New-York tribune., 1876-08-11
LIVING FA!Tu Hy GEORGE G 1iIEJAN l2mO ~
gS2 Lockwood Brooks, & co.

2S2 Lockwood. Brooks, & co.
The contents of this vOlume comprise
series OF "a her desultory essays originally furnished 70
a re,ieos Journal ~ this city and treating mostly il IN
n.thetic aud subjective point of view OF several OF TIE
prupincnt questions when the themes OF vital
interest to the Christian world. They are marked by
cordial sympathy with tie varions shades OF opinion
manifested by sincere nGurcrs after truth and though
free from any pedartic attachment to modes Of fa1
or doguae of tradition, pcrvadcd by a profound
religious spirt Mr. Merriam attaches nu exclusive I'M
porance 10 the study Theology. He huis tf1tt every
where aud In all things Theology, he nainains' Las
drawn its materials from too narrow field 1t should
expand over tho whole domain o: Tie universe, and
yeyerent!y consult all tie manifestations Of God.
The Bible never claims 10 be the exclusive
. source OF knowledge. 10 seuds ns 10 the Out
ward wora nAd the events OF Providence, as well aa TO
fhe written Word. Tie course OF buinan history the
.ocisl ard moral nature OF man aLolnd with sigHs GUd
symbols o. the divine presence Hence theology must
TAX a wide range. She must reuouncc all Tcens.ons OF
,oyec.gny oyer the other sciences and listen 10 them all
for their raport Of God Her attitude toward legitimate
science should be receptive, recognizing natural law rs
divine law Theology, in word. should be the noblcst
and mos. comprehensive result oi thought embracing
the mobiles; fruits OF ali other studies Eatura science,
IN the ounor OF the author, mover be hostile 10
Chrtstauirv or any Of lie essential doctrines. Even
Daryin I'm dOcs noe necessarily contradict the Bible
Tho same objections that brought against bis theory
were urged a.nst the frat who opposed Tie belief IL
wiiehcraft interpret ;hc Bible 10y facts gained
from outward IL this u will not be found
10 conflict with modern discoveries. man may be
DarTln.an says 1Jr. Merriam. and ~ atheist at
the sarae time, but he can just as wen be
Darwiaian, a;i atheist Nor is there anything IN
Darwlds.n shake b" Ni;h in Immortality. It's con
cepticn does not t.c: yOud the lui,s Of this NE,
either ia Ocisi The dOctribcef nnort'-
Jy rested the Gcoyeres OF natural science,
but finds It's confirmation IL other sourcCc SIR. hicu-
ANS views, L Will De perceived, OF liberal oast.
But he cannot jusuy % called uGdeI a szepJic.
He cher1shes firm and positive belief Christianity as
q divine revelation. III the Christ OF the New Tesla.
rneut be afirrns moral and spiritual truth perfectly
blend His life presents an answer 20 every question.
Ebe Christian revelation il contained In tie character qi
fhr,s, The profound doubts which have sprung from
The intellectual lilo of ,e present age here ind thcr
lution BIZ Nc. Ylam's method is certainly hTgmenary,
without aiming at tn completeness and proportion OF an
exact System But his pages abornd IN pregnant sug-
essos which II not essentially orlgina', are trtsh ID
fnm aud novel in application. He mus: be read not ior
exhaustive exposons, but for instructive and synla
tetc hrts His remarks are fragrant with Wisdom ad
cannot I 10 leave sweet aud wholesome inbnencc