The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-09
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.


NOTES ON NEW BOOKS.
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sI4ber Lbrorum" Is the title Of work on the
structure limitations and purpose Of the Book OF Books
American edition Of It has just been issued attestinx
like the multiplied reprints Of "Ecce Homo" and EOcs
Deus the deep and wide spread interest 10 this
Try well in Great Britain theological questions
Notwithstanding the strong materialistc tendencies Of
the present day The leading positions OF tho anony-
nous author may be briefly characterized BY those
which he opposes and reects:L He opposes the "bib-
lolatry" which doizes the letter Of the Scriptures
against the claims OF the Scriptures themselves and the
spirit OF their contents He opposes the pretensions
Of High Church arrogance and the pharsaism Of
rtuasm. He rejects also the OF thss
theological dogmatism which reads every term asA
phrase OF creed and oatschsm between the lines q
the Scriptures and refuses TO revise the trade
tions Of the schools OF theology by the al
Of better methods OF Interpretation. The sub
title Of the book. "a Friendly Communicates
TO Reluctant Scepc indicates the class OF readen
for whom is specially intended, and as whole Il 10
eminentiy adapted to relieve their difficulties The
American editor that some Of the opinions
pressed in it given oonjecture. and others
manifessly not we'll considered In respecs to some
points. moreover the work betrays marks OF haste,
both in thought and composition; but its spirit u
earnest, honest and Christian. While it ID not, and
does not claim TO be- exhaustive argument for the
truth Of Christianity has at least this merit that II do.
tends Christianity against the ignorance and weakness Of
many OF its defenders We feel bound to add fun
Their remark suggested by the anonymous publication
Of Lbcr Libroru" Interior in display Of intellectual
power either OF its predecessors 'Ecce Homo and
sEce Deus" is unlikely to share in the prodgous
which those works attained and for which BETH
indie Tn tha curOs
cited by their mysterious authorship There is danger
that many fool and ignOramus, not to say villain.
may be tempted to rush into print under the mask Of
anonymousness confident that large sale Of his worth
less worse than worthless book may be secured b.
fore its real character shall have been detected The
subject of the whole Of works to which "Eccs
Homo" "E6ce De,s'' aud "Llr Librors1ns" belong IL
OF such momentous importance that no writer upon Il
should shrink from the responsibility Of publishing -
views under his own name
eMan and the Conditions that Surround Him: Hss
Progress and Decline" is the title Of volume in wt0h
the anonymous writer, taking 'The proper study Of
mankind is man. text, aims a presenting, in Q
popular FORM Of the current question: theories
and solutions that have reference 10 mans past and
present conditions His main purpose ID to demonstrate
the rigid subsection Of human existence we'll Of
nature, undertaking laws He has evidently re6ecto1
much well read extensively; bat his familiarity
with the latest forms of thought religion philosophy
history and social science, has somewhat confused
rather than cleared his IDEAS and these sometimes
expressed quite bunglngly. single instance will suf
nce-"Whatever specuations may be INDUCED in " says
the author solutions may be reached beyond the
most Interior point to which the laws Of mind as Of any
other department. Of nature, may DO traced
finds himself in the presence Of something ueros
still, &c. Something Interior still, beyond the
Interior point" must indeed be very far remote
from human comprehension
A third edition has been published in BALTIMORE Of
sGleanings from the Harvest Fields OF Literature. .
Meange Of Excsrpta, Curious Humorous and Instrue-
tive" Admirably printed and bound this volume Offers
Of the best and most various collections Of tee
cerpts which have lately seen. ct 10 . regular
omnibus; there Is something in 1t TO evsybodys tasts"
Works OF this kind useful we'll entsrtanina
because they supply with what frequently want
the thoughts the materials OF thoughts with which
We have met in reading; but where cannot remsm.
Dor, nor can we recall them distinctly. We seek for
them in every OF the memory but they
be found. Their faint impressions sesn DIM like
the ghosts Of Ossan but too distant and undsdasd
to DO Of any On the strength Of such silo
believe the Rev. DR.. Todd planned his convsuions
"Index Rerum;" but this common place book a
"Glesnngs" is sti convenient for IL gives az
tracts well references II coatsd by Dr. G. o.
Bombaugh, Of Baltimore. IBID him welcome This b
the motley minded gentleman"
'Mr Secretary Pepys. with Extracts from His Diary"
BY Allan Grant. We announced advance the pubica-
ton Of this elegant little volume, which contains the
Quinessencs OF the Scotch edition OF the memoirs Of
the 'inmitablo diarst" We need only renew our
thanks to the American editor for afiordug Us The
pleasure Of again looking at admirable picture Of
one Of the most Interesting periods Of English history
the first nine of Charles lis reign excellent
rNortr 81
bcilishes the volume.
THE Cheap Doctor, Word About Fresh Air y IL The
first OF seres Of Health Tracts published distrbu-
ton among the poor by the New York Inarmary for
Women and Children. The projectors could not have
selected moro vitality important topic than fresh air
70 begin with in their praise worthy efforts TO promote
individual aud public health