The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-01-08
ECCE DEUS-HoMO.

One of the most noticeable things in the re-
hgious thought and theological discussion Of
the present day is the revival OF what is tech
nically called ChristOlogy. Never, perhaps
since the days Of Arius aud the Nieene Coun-
Gil, has the attention of ChriStendom been sc
engaged with the great central topic-Christ
his person, his office, and his kingdom. The
doctrine as to his person is not, indeed, to any
considerable extent matter of debate in the
Church itself; that controversy seems to have
been one of the earliest started and the frs
settled. In regard to some of his offices, par
tieularly the nature of his kingdom and the
lines which separate it from the kingdoms o
this world, there is much which yet remain:
to be defined. This, however, may belong
more properly to the question Of EecleSiolOgy
or the nature and functions of the Church.
The controversy now concerning the person
and office of Christ is one between his Church
and that form of unbelief which refuses to re-
eeive the testimony which the New Testament
gives to The truth as II is in Jesus" 1t is
ropnif0sI INA. tue ssl.ele 4 IVcsrinsss'C CsriSl
and him crucifed, which is the centre of the
"faith once delivered to the Saints " is now
receiving the assaults Of the whole rabble OF
OppoSers. For is it not a rabble of atheists,
and pantheistS, in6dels and skepticS, of every
school and no school, some in the Church, and
Others out of the Church without leader,
without organization, without any common
sentiment or purpose, except that enmity
against the Lord and against his Christ which
says, "we will not have this man to reign over
us?" A motley crew it is.
Some years ago Suaus wrote his Life of Je.
sus, (Leben Jesu) and the learned and able OF
the Church lett the plain of science where the
battle had ragged so fierce and so long, and raj
lied to meet the scOffer on his own ground OF
criticism Lately the attack was renewed by
the Frenchman, Renan, in his Life of Jesus
on higher and more SpeeiOus ground; and
again Christian warriors repealed the assault.
A little later the author of "Ecce Homo y
won an undeserved nOtoriety by helping to give
point and poison to the arrows of in6dehty-
for such is the opinion we hold concerning the
book. He has doubtless ruined many souls
if in nothing else, by his utterly inadequate
statements of vital truths. He no doubt also
amassed a clever fortune, ill-gotten though it
be at the expense of the precious blood OF
Christ" deprecated, or one soul shipwrecked
on a fatal rock. The book will die with its
author-perhapS before. But when shall per-
ism its pernieiOus influence upon many who
have read it? There is perhaps hardly book
of recent publication upon his shelves, with
whose leaves a votary of the pipe could better
afford to light it, than this same Eeee Homo,
The true is not new, aud the new is not true
But this too has been Overruled for the ad
vaneement OF that great name, "t0hieh IS
Adore eray name. Christians have been
thoroughly aroused by these successive attacks
to more earnest contemplation of the glory
Of their Divine Redeenier. 1t will result in
awakening anew the old inquiry of the Greeks
who came to Philip saying Sir, we would
see Jesus. Ministers of the Gospel and many
of their people viii study the great theme
again and again. There is reason to believe
that already the opposition of this vain phi
losophy" has resulted in strengthening the
faith of believers. Aud shall we not witness
yet grander result in the holder and more
earnest preaching of Christ as the power of
God and the wisdom of God unto salvation?"
Among the many publications brought out
by this contest We have seen none which we
value so much as volume published few
months ago, in Philadelphia, by Liprineott,
under the appropriate tide Ecee Deus
Homo, Behold the Goldman" We opened
this book not without some misgivings that it
was one of those worthless catch penny traps
of which the bOOk-market is so full We rath-
err eODjeetured that 1t was an effort on the part
of some shrewd calculator of the times, to ride
out to a sea of wide circulation and large prof
its upon the tide Of notoriety gained by Eece
Homo. But we have found it little volume
Of real and lasting merit.
The author says in his preface, ''The basis
on which this book rests, is that Jesus Christ
was the Goldman; not the Homo merely. nor
the Deus merely, but in His one person the
Deus-Homo." The first two chapters are a
well written harmony of the gospels on the
parentage and birth of Jesus, and the prison
and baptism Of John. He then passes to the
mission and mediation Of the Goldman, and
with accommodating power and JUNCTION he states