bible by gentleman who evidently has worry i'm
perfect and uncriteal idea Of its contents Accord
ing to his notions man is nothing the Bible every
thing. The Bible was not made for man, but ian
for the Bible.
OF the two elements, IL one were to be annihilated
the world could better part with humanity than with
the book By it man Is all that he Is; without il hC
would be nothing. To 1t he whatever he is more
than a mere locomotive bundle of evil propensitiet
labeled for eternal position Virtue, sympathy, be.
nevolence, progress religion, civilization, even 80
cety ITSELF If IL had not been revealed could neye
have existed This Is the mere twaddle Of superst
tious Ignorance s dshonorable to God as 1t is dis
graceful to mankind. Such books, in the o
religion, teach misbelief, which is nhdelity.
BERTHA PERCY, OR L'EsPERAECE. By NAB
Cincinnati: Hickey, Mallory Co.
Bertha Percy in religions novel, the scene o
which is laid in New England-the religious AM
social ideas being those which prevail in that part
the world .H f rI '. .f.,.-
POEMS, LYRICAL AND IDYLLIC. BY EDwARl
CLARENCE SrEDMAH. New York; Charles Serb
ner. Cincinnati: Hickey, Mallory Co.
Some Of these poems have enjoyed that popularit
which has given them pretty extensive circulation
in the newspapersi others are new. They pretty
pleasant verses, but are not destined to immortality
LECTURES ON NATURAL HISTORY. BY p. A
cnAnponRSE' New YORK, x. n Barnss RurrII
Cincinnati: Hickey, Mallory 4 Go.
-Four lectures by the Professor Of Natural Histor
in williams College, upon the Relations OF Natura
History. !. TO Intellect 2. To Taste. g. T
Wealth. 4. To Religion