New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

cBRIsrIAN coToEPTIoS ASp spS p ss The AS
iSors' publishing Company
Tho nrosent volume may he considered ~
ro,ne sense as supplement 80 the previous "oih ", VIC
author entitled Evolution and ProGrcss' III "'"oH "
philosophical theme treated IN PHILOSOPHERS u'Olo
ana yyith philosophical spirit, ana win "u o'en'y
and force which challenged the interest oil intshsc'
,caacs in any future production of the same pen Ia
dis essay Mr. Gnl has changed hs point OF view ap
prosching his subject its theological aspeete an" u
cussnr ts religious hearings though without 'he
Of dognla,ic subtlcy seelarian pr'9nc'cc MS "."
work was supposed by some persons 10 DC ah "ioot'
for the theory OF evolution and other modern coefhes
t onrosontcd as hostile 20 the spirit OF Christianity
lint in the present volume he display loyal ooorS ''
cannot he msappreheaed, and joins in the defense o
supernatural revelation as opposed 10 recent hyPo
OF "A skepiical character. In pursuing thlS hho Vi
Thought Mr. Gill commences with the necessity o. hh
ideal in the formation of opinion IN all other nodes
of human action Every statesman, he auirts' mus
hrve more or less complete ideal OF the methohs OF
legislation and other functions Of governments livery
wise farmer must have some ideal towards WHEN hc
works N the management OF his land Every good house
laeuer must have ideal OF order ana Comfort IN Vc
arrangement Of the house practical iaealsm-an ideal
of hope and endeay orpresidcs over every department"
intelligent activity. The same law prevails IN 'he
snhere Of morals and religion Nowhere can be found
ander scope for au ideal activity But the ldca oi tne
finite necessarily suggests the ideal oil the ihe' oi
thought as rule always trgnsccnds our knoWedge anu
,xnorjence By simple process, come to al ieai VI
the infinite ~ the necessary consequence OF inc ue Vi
the finite Dir Gill then ventures on deiies'e 9rouho III
asserting that fhc truth Of theory may be tested by 'ae
excellence Of it, ideal conception OF the universe -
IN he received or rejected according as 1t corresponds
with the ideal OF the individual Assuming TINS prcie
The author proceeds to comparison Of the ideal OF inc
Bible win the highest ideal that has been attained WIKI
ont the aid OF revelation In the OF his argument
he discusses the views OF SIR william Hamilton NJ
onte Herbert Spencer and other modern philosophers
s onpoaed to the conception OF Christian tiis' BIS
reasoning is conducted with ingenuity ana presents
certain plausible attraeveness, blt IL 1t fs OF proo
ING conviction il must ascribSd TO its being so largely
founded Oh individual emotions rather than on uHNcfsai
nrinciples Every man who receives certain Weo!y
Of Tie universe is doubtless persuaded OF its nobcncSs rs
well ats truth unless his moral nature ls'oI 10"
and DEGRADED kind II he acknowledges mgh ldch IN
f,,e investigation 81 truth ne will accept 10 theory
which does not correspond with tic ideal II Is ~ VAN
In tel him that his theory false because 1t suoSes
an ln,perfect IDEAL he will protest both against inc
theory and the ideal which you place in opposition 10 ms
own MI Gils book accordingly, Will have more enec'
with those who already sympathze with his fhth lhah
With those vino have arrived at different CONCLUSIONS III
their own pursuit 81 ideal trGh and good. IL VIII De
tound IN possess great value for the edhcanoh VI
saints but il is not likely prove OF equal service IN
reclaiTing skepucs.