Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-12-15

ACQUAINTANCE WITH GoD,-E. A. WYMAN, PHI. D., an
introduction by JAMES UPHAM, ID. D.-Ciark W.
Bryant 4 Co., Springfield, Mass.
Lot us say at the outset that in paper typographl-
cal appearance and binding the work credit to the
house which published it. The author, DR.. wyman,
is comparatively young, has had considerable
perence in teaching, north and south and west has
served years pastor, and hence by personal
contact with mon, especially those who would be
garded Of the better classes he led to the
weak points of the average Christian character, tho
vulnerable places Of the faith of the larger proportion
Of Christians Not that these good people heter
odOx, but they failed TO the inseparabe connection
between living faith and practical godliness; they
believed and but did not to und erstand that
out Of that faith If 1t genuine and vital must
spring new life, hid with Christ in God Paul's ut
terance earnest and vehement it was, grew out Of
his fifth in Christ, supplemented by profound knowl-
edge Of the peril ruin and needs Of human nature as
illustrated by his own experience. 1t is for the pur
pose of correcting these msapprehension and s mu-
aton to higher practical type Of character that this
work has been written. 1t is divided into chap
ers, Demand Of the Soul for God Acquaintance with
God, Necessity Of the New Birth, New Nature in
Christ, Salvation How Can Faith Change Character,
and Peace If any come to the hook for exhaustive
disc usson of these topics they will be disappointed
II any expect every phase Of truth will be presented
they will also 70 away unsatisfed. The author says
what to him seems necessary to make clear his point
and passes on; there is indeed seeming reckessness
at times in leaving so much unsad which might be
spoken, but is the recklessness Of courage of man
who knows his ground and afford to trust himself
aud his work. The first chapter the demands of the
soul for divine truth and guidance is resh suggestive
with the points admirably stated. Indeed
counts think II the best, not because it Is more
able, convincing, but because 1t deals with things
which have special need Of full discussion at this time
Ex-president WoOlsey accounts for the extreme ma
teriasm Of tho day the hypothesis that the public
| lind, like pendulum oscllates from age to age 20
| ing from extreme to another. In age public
thought gives its bost energies to doctrnal theol ogy
leaving out of sight tho practical noeds Of life in the
other extreme II is secular science, vergng
times n gross materiaism. Hence the aptness the
Opportuneness of this book While in some portion;
think the author has sailed whose depths
he has not sounded caught at truths which he hai
not rasped and in section Of tho second chapter
missed tho mark, there is freshness, happy appo
sitoness laconic brevity, argethitting droctness
which highly gratifying While 1t docs not claim u
deal herculean blows false philosophy like DR.
Mannings Truths and HalETruths, in its ultimate
analyses go to tho very roots of things like Presi
dent llulberts baccalaureate 1t Is nevertheless val
uable work which i'll make people think whcl
should startlo our false conceptions and awake to
new life.