The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-01-19

THANscENDENrALsM is a formidable word, whose
very enunciation requires a certain amount OF
GOODNESS aud prcmeditation, to prevent STAN.
mering. When the Specification Of the term-if II
really has any thing more than a dlalectical
sounds further taken into account, II requires
positive courage 10 take up a book which Is pre-
scented to as under this high sounding title. Such,
nevertheless, is the title OF a new work from the
pen Of Joseph Cook, now in the press and il APP
piled TO the doctrine Of his opponents. The writer
is the well known Boston lecturer Of that name,
and he is the author Of a work which has attracted
much attention, entitled Biology" The con-
tents Of his new book include a portion Of the
matter Of bis lectures at Boston. The object Of
the lecturer is to combat modern skepticisn, Of
the " New England or Boston type" as he espec-
tally qualities and defines il. Any effort 10 put
down the d" ~skeptios' must meet with sympathy
from The believers. II is sad to think that in the
very heart Of dear old New England, almost within
sight Of the " rock' whereupon the Pilgrim
Fathers Grst built up the protestant church OF
Christ On the Virgin soil Of North America, there
are 10 be- found in the unquestionably religious
capital Of Holy Massachusetts -" there she standslt
eide Daniel wcbstcr-a set OF blind and beniRht-
ed theorists. aud speculative philosophers, who
uDgrateiully turn upon the mother that gave
them birth, aud assail The sublime truths OF tho
Christian religion with the sOphistical ratiocina-
tons Of blatant dialccticians. The representa-
tives Of the Boston school Of skeptics. In Joseph
Cooks view are par excellence, Ralph Waldo En-
ersOn aud Theodore Parker. The aim OF bis ar
gumentation Is 10 demonstrate the danger Of
their skepiical theories to true religion. IL * very
questionable, however, whether there IL much 10
be gained by religious discussion with sopbists.
Minds, whose religious belief must be enforced
by a syllOgistic deduction, and wbose conviction
or lack OF conviction in the existence OF the Cod
head depends almost exclusively upon their own
appreciation Of the force Of the Shakesperean
" argal," in the metaphysical proof Of a "Deces-
sary,"-are very little susceptible Of the influence
OF religious eloquence whose Inspiration il derived
from the fundamental and reyerential belief In
Gods revealed Word. To attack the ~skeptics,
gives them AN importance In their own eyes and
those Of their deluded followers. which their In
sane theories Of themselves fail 10 secure for them.
Nevertheless. il may be useful and assuring for
the believers to listen TO arguments destined 10
expose the bubbles and sophstries OF the ~skeptics,
although there is but little hope that the vain
minds Of the latter. inflated with their own puny
coRceits, will ever be Influenced ia any very i'm
portaut way by logical authorizations In support
Of belief. which is spontaneous, and springs from
the soul touched by the grace OF God, like tho
waters gushing from the rock stricken by the rod
of Moses. As coon as Mr.. Cooks new book Isl t!es
from the Press, il we can meet with "a copy, we
may present our readers with some extracts
from It,