New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS
PROFESSOR II. B. SMITHS DIsCOURsES AND
ESSAYS
FAITH AND PHILOSOPHY. Discourses a1d Essay
I1trnJurtnry Notice by GEORGE /. PRENIiss, u. ID.

The General +i+lc Of this volume APPLY indicates
tbo nosition and character Of the distinguished
scholar and theologian of whose learning, phioso-
pbical culture and earnest religious faith II presents
an admirable though incomplete, memorial. No
one could meet the late DR.. Smith, even on the
most casual occasions of social intercourse, ana MOI
be impressed with the gravity and depth OF ms
character, the lareeness of bis intellectual
horizon. his profound knowledge in the most
important departments of research and the
sweetness and gracious charity of his temper
more intimate acquaintance would reveal VEN
of refined and delicate humor, blended with an en-
thusiastic devotion 10 letters and faculty OF db-
strrse discussion which il perhaps not often com
bncd with the highest degree Of literary culture.
II is hard 10 say whether bis mental tastes inclined
more strongly to the cardinal themes Of docimnai
theology. or TO the vital questions Of speculative
philosophy In his view, there was no quarrel be-
tween the two great subjects Of thought, no con
troycrsy to be settled, no discrepancies TO be
Icconclled: they presented only different as
poets of the same universal truth; they formed
essential elements of one consistent and harmonious
whole they had nothing to fear from each oiher
but on the contrary the strength of both was en-
HANGED by their mutual development in intelligent
relations; he was equally at home in each depart
ment Of study; believing that the surest basis of
philosophy and that the uohlcst achievement Of
philosophy was the establishment and illustration
of a true religion. Hence his authority was equally
unQueStOned IN eXpOundug the theological sys-
TEN of John Calvin, or in analyzng the subtle alb
stractlous of Kant and Of Hege. The position of DT
Smith in regard TO the tendencies of modern Specu-
lation, with the grounds OF his own re-
hgious faith, are succinctly stated by his bog
rapher: ale never doubted that in due time they
would be overcome by the victorious power of re-
vealed truth. His divinity and his philosophy both
cen red in Christ his theories OF man. OF history
and of tie world centred also in Christ for him all
the dearest interests of humanity, and those eter
nal verities winch once ravished the soul of Plato
and have rayshed the souls Of the greatest saints
and sagcs ever since had their source and centre
in Christ and so he was sure that in Christ as tie
creative, UNFOLDING, and redemptve Logos the
human mind will find at length the Sabbath and
port of all its labors ard presentations" The Ian
guage Of DR.. Smith himself on this point
is equally explicit. Faith and philosophy"
he afir1ns, care not inherently opposed, but
inherently at one and this should be our
pervadng sentiment, influencing our theology,
our philosophy, our preaching, our everyday
discussions. This is position OF prime necessity
now more than ever" - faith which we do not
believe in the very depths of hearts to he ration
philosophy is a faith which no thinking man can
nationally hold; and if he holds 1t irrationaly he
cannot long maintain its sway. If Christian
man does not really hold that his system of faith
has firmer basis, nObler end, more pnssant en-
ergy that il solves a more vital problem, and Is
adapted to mans nature in fuller sense than any
other system that il is the highest reason as well as
the only redemption and tine highest reason because
the only redemption, he virtually confesses that
greater than Christ is here We rob faith
of one of its strongest peisuasions If we do
not claim that it is perfectly RATIONAL
In connection with this statement, the following
piquant suggestion of d.. Smith deserves attention:
"The way of uniting sceptIcal positions on these
questions is NOT by saying that they are rcpugnant
to faith but by showing that they are opposed TO
sound reason: Is not by saying that they are Ger
man and transcendental, but by being very bold.
and yet more wise, and claiming that they are not
only German, but radically uasouud not only trans
cendental but essentially unphilosopnical. And if
one cannot conscIentously say this, he had better
say nothing at all about it." DE- Smith had pursued
his theological studies, TO large extent, i'll Gcrna-
ny. and was never disconnected by the cry OF bug
bear which was sometimes called forth by
the names of her eminent meu IN that de-
partment. His moral courage III this respect
was displayed III his powerful AndoVer DISCOURSE,
was denounced even i'll the centre of liberal Chris
tanity Us a Spnozist and an atheist WITH singular
boldness in that reverend orthodox presence of the
flower of New Eng land theology, he exclaimed i
may not refrain from Offering my humble tIlbute to
the memory of that man, much misunderstood, who
led the German Christianity, i'll its returning course,
to our Lord-tO Frederic Schleiermacher, noble
and venerable name! His it was to infuse into crit
ical and cold ratiOnallsm. the fcrvent and
almost mystic love to Christ which has
ever burned in the hearts of the Moravan
brotherhood; his 1t was TO make Chllst
and ms redemption tine centre of one Of the most
skilfully developed systems of theology which the
CHRISTIAN Church has known; his it was to draw
broad tho line between philosophy and Christian
theology bis it was to draw such true profound,
and continuous influence TO many critical, speculat
ing and believing minds, that ever since that i'm
pulse and in consequence of IT, they have been com
ing nearer and nearer to the full substance of orho-
dox Christianity" Among the contents OF this vol
nine the paper on "Sir William Hamton's
Theory of knowledge" will command attention
by its acuteness and depth, and the more recent
articles on "Renan" and Strauss by the
vigor and kecnncss of argument with which
the author rcpels the assaults Of those writers on
the prevailing faith of the Christian community.
Dr. Prentiss ntimates that there abundant
materials for another volume of selections aud II is
earnestly to be hoped that in due time they may see
the light.
rHE LAW AND PRACTICE IN BANKRUPTCY. BY
ALEXANDRA BLUALNSnEi- SyO ~. 100 Ward d ielou
This is a treatise on the title " Bankruptcy"
OF the Revised Statutes Of the United States. and The
amendments since the revision In the arrangement Of
the contents under each section Of the statute are
gronrei the decisions Calculating or applying IT, and
reference is made the important English adudcations
relating similar provisions Of the English Bankruptcy
Act In citing authorities the author has e orally been