New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-11
Mr.. TILTONS sPECULATIONS ON THE LIFE
OF CHRIST.

You will remember that Mr.. TiltOn wrote to
his wife letter, i'll which lie specialized upon certain
circumstances and possible conditions in the life OF
Christ Ny friend with severe denuncation pronounced
it to be o gross and repulsive saerege. Mr.. Tlton
INDUCED Wien OF thought and speculation upon the
question, what would have been the effect upon the
estimation OF the world upon the reception OF the char
acter and teachings and influence OF Christ, II he had
been married II lie had loved with worldly affection
and been the husband Of dozed wife and the parent
OF happy household And this is pronounced as bias
phemous. 1t is presented to you revelation OF the
indurlted and unregious sentiment Of Mr. TiltOn No
character EARTH historic parsonage has ever drawn
from the lips of the learned and the pous more specua
ton and more commentary than that OF Christ. The
revelations OF his customary and ordinary life are
not very full complete. There is room enough FOR
speculative thought There is room enough for philo-
sopcal conjecture. There il enough for the ndul
gence of commentary and for the derivation of various
and conflicting opinions In regard to his character and
his relation to the Trinity And 1t never has been
thought irregous or sacricgious indulge in those
reflections. It indicates not spirit OF scofing aud
unbeef when respectfully INDUCED, when suggesting
possible condition to the life OF Christ which might have
had an intimate and controlling effect upon our concep
tons OF his character and receptions Of his nterme
diary agency between the Father and ourselves have
gathered few teachings Mr. Beechcr upon this subject
as approving this sort Of speculative philosophy. Mr..
Beecher regards Christ as historical characer-0f
u
history independent OF his close and religious relations
10 every human heart which deserves to be studied and
commented upon 1t IL character in its relations. in its
revelations, which affords the widest scope for the
exercise OF the prOiounGes learning and the highest
genius and the deepest emotion and Mr. Beeclcr SO re-
CARDS It, He says:
There no other historic name that has shown and
showing such power. Chst's name IL. at one and the
same time not only the name OF historic parsonage
who had his wonderful pecuarities, but name, etc
hao L.. If & pfat
as he has been historically developed and phiosophcay
conceived" He says Of Him, lie represented historic
Judaism" "You may deal" he says, with Christ first
as II you were merely historic critic iou may SIT IN
Judgment upon Him. upon His life, His disposition, His
deeds His faith &c. You are not forbidden to go into
historic investigations OF It." And what does this
letter OF Theodore Tlton import "You may deal with
Christ saws Mr. Beecher as historical critic You
may sit In Judgment upon Hin, upon His life, His dispo
son His deeds His faith. You not forbidden 10 go
into historic investigations OF it," Well, an ordinary
mind-I don't think either Of you gentlemen-I am GER
tain IA TO myself-an ordinary mind would not have
entered into that line of comment investigation thought
Immersed in the Of the world In business and in
professional life, you would not think to philosophze
upon the possible condition of Christs having been
married man and Of family We accept Him as He
revealed in the Scriptures We are content with our
knowledge OF Him derived from the Scriptures YOu
who accepted Him your faith and your salvation
lation To the GOdhead or to man. You build
upon Him, lean upon Him, trust in Him, hold
TO Him "a the revealed Savior, as the Son OF
the Almighty Father, the sufferer upon Calvary
and as your Redeemcr. But We have men of philosophical
minds Of speculative learning, men who investigate
these suljects-not alone Theodore Tton, but Henry
Ward Beeeher and all the great mminares not only Of
the pulpit OF science. And what harm Is there In II
II we may be governed by the chngs and the author
ity OF Henry Ward Beecher 1t is commendabe. II ind
Gates depth of interest and range Of thought which
does not belong the common and ordinary understand
ing And that letter Of Mr.. Tlt0n expressed with the
finest decacy Of language with no reflection upon the
character his Lord suggesting merely the effect which
would produced upon the world and upon the
influence Of Christ upon the hearts OF men, he wros 1t
with ndeicacy Of speech with no rudeness OF phrase
with reflection upon the holiness the sancy OF the
character Of Christ.
Well, how does Mr. Beecher deal with Christi You and
T. gentlemen were taught early 70 lisp at our mothers
knee the Lords Prayer which, then and now appears TO
the solemn, comp and expressive i'll
vocation ever invented, TO our God Christ taught It;
Christ gave TO world the form OF prayer belong
ing TO fallen 81 lis 10 addressed to their Maker their
Protector and their Judge, and IL has been reverenced
and uttered by sincere aud pious lips and by devoted
hearts from the time thus dedicated 10 the use Of
man TO this hour And NO utters II In the 81
lence Of his chamber without feeling fresh AMI stern
impression Of the majesty VI God and Of our relations "