The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-22
Rev. DR.. Theodore L. Cuyler's Book called
Heart Life.

The American Tract Society usually publishes
excellent books-books which we can cordially re-
commend. 1t is not often that we ind In any OF
them illusions or remarks that are offensive. But
we have on our table book by the Rev. DR.. The
odore l.. Cuyler, called" Heart Life, which Is an
exception to the rule. On page 81, in chapter,
the heading of which is = Wanted-MOre Calebs,
the object OF whict :; hol4 up the faith and
faithtulness of Caleb. I'D TO present him as a
"type-man," the author uses the following Ian
guage: while the towards and rebels all perish
ed in the wilderness, stout, steady old CALEB lived
to own the beautiful acres the hills OF Hebron,
and in full view of the verdant vale OF Eschol.-
When the lo0g march and the bloody war were
over, he tasted Of the grapes OF vlctory-as our
Lincoln did for few brief hours before his mar
tyrdom'' The SANDER that Mr. Lincoln was kill
ed by the procurement of the Confederate govern
ment, or by southern men, has long since been
exploded; but here it is revived by way OF lnuen-
do; for it can only be said that Mr.. Lincoln was
martyr, in case he was killed on account OF his
principles 1t is well known, however, that his
murderer had private quarrel with Mr.. Lincoln,
and therefore assassinated him, probably with the
hope OF fleeing south, and escaping punishment
because the two sections were at war. The whole
sentence is offensive, and amounts almost to an
imprecation on the South for manifestly DR.. Guy
ler's language implies that if all the southern
rebels did not perish under the blightng curse
of God, as the rebel Jews did, they certainly de-
served to perish for their sin Of rebellion. 1t Is
absurd, moreover, or else blasphemous for it
manitesty places the case of the southern rebel
lion against the government Of the United States
on an equality in wcKedness before God with the
rebellion of the children of Israel against the COM
mand and authority OF God Himself.
Besides, in a religious book the use of the word
conveys not only false but an injurious idea
We have no wish to say an unklnd, much less an
untrue, word about MIR. Lincoln WecOndemn the
iniuuty Of his murder as much as Mr. Cuyler does
and we lamented his death sincerely at the time as
great calamity to the South. While that is true
We consider it wrong to hold up Mr.. Lincoln as
Christian model The martyrs whom the Bible
teaches Us TO revere such as Stephen and James,
Peter and Paul; such as the whole cloud of wit.
nesses named in the llth Of Hebrews. Now if
we teach that Lincoln was martyr we lead all
who trust US to believe him to be such an one as
those we have named. The Bible teaches us, more
over that the souls of the martyrs we're by John
seen before the throne of God. Now, DR.. Cuyler
10 a religious book, calls Mr. Lincoln martyr yet
he vas assaSslDated at the theatre; he was not a
professor Of religion at all; and by his intimate
friends aud companions was esteemed anything but
q religious man. 1t is not our province to judge
that belongs to God; and as good old DR.. Alexander
used to say, any hopes which friends may indulge,
based on the grace of Christ, can do no harm. Ii
would require us to believe he was a good man as
the martyrs, and that grace had saved him. But
in view of bis life as known TO the world holding
him up in religious books i > model for Christians
is uuchristian and 10 re car ,ulated to ismage the
Church and the cause of Christ than an open as
sault. For if we hold up Mr.. Lncons lite as
model Christian life, such life as those who seek
after glory honor aud Immortality ought to pur.
sue we may thereafter preach the Gospel of Christ
in vain. For we would find more who would fol.
low the type man, whom we set before them,
than who would embrace our gospel Instruction.
While the seats of the theatre would be crowded,
the pews of the church would be empty and the
chariot Of Israeli with the horsemen thereof, would
soon become obsolete, since patriotism, courage
and fidelity to public trusts would have taken the
place OF repentance faith and new obedience in the
new gospel thus introduced.
Our Northern brethren are all the time talking
to u.s. in the public journals, about the restoration
OF better feeling Well, we are cordially in favor
of it and are sincerely anxious to do nothing to re-
tard that happy cOnsummatiOn. Such remarks
and inuendoeS as the one which has occasoned this
article are not well calculated to produce the de-
sired result.-EaraeSt Worker.