The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-20
A New Book by Mr.. Bixby,

The Christian Register notices the issue
by D. Appleton q CO., OF Il work cnti-
| tied ''Similarities OF Physical and Relg-
ious Knowledge by Rev. James I. Blk
by, pastor OF the Unitarian church in this
| city. The Register says
10 the readers of the Register Mr.. Bixby is
already well and 1ayorably known through his
valuable contributions to our columns. 70
other readers this book will afford the pleasing
surprise Of Il discovery; here is a star of the
first magnitude gazing upon them for the first
time Ii is no eNaggeraton to say that this
author, in treating here Of subjects Of the high
est moment, which have engaged the attention
OF Martlneau, Tyndal, Huxley, Mansel, Car
pentcr, Mill, Spencer, and the rest, has pro-
duced a treatise which is worthy Of equal rank
with the best that has been written. He has
mountedup all at once with strong wings. The
wide range of topics considered may be illus
tratcd by reference to the writers just named,
and is indicated in the title of the book. Ply
seal knowledge and religious knowledge III
cltltC everything that is known, and through
the cXigencieS of discussion include also what
IS unknown, and even whatever may have
been authortatNely alleged to be unknowable.
Here is tremendous range. One might well
apprehend that the author had undertaken
more than he could carry; at any rate, would
be unable to give orderly arrangement to all
this matter within the compass Of one small
volume. But, after all, sources are small, of
the widest ramiiications, and our author is abe
to do well what he has undertaken, because he
is able to trace dscursive lines of thought to
their source, and then to hold them all in COM
prehenSiVc grasp. He deals with centres and
starting points and substance Of doctrine He
must be, therefore, very abstruse and unintel-
lisible: Not at all. lie is not more master
OF his subject than of the art of perspcacious
arrangement and presentation. He buckles
down to his work, and does not forget it under
entlcement of pyroechnic opportunity; he is
no cllcus-horse to aStOnish with wonderful An
ties; he Is 4 roadster, with pace as free and
easy as it is strong and effective. If he has not
the rich and discurSive imagination of Mr.. Mar
tlncau, his Work-be it said with all reverence
is the better for that lack. 1t is not 50 poeti-
cal as Marineau's writing, and much less so
than LongfeloW's, for example; but, as phil
osophical discussion, it is far more simple, di-
rect, clear and ineligible than if it We're deck
ed out by flowers OF rhetoric or painted in spots
with gorgeous colorng of fancy.
1t would be impossible, within the space of a
bO0i-notlce, to present Il more adequate de-
scription of the essential contents of the vol
ume than is given in the title itself. The gen
eral purpose of the author is to bring the two
poles of modern thought into harmonious re-
latlons with each other; to coordinate the as
plratlons of soul and the perceptions of intel
ect. He attempts this, not from the theological,
but from the rational, stand point. MY pur-
pose Is not, l wish it to be understood to
smooth over any real difficulties, to bridge any
natural hlatuses, or to accommodate or COM
promise any inherent antagOniSms. Such work
is always, believe, useless, if not mischev
0us.'
We commend this book, without reservation,
as one OF the most important contributions yet
made to the discussion arising from the rela- |
tons OF science and religion.
Messrs. Geo. Warehouse e. Co. of Portland
hay ri "a bo f,cfn MI n cta