The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-30
SATURDAY, MARCH 80, 1857.
"ECce HOmo''-"Ecce Deus" :"

which attempted to treat the life of Christ in
a new light, and, while refusing to receive the
deductions of the early Fathers, struck out on
a new line OF argument in order to satisfy the
authors own mind. That the work was
original in its style very able in its arguments,
and a most valuable addition to religious
literature, is acknowledged even by those who
deuounce it as a fallacy and dangerous and
insidious deception. The popularity of the
work was heightened by the inscrutable
mystery which has surrounded its author.
That a man of such ability as that displayed
bv the writer should not hold a high position
was scofTed at, and the work imputed to Chief
Barons, Premiers, Bishops, and Deans without
number Who really was the author still is
unknown. As the name implies, the book is
an attempt to treat Of the life of Christ and
of the Christian religion as founded by Him,
purely in human point of view. "Ecce
Homo" "Behold the Man," would naturally
refer to Christ only as a child of humanity.
Accordingly, the author views Him as ''pro-
missing young man." and starts on novel
basis. He assumes that until Christ tasted in
the wilderness, he had no settled idea in regard
to founding the Christian Church; that,
in fact, until the spirit of the Holy Ghost
descended upon Him at the time of His bap-
tism by John, he was unaware Of His sacred
mission; that, under the powerful excitement
of discovering His high calling, He wandered
into the wilderness, and there, through inspi-
ration, decided on erecting spiritual instead
of temporal kingdom; that He there de-
vised the pecuiarties of the religion which
He afterwards announced. He invented the
sublime idea of State which would intiict no
punishment on its rebellious subjects except
exclusion from it's membership. He was wiser
than Socrates, or any theorist. He founded
the "Christian Commonwealth" The author
of "Ecce Homo" devotes several chapters to
the consideration of this Commonwealth, >"
but continues to view it merely in a human
aspect. He considers it as Commonwealth
sort of political union, and denominates ''re-
ligious belief as the enthusiasm of huma-
nity," speaking of it as he would of the
patriotism of citizen of a national State. All
his view is limited to the humanity of rei-
gion. He follows the idea of his title, and
shape of Christianity which he selects as the
ground of his investigation. And in his branch
of examination no one can deny to him
success.
He labored, however, under disadvantage
1t was impossible to convey full idea of 6
dual character by taking only half view o
it. So far as his line of thought and criticism
goes, the author of "Ecce Homo" is the autho
of complete work. So far as conveying
correct idea of the true nature of Christianity
is concerned, he has failed. But he did no
attempt to convey picture of the Divine a
well as the human half of religion. That, W,
are told, was reserved for another work, anC
the two, taken together, would give tn,
writer's idea of the whole Church organism.
"Ecoe Homo" however, has raised up fo
itself host of enemies. 1t has been de
nounced from the pulpit and lecture-desk, anc
is, to limited extent, prescribed work
However, it has its ardent advocates as vel
as its bitter foes, and lively discussion il
regard to its merits has been carried on il
the ranks of clergy and laity. At last ha
appeared formal reply in the issue of ''Ece
Deus" This work sets out ON differen
line of examination. 1t treats of Christianit
as Divine conception, and argues agans
"Ecoe Homo" with great bitterness, although
we are glad to say, with marked courtesy
Its main objection to its predecessor is that i
it the "Inoarnation" is ignored. 1t claim
that the writer, by neglecting the Fundamental
incident in the life of Christ erected a falls
structure on false foundation If we take
for granted that Christ was the Son of God q
His birth, then it is derOgatory to proper ide
of His Divine nature to suppose Him not
have known the plan of the redemption fror
His earliest infancy. Such is the argument
"Ecce Deus, and the deduction naturally 70
lows that Christ did not decide in the wilde
ness on His plan of q kingdom, but it wa
fOreordained and known to Him from H
birth. We certainly cannot understand Il
mystery of the God-Man, which has RENAME
unsolved to the sages of all ages. We do n
pretend to decide in regard to the merits of Il
two views. Yet it seems to us that to a gre
extent there is no real difference between Il
two writers. The Capitol at Washington,
viewed from one side, has an approach
numberless marble steps, amid numero
marble figures. If viewed from the other sid
il has few steps, fountain, and a squa
as its surrounding. Both views are CO
rect. Yet to form an impression by lookil
at only one, would convey very imperfe