New-York tribune., 1878-04-05

tho wants of the human SOUL He expressly
declares that "the intellectual fiction of divided
personaityn is not essential to the truth which u-
deres the idea of the Trinity and in this statement
lo takes the same ground with the Rev. MI Miller
| whose wings have been cut by the Presbytery Tor
his opposition to orthodoxy. He articuately calls
upon his Unitarian brethren not to accept the doc-
trine Of the Trinity but to do their Unitarian "oiA
in the underlying truth which is the condition of its
vitality. "There is nothing" he affrms, "in the
logical form of the Trinity which Its believers care
for. There are thousands of them who cannot re-
peat its terms, and scarcely any two even, OF IFS
scholars who define it IN the same way" The I'M
portant point. he continues, is TO show that the
cravings of the soul for God fulfilled in the One
Person OF the Father who is present on earfh' ana
ready to dwell with the humbles soul as truly as IN
the heavens. The Unitarian faith. he adds, can
afford as much of Deity and the Divine nature, ana
bring men as truly into communion with the Eter-
nal Spirit as that of the Trinity. What is vital III
that system belongs as much to the Unitarian sys-
teln and il is the fault Of its advocates II 1t does not
produce the same effects Such concession as this
we submit, does little TO promote the purpose oi the
author. AS argument in favor Of orthodoxy, IL Is
Ike an elephant the battlefield. He has called
upon his prophet to curse for him the hbcraS;s ana
"lo! he has blessed them altogether"
by the author in regard TO the doctrine of endless
punishment relate for the most part TO the assur
anee and certainty of future retributiOn, rather
than 10 the eternity of he'll torrents Eat belief
future retributon is not distinguishing point OF
orthodoxy; il is held IN common with hereticS OF
various degrees and shades and however strcuu-
ously may be maintained if the eternity OF future
punishment be denied, as a general rule, it would
prove an efecua bar TO the fellowship of an oTtlo-
dox church. If it has recently been argued by GER
tain orthodox authorities that belief in endless
punishment should not be made condition Of
church membership, it by no means follows that the
doctrine is not cardinal element of the orthodox
creed, but only that concessions have been made to
liberaliss, denying its necessity as test
of communion. But unless liberalists are
shown TO have conceded the truth OF
the doctrine no point has been gained by the au
thor. Dr. Claiming quoted as opposed to the Inn
itation of punishment TO the present life. DR.. I. II.
Hedge is brought forward as denying the supposi-
ton OF immediate and universal happiness hereafter.
DR.. Wm. G. Eliot is said TO cOncede that the great
law of lives is the law of retrbutiOn. DIR. E ).
Gannett and DR.. Orville Dewey to the same effect.
Other writers referred to, both Christian and
infidel, admitting that the doctrine of universal
restoration is not taught in the Bible. Still other
liberal theolOgiaps quoted admitting that the
literal Interpretation of the language of Scripture in
regard to future punishment favors the idea of end
less duration but the author points out no cOnccs
sions in which they assert the truth Of the doc
trine ON the contrary, he admits that they contend
for the final recovery of ALL as " n just hypothesis
founded philosophical reasoning in regard to the
benevolence of God"
Without entering into further details, sufficient.
perhaps, has been said to show that the execution of
hp a accOmOliSI
the author. He has expended store of ammunl-
tion, but has not brought down the game. Nor is
this greatly to be regretted. I he argument from
concession is one Oh which little reliance can be
placed. No sound thinker can attach much iu-
portance TO its conclusions. The final appeal must
be to Scripture and reason and the authority of in
dvdual opinion Is of little weight in the decision Of
controversy. Still we must not consider the labor
of the author as entirely thrown away. His
work affords gratifying proof that the diff
ferences of opinion among intelligent thinkers
are not so formidable as is often supposed.
The human mind eagerly sczes the broad principles
of truth which are cognate to its own constitution,
and attains unity of essential faith amid casual
dversltics Of speculation. This impression will re-
main with many readers after the perusal OF the
present volume, and in that respect, its influence
will be salutary, spite of the logical shortcomings
which mark its eXccution.-Wc Were surprised 20 find
the grand old psalm of DR.. Watts, " III praise my
Maker with my breath" ascribed TO John Wesley.a