The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-17
SOME NEW BoOKs.


study This book bears evidence Of wldo ro-
search. and lie written in rcverent spirit. In
fairness and elevation Of tone. and in the cath
ole scope OF its inquiry 1t will remind the
reader Of " Eccc Homo" The author has M
tiontly cndcavorod to make himself acquainted
with the fruits OF scholarship in Germany Hol-
land. and England; but while some OF his mate
rails are drawn from Strauss. R6nan. Colenso.
and Weiss. he Is careful to set forth the very DIFF
feront views OF orthodox thoologians. We know
OF no treatise in which information 80 large and
various. upon theme Of superlativo impor-
lance IL made accessible to those who have moi
Their the leisure nor the training for prolonged
Investigation. And even for such as have &C.
cess to more elaborate works. this little volume
will have value. considered in the light Of n lu-
cid and compendious review.
II Is seemingly not tho authors purpose to
overthrow but rather 10 preserve tho
Bible. In his judgment there is but
one basis upon which our sacred book
can stand rs long MS time endures and
stand safe from all assaults. aud that Is tho
basis OF fact-tho basis Of what IL really is-the
basis OF the shining and transcendent eIcelien-
cics which It lndsputably possesses From tho
writer's point OF view there Is no truer concep-
ton OF the Bible than a. a gold mine-incstima-
bly, rich-yet mine still. where quartz and
earth. In a certain measure are mixed with the
royal metal. And 1t il Mr.. Sunderlnnd's aim.
rs 1t is the object Of Ewald. OF Kucnsn, OF Dean
Stanley and other sincere truth seekers and truth
tollers. TO persuade rational men and women
neither to resort to the folly OF asse,tinR that
the particles Of quartz and earth nre gold. nor
yet the opposite and equal folly OF declaring
there is no gold at all because they can detect
the occasional admixture Of less precious ele-
msnts.
In most interesting chapter on the origin
and growth Of the sacred writings OF the
world. tho author points out some OF tho
eimilarities In these various records. And
first as regards the moro superficial and ritual
istic doctrines propounded. we are reminded
that sacrihcial ideas and notions Of atonement
wore shared by the Jewish and Christian
religions with the cults OF the heather world.
II Mr.. Moody. says our author. would but
so to the Zoroastrian. the Buddhist ana the
Brahmanic books he could find texts enough
10 weave twenty sermons on 50 The Blood" So.
too. the rite OF baptism is affirmed by German
scholars TO have existed long before the time OF
Christ. and in many parts OF the world besides
In Palestine. A substantial analogue to the
Sacrament. or Eucharist, or Lords Supper IL
said TO have been discovered by the student In
other religions. Circumcision. according 10
was practised in Egypt long before the sons OF
Jacob came TO soiourn in Goshen. The ideas OF
immaculate conception and OF virgin mothers.
and o. virgin born gods are apparently common
10 many religions and religious books besides
the Jewish and Christian. Thus the Greek god
Arcs was tabled TO have been born By an i'm
macuate conception OF Hero. and the myth
zeal origin Of Athcne. sprung from the virile
essence without commerce with the feminine
element. Is sufficiently well known. Prof
Whitney tells us that the birth OF Zoroaster is
nscrbed to nm immaculate conception by ray
from the Divine Reason. Both Buddha and
Krishna are reported to have been i'm
maculately conceived. tho vedic scriptures
hverring that tho mother OF the latter was
oyershadowed by the god Brahma. Even the
Nessianic idea is said 70 be reproduced in other
sacred books as well as in our own. According to
Samuel Johnson the Chinese sacred records
contain prophecies OF a Chinese Messiah who
was 20 come. The Brahmanic scriptures.
Max Muller assures us. likewise forstell a
Hindoo Messiah. Miracles. 1t would SEEM
are common TO most religions. and even
the very same kinds Of miracles. such as
raising the dead to life. healing the blind and
lame voices speaking out Of heaven TO persons
favored OF God. the Holy Spirit coming in the
form OF dove. &c. Almost all OF the seven
draws his materials from Ewald and Kuenen
have similar ecclesiastical institutions. such
as monks. priests. pilgrims. and mission
aries the same ritual comprising pray
eTs. liiurGies. and sacrinces-the same mplo-
nents including frankincense votive offerings.
relies. amuets. candles. aud holy wator-and.
finally. the same symbols. namely. the ALI
Seeing Eye. the halo Of rays. the serpent and
the cross. We are told by the Portuguese
chroniclers that when the first Christian mis-
sionaries went among the Buddhists. they were
nstounded TO find a religion 80 much resembling
their own in its rites and ceremonies and many
OF is ideas. and that the perpexed Padres could
only account for tho likeness by supposlng
that the devil had forostalled God in that far
corner Of the world by setting upa counterfeit
rs near like Christianity as possible. And how
can the Protestant reader fail TO share their
wonder when he learns from Oriental scho-
ars that Buddha was born Of a virgin.
that his name means the Word. the
Logos, but that he is known more tenderly MS
the Saviour OF Man. that he embarrassed his
teachers when child by His understanding
and answers. that he was tempted in tho wilder
ness when older. &c. &c. In the mythology OF
the Nile land. within tho sphere OF whose teach
ing the sojourners ia Goshen dwelt Egyptolo-
Rists have revealed a still more startling Daral-
lel Win tuo history OF lne christian mssslhn.
Osiris. it appears In tho esOteric faith. OK
pounded 10 certain disciples h. tho priests is
the Son OF God he is called the reyealer OF life
and light, he first teaches one chosen race then
goes with his apostles TO teach the Gontles.
conquerinR the world by peace he Is slain by
evil powers; after death he descends into hell.
then rises again. and presides Mt the last udg-
ment Of mankint; and lastly 1t is inculcated
that those who call upon his name shall De
saved.
But 1t Is not simply in regard 10 external and
less important things that there is a great deal
in common between the different religions OF
the world. Before marking. however. some Of
the more striking points Of coincidence. it may
be well 20 call to mind what are commonly
accounted the sacred books Of mankind. Be-
sides the Jewish and Christian Scriptures there
are the Vedas Of the Brahmans. the TriDitaka
Of the Buddhsls. and the Hend -Avcstn Of the
Persians and Parsees; also tho Chinese sacred
writings Of Conmcius. the Chinese sacred
book OF Laou-Tszs. aud tho MohNmmcdRn
Koran. All Of these. except the last are an