Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-06-28
EoCE HOMO.

Making great btlr IN literary anu Ieii'
gious circles in England and New England
the last few months, though pub
lished anonymously about year ago in
London. Il has been attributed to Mr..
Gladstone. but is not his. In fact, there
are only about eight or ten men Of known
reputation in the English religious world
who could have written 1t. But the
author has consrived to conceal net only
his name. but his theological opinion and
position, to q degree very remarkable in
the discussion Of so profound q topic. The
April number Of the London Quarterly
has q review Of the work, to which we
would especially call the attention Of all
readers Of the work itself - the fairest ud-
verse review Of the work we have seen.
It Is worthy of as much attention as the
book it criticises. The writer OF Ecce
Homo commenced by saying that after
reading much that has been said and writ
ten on the Life Of Christ. "that there was
no historical character whose motives,
objects and feelings remained so incom-
prehensible to him." The reviewer seems,
therefore. not unnaturally surprised at the
audaci,y Of an unknown author who, in
the middle Of the nineteenth century, con-
slider, that it has been reserved tor him to
solve the mystery.
In the Arst edition Of one Of Walter
Seost's novels there is . fairy scene into
which the novelist introduces . piece Of
poetry, which in later editions he struck
out. It was found after his death copied
in Lord Byron's handwriting in the Hy
leaf OF his Bible. and reads thus:
"within this awful volume lies
The mystery Of mysteries;
And happiest they Of human race
To whom our Lord has given grace
To read. TO hear, to hope, TO pray,
To liz the latch and force the way
But better had he ne'er been born,
Who reads to doubt, or reads to scorn."
These lines have generally been quoted
as Lord Byron's own; but they are pro-
badly Walter Sco.t's. Yet they well
illustrate that peculiar thought and feel
ing which made Lord Byron put them in
his Bible i. .. a sense Of the profound and
solemn mystery af the Christian religion ;
so profound that each age increasingly
feels its depths, and the wisess men Of
each age feel it most. The author Of Ecce
Hnmo Is one Of those who have felt It and
do feel it, and approach the study in q
very different manner from Renan. who is
evidently ignorant Of the details Of even
the Old Testament as well Is the New.
There is nothing superficial in the work
being reviewed. But there are numerous
instances Of fancies put for facts, which
the Quarterly Rsrisso comments on strong.
ly. Thus, on the woman taken in adul-
terry and brought before Jesus, the author
had explained it all thus: "Christ was
standing in the centre Of q circle when
| the crime was narrated. He was seized
with an intolerable sense Of shame. BE
could not meet the eye Of the accusers,
and, perhaps least Of all, the eye Of the
woman. In his burning embarrassment
and confusion he stopped down so rs to
hide his face. and began writing with his
finger on the ground. His tormentors
continued the clamor until he raised hi.
head and said, He that is without ain
among you, let him cast the 6rst tone At
her. They had q glimpse. perhaps, Of the
glowing blush upon his face, aud awoke
suddenly, with establishment, to 9 new
sense OF their condition and their con.
duct" The Quarterly Rsviss0 says, on the
contrary, that the narrative gives US the
impression Of complete composure on the
part Of our Lord. Instead Of ''facts crit.
ically weighed, the author Of Ecee Homo
gives US q debased romance, which must
shock the instincts Of religious men,"
There Is one fact in relation to this pas.
sage which both Of these critics seem to
have overlooked, i. g., that u Saviour's
reply to the accussrs would be properly
translated. che that 10 without the sin
among you Tor this sin), let him cast the
6rss stone az her." The Jews at this time
were In q remarkably corrupt state, and
this renders the Saviour's reply, in its ef.
fects on the multitude. more perfectly in.
telligible, and shows that they were more
tscandalized At the detection than abhor-
rent Of the crime. We are glad to see 4
thoughtful study Of the New Testament.
It is giving new life and power to the
Christianity Of our age, making the New
Testament q new and living book to mill
lions, and conforming the lives OF all more
closely TO its high and holy standard.