New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,,c,,vp,s prcIyNrYGs OF CHRISTIANITY.

Of treatise on classical antiquity L. combined VII"
thai Of discourse on Christian theology. The ias'
nafel subject forms the central point 81 the Wofk;
INT thc questions which II presents are treated h
LARGE and ueucrous spirit; eyincng q warmer MGR
est i'm scholarly discussion than i'm dogmalc SQteu
latiou. Professor Fisher announces hs purpose ol
ecns,dcriua. first the condition OF the ancient 10
man world at the time Of the establishment OF
Christianity: second ;lc original documents on the
New Testament from which our knowledge of the
bof-iuui,l, OF tie Christian religion is derived and
third some Of the most important topics connected
with the life of Jesus and tae Apostolic age" in the
execution Of his plan. the author exhibits his c1T-
actcrs.Ic sounduc Of Judgment, variety Of learning
and aptnCss Of illustration wnle he iilnly adhei's
70 the traditions OF Che ancient faith, be IS familiar
with the results of tac most recent crtca. TeseaI'h
and without avoiding the discussion oi conuoycrted
raiuts he treats the views most widely opposite to
his own with uniform justice and courtesy.
The CHAPTERS devoted 70 the Roman world are
among the most interesting ia the volume both 20
the classical student and the general reader. Pro-
fessor Fisher has caught the true spirit Of antiquity
and rerroducesi IN its relation 10 Chrstianthought
in a fresh and impressive form. There is an affinity
he maintains. between the uoblest products OF an
cent phi osopby and poetry, and the authentic teach
incs Of Divine Revelation. This was fully recog-
nized by the most profound thinkers among the
Fathers Of the Church. Justin Martyr attTms that
Socrates was enlightened by the Word Of God, and
anticipated in part the teachings Of Christ. Angus
tine declares that Christianity is old as the crea-
ton, and he drew inspiration from the writings Of
Plato and Cicero. Ii has been a common mistake
the author remarks. 10 look upon Christianity too
exclusively AS a docirinal system Revelation has
been regarded as q communication let down from the
skies in writing as the Sibyliue books were said TO
have been conveyed TO 1arquin. Or, men have con-
sidercd Christianity as a body OF doctrine like the
philosophical system Of Plato, creation OF the
human intellect, dealing with tie problems OF hu-
man life and destiny.
This error find, no tolerance AT tho bands Of the
author Revelation, he contends, is historical at the
core The supernatural element does not exclude
the natural Miracle is not magic. The ground
work Of revelation is in laws institutions proyi-
DENTAL guidance over and above teaching. The
dOctrinal element is not thing independent purely
Theoretical disconnected from the realities of life
and history. The final cause OF revelation Is the
recovery of men TO true religion. Whatever knovl-
edge is communicated is tributary to this end.
Hence the grand aim of an revelation is not the pro-
ductiou Of book but the training OF people. Tho
Scriptures are the record Of this process OF training
Tie heather religions. according TO the author did
not spring ont Of mere scientific curiosity but
from the sense of the supernatural, the longing for
higher communion, which is najiYo 70 the souI.
These innate sentiments lie at the root OF religion,
even IN its cruder forms In the religion OF the
Greeks and Romans beneath its fauciful mythology,
there were concealed the clements of affinity with
the Christian revelation. II embodied tie sont-
Incnts of reverence. gratitude, dependence odor&-
ton, the spirit Of PRAYER and supphcaion 10 the
Divine Power. In the heather dev0t0ns. there was
seeking after God. The subjective elements which
belong 20 religion cOull not obtain their true de-
velopment until the object worthy Of them was
revealed in his Divine attributes. The tendency
toward monothcsn. which was due 10 the necess-
ties of moral and religions feeling is disccmcd from
the Homenc days. and increases in strength rs we
advance toward the Christian era.
The Jewish hope m regard to the coming Of the
Messiah is the subject Of an interesting chapter As
described by the author it included the establish
meut Of the Mcssia's kingdom in time Of general
distress and calamity. Nature herself was u bear
witness by miraculous terrible phenomena. 10 the
impending crisis. The sun and the moon were 10 be
lid in darkness. Swords would be seen brandishIng
i'm the sky. The Son Of Man was to be preceded ny
the reappearunce Of Elijah, the stem and solemn
prophet of the ancient covenant. TIE Messiah HIM
self would arise cnducd with special gifts and power
from God Theoppo>ing heather would be crushed
under his feet. Jerusalem would be restored to its
pristine glory. The scattered jews would be
brought back and new kingdom, embracing ali |
mankind would be erected. It was TO be an era Of
JOY and plenty Of holiness and peace. In this FORM
according to many. the kingdom was to continue !
forever Others supposed that IL was 70 be Of lin /
tied duration, Introductory to n renewal Of tho /
heavens and the earth, which the Messanic king /
dom was 20 usher in. At this point the general res
direction 10 occur. tho last Judgment. aud The /
eternal award Of happiness or misery.
The influence Of this hope on the conceptions Of /
the writers Of the carly Evangelical history which |
has been so fruitful subjec, Of discussion among |
leading European Biblical critics is passed oyer with /
little attention from the author. who evidently has
no faith III the construction which it has received
from writers OF the TUbingon school ard Others Of "a
similar stamp He dweliS more at length or the |
pcctatiouS Of the Apostles i'm regard TO the second !
coming of Christ as they declared in the nara
tves Of the New Testament Tie disciples during /
the lifetime Of their Master ne aifiTUs, shared in
the prevalent expectation of a Mcssianic kingdom /
OF visible power and majesty. They were so firmly /
welded 10 their conceptions of the kingdom that /
they could not entertain the belief that Christ was
20 suffer and die. His assurances ths topic fell
deaf ears. Hence after Dis death, it was natural
that they should uger with eager interest upon his
words relative 10 his second coming. Then, 4 not /
before. the glory of the Messiah would De fully dis |
PLAYED. This event thus became the object Of their
fondest autcipations. Their yearniEg for their abb
sent Master mingled with the conviction that there
was TO De a signal manifestation Of power ~ con- /
nection with the work OF the Messiah. Every hours
DELAY was postponement Of q wish that pinned for
fulflment. The day could not be distant when
they would rejoice once more n his visible presence
This hopf. mistaken as it was. was not extn
cuighol-t,v tho di-aDnOiptnlpnt OF n