New-York tribune., 1871-06-30

are so nrofoundy indebted the Scriptures. remark
able Illustration Of this fact is brought forward by Dr.
Phelps the person Of Theodore Parker The tribute
| which he pays to the hon-hearted reformer is
really touching in its earnestness and simplicity,
| showing the power OF worth Of character to
extort praise even from theological enemy.
He brought that solitary altar at which he ministered
a generous scholarship more mercural genins
versatile command OF thought, and more fasci-
mating STYLE taking him all in ALL more earnest char
acer and ascetc life than any other of our coun
ymen has arrayed against what he used 10 call the
| popular theology of New-Engand' For one, must
concede the vgor of his influence With all the evidences
which were apparent, that its had been reaeheu,
aud its decline had commenced during the last years OF
his lfe am compelled TO believe that no cahou man
among his opponents, who knows the classes OF mlnu
which have been addressed and the energy with when
they have been moved, in yonder Music Hail. VIII ieel'
that as friend of truth he afford to ignore that IN
nuence or TO uuderrae it, We have not yet seen the
end OF it. The has gone; but he represented ana
his name still represents, opinions which are power In
the conflict OF ideas among us Yet his power was not
the power his ndelity; II the power OF his un-
conscious obligations the very truth which he dis
carded His vital vitalzing ideasthOse which
electric the popular conscience and imperial over the
popular heart--were Christian ideas He owed them to
the Bible, which he disowned He derived them from
all the living lteratures which he mastered He could
not get away from those streams Of Christian thought
He absorbed them from the very atmosphere OF bib
lcal civilization "His idea Of the dignity Of
manhood OF the sngeness Of individual being, Of the
brotherhood OF the race of the intensity Of life under the
shadow of immortality, of the paternity and the love of
God of the light OF free inquiry of the despcableness OF
cant in every FORM and the ideas Of social and Of pOl
cal and of moral reform which grew out of these as
cOrollariessuch the elements of his strength For
the right TO WELD them he stood up free man. with
free tongue and for this honor him. yet for every
Of these ideas we hold him debtor to the old
scrptural theology OF New England"
One Of the ablest lectures in the volume, and written
with great rhetorical beauty is by the Rev W s. Tyler
who discOurses Joshua and the judges; or, The
Heroic Age of Israel" His exposition Of the miracle Of
the Sun standing still GibeOn at the command OF
Joshua will attract attention, Illustrating the in
huence of modern freethinking orthodox divines.
The language he explains it, to be interpreted in
accordance with the appearance of natural phenomena,
and with reference to the doctrines OF physical
science, and hence does not necessarily involve any
apparent violation Of natural laws The passage more
is expressly cited from book of poems, by one
Jasher II must therefore 9e read not prose- but as
poetry, a fragment from Hebrew bard that was
quoted by sacred historian by Of embeshment.
The meaning then may only that the day seemed
long those who engaged IN the conflict, and 80
complete the destruction of the Fenemy, that IL
seemed as if the sun and stood still in the heavens,
and the day prolonged far beyond its usual length till
the confederate most utterly CHtgushed MOI less
worthy Of the views set forth by Dr. Tyler in
regard the intricate distinction between the natural
and supernatural which holds prominent place in
standard systems Of theology The Jews as is focihy
represented in the lecture, taught to see God
everywhere in man. in nature, IN history, in govern
ment in religion. They were all sacred all divine
Genius was the g1ft of God Poetry his inspiration
art his wisdom handicrait his skill Herosm, personal
prOwess power command, the fruits of his boun
y. He taught mems hands 10 war; and their fingers 10
fight. There not such chasm between the natural
and supernatural in the view of the chosen people
there is in The supernatural more divine
than the natural Miracles only signs and wonders,
bat not suspension OF the laws Of Nature The super
natural was natural and the natural was supernatural
That is to say to the religious mind the
cepti0Is identical and hence, DR.. Tyler
might have added, though ne does not, all
dOcmas founded on their distinction are left
without basis. But he very pertinently inquiries;
After al is tins the true view of Nature and the
supernatural u is the Homeric view il is the socrauc
doctrine it is the doctrine Of Plutarch and Newton.
God in everything, according TO its nature and
object, giving everything its nature and making every
,ning uCcUrps ond.thir ,s the element OF trut,
mixed mp with much error, both n polytheism and in
pantheism. This IS not only the Christians creed II is
the child's instinct and womans intuition II is the
poets vision and the insight OF creative genius II is
the teaching not only Of inspired prophets but of those
natural who to have been born TO see things
as they are"
Among the other lectures comprised IN the volume,
that Of the Rev. Dr. Mead remarkable for the close
and acute reasoning which he pursues the scepti
cal objections against supernatural revelation al
though his work might perhaps be deemed supcriuOus
by those who, with Dr. Tyler resolve the apparent
autithess between the natural and Supernatural into
higher and comprehensive unity. The Rev. Dr.
Thompson dcvoes the fruits OF much learned research
ana study the illustration Of the personal history of
Moses; Professor G. p Fisher performs similar service
for the Apostle Paul and President Hopkins exhibits
his usual vigorous logic and nice discrimination in a dis
course on "TLe Exclusive Traits of Christianity" The
whole volume, in TACT. forms valuable addition 70 the
Christian literature Of the day II VIII give pleasure TO
the readers whose opinions it represents, as timely
succor their cause, while those who do not accept the
validity lis teachings Will recogniz' the ability and
earnestucss with which they arc a;yauaoG.