New-York tribune., 1877-11-13

THE HARMONY or TIE REFORMED GQN on Gr ~ N
GEIiCAL THEOLOGY. by fmur sciAIh l-"o
Tp. 20 Dodd. Mead, & Co.
In preparing this essay, which was delivered
before the recent Presbyterian Council at Edinburgh the
suttor starts With the assumption that tho religions
revival Of the nineteenth century is return 10
Tho faith OF the Reforoaton laid down In the bo'
and the symhclica books. A. the same tme the V'S
cut movement ia on advance ON the ancicr' '''l''S
Tn, essential faith Is the same. but thc theology is dh
ert botr i'm the method OF statement and the arrange
nent Of ouics Every age in fact, must produce i's
ov,u theology adapted 10 its peculiar condition ana
wants Divine truth, revealed iu tie Sculptures Is
unchangeahly the same hut must De ever rer'oueeo'
newly appropriated aud represented n al Hs phases
Tho hu1rsl conceptions OF truth steadily advancing
with tie Church is.n. though passing th'ouSn
,nauv Instructions and reactions. Evcry true progress
g. founded dccper study of te divine Woio'
which VIII forever remain the ineXhenstec fountain oi
revealed truth. EycIy advance lu the exposition "i
the ulc have It's effect uuon systematic theology
aud ,nc statements oi tc erCods Dr. ncnaH proceeds
10 point out tho inur important differences between tne
modern and tie Old theology oi the Reformed ChufcNes
I'm brief but singula4y interesting detail The position
OF ihe K formed Confessions the authority oil scrip
turc as the only iuflunlc rule OF iaita, ne 'u"lN'
stands uualtcrcd after the experience 81 three centuries
This authority, OF course implies divine luspliHu'L'
hut on ,c mode OF inspaiiOn there has been signh
cant change Of opinion The mechanical theory o inc
seventeenth century, which reduced the sacred Wi'eS
o. passive pcnmon - the Holy Ghost has been "o'u
donod the organic theory which does in Ju'lee !"
the historical and human character ot me bh,' an"
regards The authors ss the face oreus Of he sput ot
God representing the unity of eternH truth IN variety
OF Gifts and modes thou -ht and style. Ihis view
of inspiration was anticipated by Luther anu
Calvin. who, with pro ouud reverence Tor
the divine substance Of the Bible. had very liberal
view % human form II is not Inconsistent tn the
Reformed Confessions, which simply assert te fact OF
the divine uspratiUu without defining the mode. The
THEOLOGY a. the Reformation moreover, was directed
against the unscrptIral traditions and suueIsi"hs OF
the Roman Catholic Church; modern eNaHselod! unoolS
~ is antratiouajl-tic and directed against the corc
si0ns aud ncgaf0ns Of uubcf The FORMER had % deal
with an excess OF superaeurasm the latter with the
denial Of the supernatural and miraculous Hence, GER
tain doctrines which most prominent IN thc tine OF
the Reformation. must give precedence to others WIch
were then disputed by the contendns parties The
old theology intensely pOleHc, 'euoLnat oua. ana
exclusive II grew OF the gigantic struggle with the
papacy and the heat OF Controv rsy did great MUS
ticc TO the mcd.a,al Church Ihe war with Rome was
followed by wars bitterness between LG'hcranSm
and Cavinisiu Csvinis.u fnd Arminanism Episcopaey
and Presbytery Presbyery and lUdependency But mo
oVpcr Cf three hundred years with Its lessons u
wisdom and charity has widcned the the'ios'cai
HORIZON. The articles Of agreem mt are magnhed above
the articles Of DISAGREEMENT The problem Of Christian
union and brotherhood which is Of the great prob
the nineteenth century is in fair way for sou-
tiUn. Nor tie GGEmdtc beliefs OF the ora turoiuS$
remained without change IN the Progress Of modern
ideas high Calyiujsin has been diluted and softened
tlit is more IN accordance with the humanity % the
age The doctri predesnation is longer urged
IN its ancient severity Tho damnaton OF infants is
rarely heard " M the modern pulpit, and the civil mas
isratc is not appealed the guardian OF the Church
frOm heTesy and schsm. The battles OF CIUStendom
must hereafter be the ground ~ equality before
the aw and without the caina weapons which are for
bidden by the spirit Of New Testament Dr. scnah's
exposition OF the doctrines OF the Reformed Church, 70
winch great part of the volume is devoted presents
valuable study in the history Of opinions, and viii be
welcomed by the te GENT reader Tor ts oAactnc,s its
lucdty and broad eomprchcusyeness OF its spnt.
CONTEMPORARY ART IN EUROPE. BY S. @. W. BIN
JAIN svo pl. l65. Harper Br"jh"r-
The elegant exterior and admirable ilustrQ-
tion5 Of this volume, Well a. the attractive character
OF Us citerpress, make it an oppoTtno Offering for the
holiday IL consists OF series Of sketches o. the
prescn condition OF European art with notices OF the
life and works OF the most promnn arsts, and elabo-
rate critical comments the best recent productions in
the galleries OF the Ol World. Dir. Benjamin writes
with knowledge of the subject, faithful study Of the
prncl les OF AIT, and sound and cultivated taste Ills
frequent progress Of art ia this country
will command the attention Of cOnnOtsseurS, and are
worthy of respectful persa England, at tie present
moment, interest I'm art is described as being the
fashion The profession Of the artist not only held in
the highest esteem receives the most substantial
wards More than four thousand men and women IN the
United Kingdom Gre devoted thc pursuit. and least
forty pupils found the various schools Of
art. prices obtained by successful artists.
Mlais receives $4,000 for a single portrait He has
now IN hand n commission for which he is
10 be paid $4,000 aud has erected house
at the cost OF 100000. The influence Of Rus'n,
according 20 tho author the lie is described
as "a Of idea not ready 10 adapt himself to cir
eumstances and has OF late become wild and cxraya
CANT that his opiDons have lost their weight lie must
give place 10 critics ~ more practical cast with
regard to the cultivation Of art n this country, NJ Ben
jamin maintains that the condition % ID reliance
Tue notion tha' our native ideas
and native methods never equal those OF Europe
should be fIOwued down ,s0nabe, until proved
by longer experience IL the Illustrations OF the vol
ume which unusual value and interest selection
has been made the celebrated pictures,
udiRg portraits OF Iiais Thomas Facd, BOugAtOu.
Elizabeth Thompson Tame, Messonier, DOre, Troyon,
Kaulbach Max, and other Distinguished popular artists.