, 1877-08-13
RELIGIOUS.
A Remarkable Book from
an English Clergy
man.
" Through Mature to Christ
A Denial of the Miracles.
Sermons Yesterday by the Rev. DR..
Hunter and Ma. Whittle.
THROUGH NATURE
CHRISTI.

clergyman, hus lately written book entitled |
- Through Nature to Christ; or, tho Ascent OF |
Worship Through Illusion to the Truth which |
Is reviewed bv tho Lon,1ou Spectator IN the fol-
loving language:
The purport ot this hook, partly expressed IN
The title, Is fully stated IN tho introduction Dr.
who reject the fallh of Christ because this faith
demands belief In the supernatural, a,1 there
fore Incredible, mar BE- won over to the trntf lv
presenting the wUrthp OF ClIrlst 40 that tnrf
or incredible. lie observes that eur
Saviour worked By the laws that uovurn hunat-
tty. and nwru,tght signs, torEavc, converted,
,a h,nssa to ILL., disciples :a n'5sr
car'at'ee with tho same lnrs by which cot'ls,,on
meu pcrfurm corresponding aSss.n 10 ,nler-
takes 10 show that Il llas been tlosl's plau q,
govern the world aud to t1tstr',et li,s peope ~
truth Is Impaired hy tho atl Of metaphors; TINT
wt,nt Is necessary for tho faith uf one aEc Is not
required 1T another. and thatsainc Chsists true
I'M, and not on material grounds, It Is "4u!to
possible to reject tho miraculous a. essentials.
tor,.hstoFie, mil yet to retain tue worship of
ChriAt.'' 0n this potnt Dr. Aohatt writes. at
tho outset Of his argument, with the utmost
p]auncss:
While ] havc no doubt. he tays. q nr mia,
h,.e Esass aoahs = = .he or
r. ~ ~ IT, s~t,. @ ~ ~ - thn ....firu ~ thc
Now Teatemcnt.., Not thatt sleay the Go.si1'l'!y
dcnce ainaiy aceeptcil A. soflclsnt sppcars tn Ia
quite tnau'cent fespceal,y tn tho faco ~ another
1ous clement In tic New Tcstamcnt'. nor do Hco
any present rrobabIltty Of tupplsmrnitn3 II ny
I5esh eSencs. ~ s n Inc ohSr nan -, n5s
ctes. Of tho New Testun,cnt; and the lle:
e ;he Arocryp1i 1'spst. an ns "ec 81 a''', a.
miracuorls narratives, tho faith III Chtit. might
never hayu been preserved for u. tru1tgh tho fali
or ttr Empire and tho midIc.nEcs. Some Of tho
miracles. thcrcioru. 1 should rcc1ghtzo ~ being
Historically accnrate, but sui'ctnasttral only IN
eeaee. a nos ~ nn ,Sat r. s,,t,cs, mats
qs,;ve nts, c.,ntnnnu ANNA .nr,,mni trri and
en.1c' til Mnt hssiorica.Y scc,,ratc. As,oMt somc
t!ttalis uf the iucarnnljpr and thr Resurrection
suspend nv Judgment not knowing whether they
n'c cle:a'y q well g. spiritually ts.,s. anti acs!n.
tptrttnalS true.
Tlie passage Wo hafo qllotaa - from tnc intro
duetio'l 10 we volume, tnit is scarcely ncsGs.
snry tp ny TINT what " ABBOTT terms inc
u feteiffu 70 again anu asAl1i. ic unea not
doubt that Jesus hau power lar peSohu ota;'
nary cxpcrieHre III curing diseases, but ile hcsl'
ate tes whr rS. Ike tn te fee, Of te nltltn".
walking upon ttle hea' anu calling tne neaa 10
lisc. tnttst' We should sh'ae1nct 10 etncr i1ssa-
e!es or inventions, & as rgafas 49, a. aeFet; ss;,a
truths, To attempt TO explain tho nlca,s
by ~h!cFt Mlfac'e WEoasnt
IL to subveft our holion q tne mtaenaonH' sl'a'.
which 70 something 1he1pueA1le W tuo of4ssafy
1aws 0f nature. ". Ahl,ott lals i'itv u! Srror m
Of this character when he asells on ti's lilisal;
fy OF understanding how jesus rotsd l1afu Icti
the 4Nu VIZ tin a,u0 VI, 2 icw loayee a'Hl
ilsllcs thc lttefal theory u 20 10 areGnaeu,
~ writes. y u ~ thc hl4nest acsreo u!slaeH'.
to ocnneelyc Mt what stage ~ tho t1arrntlya tta ~
ttshea a'iu luaSes "efe 1nt.it1piteu,-Hnctnef III
tls nai,us or 9!f Lot VI IN ~ ~, h",,u, ,t y. le
usss1plcs of ~ ~ tamas .,s,, M tno ,,' .,.,,,'nr t
Agal'', It u t.ar'l to sec whether .he hummer o. o.
tsiles fsihall,eu tne halae, .o pcs an us u.
zach being enormously shagh'AeI, or wlethe!
t!e snSs 5stnSa " ~ d "5n .,,,,r. s,zu; gar f
lresa !hatan 1,sn1s uuau @'tsa ~ =
cattng' were snduchly br1nRht MY ealsteaee
ierslaps the hiost s'gAi1eahL Iosi!o" VI ~
volume IS 10 oe !onnu ~ Lug al'penA; IN WHEEL
TUG cntleaVo5 to ina hoss19lo oariE!h OF t'ie
cos aH y. sa e1cdI 1,nt " II m mo% wr,tI"n ~
~. ahbot1, Ior a!'s,so ~hn rGleyt tno WHOLE ~ y.
tiIs uospc halfatise ueSanse ties suneeye iaat y
HEY nae raM ois,,, 'S ,.,d ~, ~.
imey sceet t"o .a,', t,ot Il H. m.s.i III 10 ~ rS,r,t
leet u 10 SNOW tteil .aat J. - s;t ~ ssIGet
the alifaeies atia atlt 10 letAta ohos HILL ~ tne
so"e1'y ol mo 'sn11s iia9fa1asa " lno NoM
1sstahent aa ~ W. ,s''na,, MaUahm' "tsa,@n ,.an
tan!e u euse' ,s Ill., tnu ~ nss .r, ~ ~ ,sni
histories, lo tne aeu.saons ; o. etlts'sMt @ mas
1aft y u @h1tn aot mFttcous aat., t1o Aa!l.h
III tlis quotation ars tas auliIors, % w'lo thus thus
e'npl!aAlsea ts eeale1 N the la,snhnlty vi tfTe.
inE the New lestalhG,t lsntii a.! TRACES u t!'e
Supernatural, anu stlii fnalhia.hE tilo honesty
VI the "Nto htnF5 US WEI u ~ ttstptvad ~
curacy. w venture 10 say that thoes u,llirult
tusk Ilas not beeh Atts'liptet' ny aaly tieuioE'a
writer u our a.e, atla tslat etef! Air' MatttiuW
Arl'"lTs imasinatayn cnaeavor 10 sabst'tatt
forp personal ueiIy On mnim'rs1,hanl, IT,, tcnuea.t,
ID Scarcely seseret tax Hpon tae hip!o ssalela
eTcIll!t$. lae oFI!ua1y Ieatel " thu nosps!s
Aud III int aets " I'M hpnsttes - h"nie thas
tllu miraculous element p 80 WGltea, ~ y wcsc,
with tl,c history u GAfst an'i NJ alsS!plGs. no
9n'y VIII ny 1aets teIosac.1' wv WtA Ilae ~
lcrenrcs uet1lecd from theh. LINZ tao feeoto o.
the lnrariG seeins, III ssnse, as natural III tla
's"tory: INC nne EXPLAINS stho othe1; Aahe'
clear ,fhat would ptheFwlho t,c ul1,iltutikmiie ~
uill rfves Elee 10 many q our oaviots ih9st ass
! ntticaut sayings. i.iaahahhte from tha nnspe
story every trars oi ttc sillSfiatfa!, ah.! Hha
leit VIII havt lost 1ts conesaoi anu seTy 'hue1
~ its ineanahs. Remove y !1oal LUZ 4eta
OF tho Apostles, anu tho vihlttS ln'Wer EXIT
elscd by tlu u!scipiss, Which III snort tiii'
turhed tfiH wosd ups1an dowii; becomes !!!lru
70 cxpsa! ANU ~ W. sSa4t ~ tH!uu9h W.
fa,s!lnp Epistles, oaF pespleA,ty ~ nke1y 70 W
efeaso rather t!lan " ulittsl'sn ilI ~ raal "
luaes III s'''nn u l!'s Est'es 70 testain Malrav's
n