New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE PRTMEvAL WORLD OF HEbhEw % Eiberts
by FEEpEEiC HENRI hND'' ' -
Brothers.
DR. Hedge is q divine of the Unitarian persuasion
eminent m his order for intellectual ugor cnlule'
Iarninc and the chastened eloquence OF DIS Englsh
STYLE His position in his sect and in the world Oh
Thought is peculiar. lie is too wise 10 be partisan"
and TOO earnest 10 be an Indifferent looker-on' Inc
tendency of his favorite studies, which have Deoh
bs,orical has been to make him believer in Instr
tntions and in that conservative. The intel
Iectua east of his mind his taste for philosophy ms
appreciation of ideas his passion for knowledge all
class him with the independent inQuirers the critics.
and even the calm skeptics of his generation On
another side still his imagination, trained by the
exercises of long professional life ana enriched Oy
an extensive acquaintance with the nobest htera-
tnres. puts him in sympathy with the poetic ana
often the mystical aspect Of institutions and beliefs
In different phases Of mind he appears as church.
man as philosopher, and as poet; IN the character
lstic productions of his genius he shows hmseH
combination of all three; his reverence for antiquity
his respect for ideas, and his homage to sentiment
blending WITH correcting, confirming, and softenng
each other.
So much knowledge of the writer is necessary to
iptorpret this little book which is good deal more
than some will expect from the title. and good
deal less than others will demand. IT is not de-
signed for antquarians for of science or for
critics or for believers of any single school of faith
Judging less from the Scripture passage that intro
dnces each chapter than from the general cast OF
meditation the general upward tendency OF the
thought and the moral glow of the dlctlon which Is
marked always by seriousness and often by SIN
rular eloQuence we should infer that the chapters
were prepared originally as public lectures to con-
crcgation. The perfect simplicity of the style seems
TO be intended to convey thoughts that the ear can
catch as they flow But this simplicity does not we
End. betoken shallowness. The pages are crowded
with knowledge and reflection which can be thus
simglv stated, because they have been 50 thoroughly
matured.
The twelve short but suggestive chapters cOmpos
ing the volume are entitled, The World Divine
Creation" Man in the Image of God" Man IN
Paradise The Brute Creation" Paradise Lost"
Cain or Property and Strife rs Agents in Ciyiliza
ton" Mine Hundred and SiXty-nine Years, The
Failure of Primeva Society," The Deluge,' " The
Great Dispersion Jehovah and Abraham,
Hebrew Idyl." The Heritage of the Inner Life
Each takes for its motto and starting point passage
from the Bible containing bit OF tradition. and
endeavors to draw out its original significance lhey
are all rich in incidental suggestion but the main
interest centers the authors view OF the Bible.
We viii give this in his own words
Much ingenuity has been expended in vain at
tempts to reconcile the Bible account of creation
with the commonly received conclusions of science.
As if the interests Of religion, and mans spiritual
webeing depended on the scientific accuracy of the
Book of Genesis: nay, on the literal Interpretation
of that Book No reasonable mind will demand OF
the seer and the realm of spirit exact erudion con-
eerning the things of material nature To question
revelation of spiritual trGth, because OF error IN mat
tiers entirely foreign from the purpose of such reYe-
latOn with which il may happen to be associated, Is
Ike rejecting pearl because of the roughneSs OF the
shell which contained it, or want of culture IN the
diver who fetched il from the deep. The truths OF
science hayo their date they develop themselves
progressively in the order of time and not TO be
anticipated by prophets and chosen men OF God. But
the Iuths0f religion, which truths of reason, are
Of no age: they are seen 10y men OF all time TO whom
the word of God comes and in whom the spirit of
God breathcs the revealing wisdom Again, in the
chapter on Jehovah and Abraham. their talking
together at eyenude in the patraTcIs tent. lie
remarks: There three ways OF dealing with
these Biblical porteIts The first is that Of uncondi-
tioual acceptance and literal interpretations the
second is unqualified rejection and scornful repuda-
tion: the third is frank hut revercntial criticism
The first was possible only on the ground of blind
submission 10 ecclesiastical authority. Ii was pos
sible only while the of reason in the lnterpreia-
ton of Scripture was forbidden or unknown. 1t Is
not possible at the present day to critical readers
who aim TO comprehend, and seek 10 ADJUST with
rational views and Christian truth what they read.
The second manner of handling such narratives is
very natural and very common at that stage Of crit
In icism or in that condition Of mind in which. while
" the pressure OF authority has ceased to operate and
blind yeneration is OutgrOwn the spirit of friendly
and rcverent inquiry has not succeeded to the vacant
place. But this Judgment is not philosophical nor Is
the state of mind IN which it orr CLIMATES conclusive
or plopitous TO right results. Many things in the
Bible are sufficiently absurd, in the light OF
the understanding alone without regard to time and
place but the book is TOO weighty and too exalted
independently of all ecclesiastical sanctions and its
use in the Offices of religion to be lippanty handled
in any of its parts. Ii the alternative historic
verify or willfu invention, infallible fact mean
ingcSs fasehood. the honest critic must needs reject
But between the two there IS a third more excellent
way-the way of reverent criticism"
With nothing artificial about his method Mr.
Hedge may be called eclectc-not who
picks out from different systems the detached bits
that suit him, and then joins them skillfully to-
gethcr. but as one who, committing himself unre.
servedly 10 neither system, endeayOrs by ndepend-
ent and cultivated insight, TO get at the deepest
truth contained in formulas, crecds and institutions
His faith is wholly in reason; he will prove all
things and hold fast only what Is good but his
cibes various in size and quality his tests Of
many kinds and his reason combines the action of
as many intellectual faculties as be can bring into
play. His faith is planted in a firm but gracious
Theism moral like .hat of Moses and loving
like that of Christ. The belief in a divine
origin education, guidance, and discipline of the
world runs through his pages and a conviction Of
the moral capabilities and the spiritual destination
Of man sustains the argument and ennobes the CON