New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


CONTEMPORARY aoRTRAITs BY b pE sswso
HoINDEX I2mo. PIP AGO A d. f. Randolph d Co
Tie contents of this volume by one of the
most eminent French Protestant divlnes OF the present
ay comprise collection OF articles that have been pub
lshed from time to time in different French periodicals.
They are mostly of personal character, relating TO emil
nent representatives Of the Roman Catholic Church 10
the celebrated Protestant preachers Adolphe Monod
and yinei yeny and Robertson an essay on Timers
as statesman and historian and A parallel between
Strauss aud Votare religious icOnoelasts The paper
on yey aud Robertson. which is one Of the most IN
teresng vel Of the most profound In the vol
ume is remarkable for the clearDess OF insight Will
which enters into the spiritual conflicts OF those earn
and resolute thinkers and the business OF dcrmlna
ton with which pOrtrays their characters The author
regards great French English preachers as two
OF the remarkable representatives of the present
state OF the Christian Church allied by similarity OF tenn
permanent and sympathy of thought though each pos
sessing original and strongly developed Individuality
Both were taken fromthe world IN the prime OF their
manhood and in the fun activity OF their career after
passing through crisis their religious life in which
they only gained victory through long and plnfui
struggle. Both started from the most rigid orthodoxy
but they found its limits too narrow for their peace
OF mind The questions OF the day called forth their de
won't attention they had been taught TO confound the
ology with religion rather system OF dOgmas WIN
the essence OF Christianity and they thought they had
mulas The anguish OF mind which they shared in COM
mon at this crisis experience cvinccs Their love
OF truth To them it mere theory winch was at
stake. 1t was the very soul Of their existence,
without which life would have parted with its interest
aud worth. They did not treat the doubt which
mad sprung up demon TO be exercised nor dld they
attempt TO their hearts by the surrender
OF reason to authority. They did not, however, allow
the doubt to extend the region of ethics They he'd
fast the convictions of right and WRONG to which con
soence appeals Hence they escaped the moral scept'
cism which the heart and brain with equal sier
iity Both yerny and Robertson came out OF the con
Met with purer and stronger faith As a preacher
yerny is said tb have never to the highest rank OF
mlpit oraory although qualities In that direction
were of rare eminence. His language was brilliant and
animated though too free FROM convention
alism aud marked by strong and manly simplicity HIS
dscOurses combined instruction and appeal In admir-
able proportions. His preaching was the mirror OF his
Thought A solid framework of argument was always ut
the foundation, but overths spread ne aud bril-
liant fabric of cOOrs. The life OF Robertson rs
described by dc PesseDse presents the same features
OF mental and religious conflict as that OF Very but in-
teDsfed by the superior force and fcrvOr OF his nature
Robertson possessed of those intense and ardent
sous which seem TO bring to "a focus all the scattered
rays in the surrounding atmosphere. He is acknowl-
edged of the greatest minds of the age, and as the
happy exponent of Its best aspirations. Robertson was
not content with keeping firm hold OH the axOms OF
bed hin and like verny, went to pursue Ills studies if
Germany lie did not seek 70 sti1e doubt bT practical
exercise of fah he not afraid OF his Thoughts
and was resolved to carry inquiry to its utmost extent
His residence in Heidelberg did HIM good service. He
was confirmed his Christian convictions, II not IN
his docriA preposscssons. In the person of Christ he
found aud the realization of the ideal OF his
conscience HIS religious character thus acquired the
strength which belongs only who has
thoroughly tested his belief. His acquaintance with
Germany brought him into contact with liberal
school, which treated religious questions with
ont the bias of party, and aimed above all things
TO introduce moral element into religious
speculation. This was also the very thing for which
Robertson was seeking the eternal substance OF Christi
aniiy under enlarged FORM He reOced In the rocog
milton OF higher truth than was presented In the for
mulares which he had been compelled to give up Su
lie would commit himself 10 any school He was not
content like many others, to he the mere translator of
Germany He represent the aspirations of modern
theology in his and in harmony with the needs
of his own country. NJ. de PressensG has profound APP
preclation of the religious conflict which, with VerDy
and Robertson, be experienced at this day. even by
those who hold fast their religious faith The severity OF
the struggle he remarks has in degree aDated since
the time Of their death. Both In England and France,
there is deep agitation OF religious questions which is
shown by the reaction ia favor of Catholicism and by
the OF the lofty Christian Stocism OF which
"Ecce Homo" presents noble and brilliant an ex-
preston In view Of this state of things, NJ de
Pressense insists that it essential to forward the
development of theology in the fullest exercise OF faith
and freedom We may not sumber calmly when the prob
lens OF the age presented for solution. But he
cheshes fear in regard TO the result He believes in
church the future which shall gather into itself the
best elements OF all existing churches which in worship
shall preserve true alteration without the forms Of
idoatry and in doctrine maintain moral ygor and ac-
curate teaching without dry and meagre dogmatism.
Upon this lofty height he predicts will meet the pill
grms, who have climbed the hill by many paths but
other heights will still arise in the distance other sum
iis will still have to be ascended until the traveller
reaches the Of God which is above the tops OF
the mountains"