The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-12
Literary Notes.

cCRtSl Macaulay calls Dunydh lhe hOSV Pr
lar religious writer in the English language
and Mr. Froude says that for two centuries MS
writings have affected the spiritual opinions oil
the Anglo-Saxon race more powerfully than any
hook except the Bible His influence there
fore, being wholly religious, and the circum-
stances of his external life having no interest
beyond what is bound up with his marvellous
spiritual experiences, as a matter oil course the
biography of such man could only be properly
and appreciatively written by one who had
svmnatbv with his remarkable inner life. This
Mr.. Froude assuredly has not. He admires the
inspired tinker :" he offers genuine homage
to his peculiar genius: he lauds his supreme
honesty and truthfulness of character he does
full and ample Justice to his wonderful powers
of spiritual dissection he delights in the ex
quiste pictures furnished by his Incompatible
allegory But as an unbeliever or at least as
one who stands quite without the circle of those
who are able to verify the deep revelations of
the great Dreamer, by their own actual con-
seriousness, Mr.. Froude cannot understand the
vital meaning that glows along every line of
The Pilgrims Progress. For those who lack
this spiritual discernment, the allegory must be
read much in the way children read it-simply
for the delightsomeness of its story. We have
known persons who had no religious sentiment,
for whom this book held untold fascination
They read it as they read The Romance Of the
Rose, or The Fairie Queen, with the allegory
all left out and found it delicious Mr. Froude
is too well-instructed man to miss the hidden
reading altogether but certainly the varied and
subtle religious experiences and fervors of the
multitudnous characters whom Christian en-
counters on his journey to the Heavenly City,
must seem strange iargon to man of Mr..
Froude's creed. He speaks of prayer to a Being
who knows better what is good for than we
do ourselves, as somewhat of an " impertinence"
in the eye of reason. He is Mortified at the
Puritan doctrine of a personal devil, and infinite
punishment for finite sin" belief (Which he
says or the affectaton of it, which continues to
be professed but without realization of its ire
mendous meaning" Accounting for their in
fuence upon Bunyan's mind, he goes on farther
to add" Election, conversion, day of grace.
coming to Christ, have been paved and fingered
by unctuous hands for now two hundred wears
The bloom is gone from the flower The plum
age once shining with rays from heaven, is soiled
and bedraggled." Bunyan believed these things
he says: they were vital realities-what Che re-
peats again and AGAIN. they no longer are to
men of our later, more progressive generation
The great apostle of the supernatural in religion
cannot be interpreted by such a mind as Mr..
Froude's. Apart from this, we have a most ad-
mirable picture of Bunyan and his times in this
Life. The biographer writes dispassionately I'M
der all circumstances, even when he condemns
him for not saving himself from Bedford gaol
by promising not to preach to large assemblies,
o. to have notice of his services given out so as
to attract attention He could not understand
his refusal as any other than piece of Puritan
obstinacy, any than the Roman Pro-
consuls under Docletian could understand the
obstinacy of the primitive Christians who would
not save their lives by silent pressure of the
image of the Emperor to their lips. The princi
pie of the action was motive power beyond
their conception.
Mr.. Froude is very graphic in his present &C
tions, and his comprehension of the special
formative impress of the times upon Bunyan. is
excellently given. So also are the resumes of
Bunyans various works-besides Pilgrims Pro-
gress. He devotes large space to the history of
Mr.. BadmGn as an extraordinary truthful char
acterizatiOn. Nor is he disposed to consign his
rhymes to the limbo of doggerel He SAYS thew
will stand Goethe's test-put them into prose,
and the true substance remains His skillfuluse
o. language he thinks unsurpassed in his poetry
well as his prose. His Uerita5leness is as per-
feet as DeFoes in Robinson CT,,soe and Sponsors
knights in the Fairie Queen are mere shadows to
the stalwart actors in Bunyans books The
summing up of Bunyan's character in the last
chapter is--faultless and who is not glad to see
the Life close with that keen thrust at Matthew
Arnold who has called the great Dreamer, "TRe
Ptiyistine Of genius ="
We had occasion week or two since to call
the attention of readers to the remarkable story
Of Sister Dora's life among the English colliers
The name Of Frances Ridley Havergal is more
familiar to them as a writer in another direction.
Like Miss Pattison, she was the daughter of an
English rector-reared in the very lap of refine
ment and culture like her, she turned from all
the allurements her rare gifts and accomplish
ments Of person. mind and circumstance threw
about her, and gave herself absolutely up to the
teaching and enlightenment Of the masses
through her great musical powers, her poetic
ability, and her uncommon skill in organizing
Bands, as they call them in England. for all
sorts Of Christian work From John O'Groat's
house to Lands End, the hymns and hymn
times Of Frances Ridley Haveroo1 a o s,,,,, ;-.l