New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-05

TIIB KINGS HIGHWAY By the Rev. AUGUSTINE p HEwr.
l2sO pp 1872 Catholic Publication Society.
In the preface to this work DIR. Hewitt
makes frank exposure Of his wish TO exert iu1u.
ence the class OF Protestants among whom he was
born and brought up TIE design of his work is 10 pre-
sent tho Roman Catholic Church tho way OF saliva
ton revealed in the Bible, bur no addresses himself
especially not to higI-ehurch EpiscOpllianS, TO
those on the extreme left Of Protestaulisn. who
vereing toward Ruaism, hut to the adherents of the
stricter form OF what IL called the Evangelical faith
He has In view believers in the Scriptures as
the Word Of God, who cling TO their Chris
tan traditions OF faith and morals, and who
accept, less fully. the doctrines Of
the Calvnistic theology. Although the controversy
Of the Catholic Church at the present day ia with inf
deity rather than with the Odfash0ned PrOtestantsm
the author still deems it important to appeal to those
who retain part OF Christianity for the purpose Of
convincing them that tho doctrines of Rome emOOdy
the true and perfect religion OF the Bible. and the
lgon OF tho ancient fathers OF our faith These per-
sons he arms look with dread the progress Of inf
dellty and immortality. They cling to tho belief In God
n revelation in the divine mission OF the prophets,
in the Immortality OF the soul. They ought says Dr.
Hewitt, be completely and openly on the Roman Cath
Ollie side Tue enemies OF that church also their en-
emies But unbappy, like the moderates in the
French Revolution, they are accomplccs In O
rebellion against I'D and his Church, of whose fury
they are destined TO become themselves Its victims IL the
warfare s successful Bat there IL reason 10 DeeYe, as
Dr. Hewitt alleges that many Of them will be induced to
renounce the doctrines OF Calvin and Luther for those
OF the Pope and his priests. The Roman Catholic
Church is conspcuously brought before the minds
OF all men. II is rapidly extending In the regions
where Presbyterianism and Conzre gatiOnallsm have
long bed exclusive dominion. Hence, as the author
hopes it will not fail to command the attention OF sim
cere and earnest religious thinkers. He himself
brought mp In Cayinism. He studied the Caviuistie
theology, which he sincerely wished TO believe. But
the effect OF his studies to make him Roman Cath
Ollie He believes that he Is in position TO assist others
TO follow road which he knows well from hts
experience The personal relations OF the work, accord
ingly, give 1t freshness and point not always found
in discussions Of theology. Nor does tue extreme
ground taken by the author diminish the interest OF his
book His faith in the Pope is unconditional and abso
lutte. He regards mplic obedience 10 the authority Of
Rome the first duty Of the Christian. The church
through her hierarchy The head OF the hierarchy
is Pope, who succeeds TO the supremacy given TO
Peter by Christ Hence his word is the rule Of faith and
the law Of morals The transition from the doctrine Of
the Rcformers that every Christian Is "a king aud
priest God 10 this system of spiritual servty
immense, and is not likely to DO bridged to any
considerable extent even by the confident aud enthu
siasuc arguments of the present volume.