New-York tribune., 1870-04-30

position of their blending on Palestnlan ground is
too violent to be entertained any but the strongest
evidence But we are dealing too seriously with Nj.
Jacolliots book. Ii Is not worth the time anu
Thought that we have bestowed on it. We have
given to it thus much consideration not because 1t
deserves it, but because the volume is OF kind likely
to do mischief among fearful and people
who mistake assurance for knowledge, 1t Is equaHy
the concern of believers and Of unbeevers to have
perfectly honest treatment of religious questions
and such treatment ia not obtained at the hands OF
NJ. Jacolliot
MUsIC-HALL SERMONS BY WILLIAM II. II. MURRAY,
Pastor of Parkst. Church. Boston. l2nlO. PIP 20
Fields, Osgood q Co.
The course Of sermons which Mr.. Murray finding
his church too small for his audience, delivered last
Winter in the Boston Music-Iall, compared well in
popularty with his famous book the AGirondacls.
Three or four thousand people used TO come together
to hear them. They were, even for men who in gen.
eral cared little for religious things topics hardly
less interesting than the Bonaparte Murder or the
Peabody Funeral. In book form though they lose
of course all the advantage of the preachers per
sonal magnetism, they retain great deal OF their
charm The rapid and animated style, the boldneSs
of expression the independence OF thought, the resh
and racy language which we should naturally look
for in sermon by Mr.. Murray, are all here. We are
not wracked by stress of doctrine tortured by per-
plexties of philosophy, terrified by menaces of
wrath The tenderness Of God, the divine friend
ship the nearness of heaven and hope for the fallen
arc the preachers favorite themes, "The horror of
hell he declares can furnish wel-regulated
mnd WIN an impulse toward heaven. Ana n
preacher who appeals to fear, to sheer coward
ice in his audience, is unfit to proclaim
tho Gospel of Christ" And in another
sermon be exclaims: Let no one dare to preach
under the name Of religion, set of dry, Julceless
dogmas to this generation, when men long to hear
the glad news of human progress and human re-
demption. Every chord of mynature harnonizes
with this popular note. II is not theology, the
science of God so much as biology, the science Of
living that would impress upon you tonight. l
would not if could, put any of you here into the
strait jackets of the schools must be Of stuntcd
stock indeed if he cannot grow so as to burst the
lacinCs Of any creed man ever devised" 1T is not
my purpose he elsewhere says, to construct an ar
cnent or make aborcd analysis. 1t is not logical
demonstration so much IS suggestion that | have in
view this evening. sermon is not boat which an
audience can get into and sail oil securely on pleas
ant. intellectual voyage Of an hour" Comfortable
and consoling suggestions are tho staple Of his
preaching suggestions fitted admirably 10 the tenn
per and circumstances of the day, and governed by
nh instructive perception of the prevailing types Of
Boston character, and the natural channels of Bos
ton thought The eleventh discourse of the series is
an essay on "The Power of Cities in which
theory is maintained that city life is hereafter to be
more and more the type Of American society and
cities more and more to give laws and tone to
the whole country. Recognizing the corruption Of
all our large towns, Mr.. Murray considers in bis
twelfth and last discourse, what we can do to re-
move it. Whatever we may think of the probable
efficacy of the system Of missionary visitation which
he proposes there is unquestionably good deal of
truth in his criticism upon the agencies of regenera-
tion in which people now pnt their trust. The
churches, the common Schools the various relief
societies, fall far short of what is expected of
them and in the analysis of the of their fail
ure Mr. Murray shows a great deal Of acuteness
If he applies himself rather to practical sugges-
tons than theological doctrines he is careful to ex
press his dissent from the common saying that it
makes no difference what man believes, if only his
actions right. He makes no distinct profession
of faith, but his denomnatonGl attitude is indicated
in the following passage from sermon ON The
Union of Moral Forccs:"
Your city has been the theater Of great religious
quake which shook the doctrinal structure Of many
churches to the ground You heard the crash and the
shouting which followed. And now another great move
ment IL beginning to make itself felt Men who have
been trying to build house without AMI without
brick beginning search for the old foundations
peradventuTe they find In modified FORM some basis
for their faith Ia stand doubt whether uet We're
dissatisfied with the old faith than thev arr
with the new more adrt and uneasy within them
selves to what To believe. Seventy years eXper-
ment have demonstrated that negatOn is not religion
that skeptclsn s no adequate equivalent for faith aud
that who can do nothing but tear away and null
down aud destroy, tit guides Ia those who believe
In right aud wrong ard the Immortality OF the soul
And we who attempt to discuss these matters whom
you have chosen your watchnen, bound To tell
you how he heavens look and which way the wind
blows. " ~ ~
Well the thought which would suggest ia this: II ia
the law That all reVos from established thought
should go frst to extremes and then 10 gradually cor
fect themselves Men do not at the logical re-
suits revolution. They do that anarchy s re
moved put single step from Independence When this
OF the prime movers In that Theological sade never
dreamed 10 whAt madness their followers wouId ,,o
Channing never dreamed Of "a Frothiu cham I snck
IRON thc evahgeca standpoint OF course and say that
there are thousands OF Untarias called In this CITY
to-day -ie; and women Of holy lives no love tho Uie
OF their denomination They see plainly az w,.-nn
one with eyes can hepseeing that the DRIFT and tend
Of their teaching Is toward inndenty and the hJ
est skepticsm. They alarmed and like inorthaut
that have discovered pirate in the fleet he Gin to
draw of. They are not prepared 10 throw ovcrboa the
Scriptures, TO call Christ nothing than John 1onea
dig pit and east their ongchersed hopes of heavcn
Of their position, Is 10 get back to safer ground
| verify believe that practical, Ls NOT a
nominal, union Will ere long bo "" betwe
this class OF Unitarisns aud the goat body
OF evangelical believers The date OF that happy event
NAV b" retarded by unforeseen circumstances by pride