New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-08
THEOLOGICAL ESSAYS. BY WILLIAM T. r. SIIEDD. ID.
syo. PIP. $685. Scribner, Armstrong co.

THEOLOGICAL ESSAYS. BY WILLIAM T T. sHEDD. ID
SyO. PIP. 3o3. ScTibner, Armstrong q CO.
The substance of this volume, which has
been before the public in other forms tor more than
twenty years. consists discussions Of several OF the
cardinal points in theology and the philosophy OF re-
ligion Among the contents is essay on Evolution,
which was first published the year 1856 under the
title OF The Philosophy of History and Is now Issued
with many additions in reference especially TO the Gro
neous application of the doctrine by the Scepica phys
les of the present day Dr. shedd takes the ground that
all history, in its abstract and essential nature, is
process OF evolution which manifested no less in the
animal and vegetable kingdoms than in the course
of human affairs Unceasng notion from given
point, through several successive stadia, to
final terminus is an essential characteristic Of every
historic process Tie fact OF organic sequence is
found within the sphere of mind that appears IN The
Kingdom Of matter that it is less correct to speak
of the development OF nation than of the development
of tree The one. ii Is belongs to the sphere OF
freedom the other to that OF necessity hut they both
agree the fact that they continuous, consecutive
and evolving processes But the doctrine of evolution
the author arms has undergone deterioration and lost
scientific properties, by being contemplated exclusively
in its abstract form Some physicists now employ the
idea sense that contrary 10 the results OF scientific
analysis itself, well cOnradired by the whole
course OF Nature. Continuing their attention to the con
tinuy Of the process they lose sight Of It's OIigiu
aud side into the notion OF an eternal pGten
TALLY. Hence the absurd idea of evolution Of hetero
gcneOus germs out of homogeneous germs. Upon this
theory but process OF evolution from in
finite and eternal germ and hence all the varieties Of
being must be accounted for by evolution Mind must
evolve from matter life from the lfeess, the organic
from the Inorganic But according to DR.. Shedd the
definition of evolution by Herbert Spencer as the deve
opment OF the homogeneous into the heterogeneous"
is exactly wrOng An evolution, the historical ply scs
wholly excludes the heterogeneous 1t process that
IS entirely unmixed with foreign elements The
evolution OF a mustard seed, for example, is simply ard
only vegetable. Should anything mineral animal.
anything heterogeneous appear in the process the
luton would by this very fact be proved to
be spurious. The definition, moreover, begs the
question namely. whether the homogeneous ever docs
or can develop into the heterogeneous To begin with
defining evolution to be the very process Of what really
the opponent demands proof, is more artfu than
scientific" In Of the other essays DR.. Shedd
brings his remarkable powers OF reasoning and logical
expression the illustration of the doctrine OF original
Sin and aonement set forth the Cavinistic system
of theology The Genevan refOrmer .has probably no
ADLER devoted follower at the present day. than
the author Not that he takes his scheme of doctrine
from authority; DIR. shedd bold and original
thinker Calvin himself; but he accepts his
conclusions founded in the absolute principles OF
speculative philosophy. He makes no prctensions to
popular acceptance he addresses audience that
been formed TO great degree, by his own teachings
and thus escapes the evils of a miscellaneous
:" but in the circle of his readers he will find many
who regsrd the study OF his writings admira-
bic exercise for the vigor Of their statements the
OF their logic and the athletic grasp OF their
illusions, although their convictions rep
resented in his system OF theology