The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-29
LITERARY.

appeared, great many unlearned, pious people
were indignant at the idea that the Bishop should
think the Bible needed an apology. The book
before us, if we mistake not, is such an apology
not from an orthodox point of view however, as
we understand orthodoxy. Nor is it rational
istic. On tho contrary, the great object Of the
present work is to stem the torrent Of this Ger
man heresy, which has received such a mighty
impetus within the last few years by the writings
of CoLENso, RENAN, and others.
We can SEQ no middle ground upon which TO se
cure firm foothold. The sacred writer's are
either to be regarded as inspired or not inspired
Their narratives must be received as absolute
truth, or are subject to the same canons OF criti
cism as HOMER, PLINY and HRRoporus. II we
adopt the former alternative, we stand upon or
thodox, evangelical ground if the latter, we en-
bark upon the broad, uncertain, tempestuous sea
OF rationalism. But standing-room for third
party, we can see none. Yet claims this author
such an outside platform, as will be seen from
the following extract from his preface:
ssThose who feel dissatisfied with the current
conceptions Of Christ, il they cannot rest content
without definite opinion may find it necessary to
audacious and perilous to do. They may be
obliged to reconsider the whole subject from the
beginning, and placing themselves in Imagination
at the time when he whom we call Christ bore no
such name, but was simply, as st. Luke describes
hlm, q young man OF promise, popular with those
who who. knew him, and appearing to enjoy the Divine
and accept those conclusions about him, not
which churc ch doctors or even apostles have sealed
wit their authority, but which the facts them
selves, critically weighed, appear to warrant
sThis is what the present writer undertook to
do for the satisfaction OF his own mind, and be-
cause, esnn;e, after 81, reading good many books on
there was no historical character whose motives,
objects and feelings remained so incomprehensi-
PIE to him. The inquiry which proved servicea-
BILE to himself may chance to be useful to others"
This patronizing cir pervades the entire work.
The author, whoever he is, evidently designed to
do the Church great service when he published
his book. And being heralded forth with consid-
cradle pretensions it has attracted very marked
attention in the literary, theological and critical
circles Of Great Britain. The anonymous ohsrao-
ter OF the book, doubtless, also is Of service to
the publishers, who are not slow to take advan-
tage OF the public curiosity. Rumors are indus
tr1ously circulated attributing the authorship to
various distinguished persons; among them TO
MIR. GLADSTONE, and nirabile dictu to NAPOLEON
himself
The DooK ls oIvlued into Two parts: The first
treating of The Baptist, The Temptation, The
Kingdom Of God, Ghrists Royalty, Christs Ore
dentials, Christ's Winnowing Fan, Conditions OF
Membership in Christ's Kingdom Baptism, Re-
second part treats Of Christ's Legislation.
Speaking Of the arguments adduced, pro and
con, as regards the authenticity Of the story Of
Christ's Temptah n, the writer says:
ga retirement OF Christ into the desert, and a
mental struggle at the beginning Of
his career, are incidents extremely probable in
themselves; and the account Of the temptation,
from whatever source derived, has very striking
internal consistency, certain inimitable proba-
bility Of improbability, II the expression may be
sowed That popular which gives birth
rally capable Of greater sublime or well-sustaned
efforts
WunbertBatise 9ilber nb mef nur f&le4te G3emGlbe.
"The popular imagination is fertile and tena-
cious, but not very powerful or profound. Christ
in the wilderness was subject for 1t to work
stories to be told OF his adventures in such q
solitude, but we should also expect the stories to
be very childish. Now the story Of Christ's temp
tation is unique as Christ's character. 1t is
such temptation as Christ, and Ohris in those
peculiar circumstances, might be expected to e1-
perience."
The chapter is summed up with this paragraph:
"such, then, is the story Of Christ's tempta-
ton. 1t rests, indeed, on no very strong external
evidence, and there may be exaggeration in it's
details; but in its substance, it can scarcely be
other than true; first, because it is 40 much
stranger than fiction, and next, because in it's
strangeness it is 80 nicely adapted to the charac.
more it will unfold itself to in the course OF
this investigation"
AS we have already indicated, considered from
an evangelical point Of view, the book Is full Of
objections. And however good it's Intentions, 1t
is calculated to do harm only in the hands OF the
unlettered believer, by fomenting doubt and dis
trust where before faith reigned unquestioned.
Accordingly the book has been very severely con-
demned by our religious prints But, on the
other hand, the author is treated with the most
cavalierly contempt by the advocates OF progress
as represented by the Westminster reviewers.
There must, therefore, be some merit In the au-
thor, else why voluntarily subject himself to the
censure Of both the leading parties Of the think
ing world2
The argument is essentially apologstio ad-
dressed to intelligent and candid thinkers not at
present Christians on full conviction but willing
to work their way In the authors company toward
conviction. The book is not intended for those
who have already accepted the Gospel as having
the fullness Of Divine authority.
The authors whole view Of his subject Is lay
mans view,-practicsl and lawyer-lfke It is an
application Of work-day common sense to SUBJ
ect ordinarily reserved for technical or devotional
treatment, In this lies the secret both Of the
charm Of the book and Of its incompleteness. The
style is remarkable for clearness, vigor and Sim
plicity; and the book has been read, and will be
read outside OF circles usually reached by relig-
ious literature.
We have above referred to the classes the book
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