The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-08-13


with his diamond pin and his cool insolence.
but shall do 1t no more. He is babe In arms
compared with his English brother"
A Sequel to Eece Homo"
In O volume entitled Natural Religion, the
Messrs. Roberts have published q series OF pa-
pers In which Prof. SEELEY undertakes to an
swer the questions How far does the prevalent
increduity extend 2 and What course ought to
be adopted IL its case were completely mado
good2 Here. as In his famous monograph.
Ecce Homo" the author starts from the fun
damental position that alike in politics and
religion there are truths outside the region Of
party debate and that these truths are more
important than the contendne parties would
easily be induced to believe. He seems to have
boon prompted TO the composition Of these es-
says by desire TO protest against the fatal
propensity to exaggarate differences. the taste
for discord which would crafty itself. even
when diseord Is ruinous. and the craving for ex-
element which would rather make life TRACE
dy than see 1t deprived Of all dramatic inter-
est. He argues that not theology as such, nor
religion as such. but both only 30 far as they
are founded on supernaturalism. are attacked
by modern philosophy. He admits that an age
Of progressive discovery cannot regard 4, sys-
tenn two thousand years old with the Undis-
eliminating reverence Of medievalism which
looked up to all things In antiquity as superior
to itself. He comedies that we must needs re-
gard tho Bible and the creeds as archaic in
form. But he contends on the other hand,
that we may easily regard them as true In
substance. or as presenting grand outlines or
foregleams Of truth. since indeed the modern
way Of thinking is especially historical and
appreciates the past all tho more as 1t does
justice to the future.
Prof Seeley would have the orthodox Chris
tian face once. for oil. the truth that the great
views Of the universe. upon which States and
forms OF civilization rest. are partial and pro-
visional. however persstently and loudly they
may assert themselves to be final. But he
would have the scientist realize as completely
on the other hand. that States really do rest
upon such wide views OF the universe. and not
upon nothing at all. so that the decay Of great
religion involves q revolution Of incalculable
magnitude. He insists that we are driven, not
by any sentimental weakness, but by the feel
Ing that society. that the Conference and vitality
Of civilization. have claims upon us as we'll rs
abstract truth. to tho conclusion that new
and old must not be allowed to meet and clash
like armed foes. but all reasonable means
should be tried to graft the new upon the DID,
1t is urged that at least in Englalt and Amer
lea such q process Of development is still pos
sible. since in both countries the old religion
retains its hold not only upon sentimentalists.
but upon o vast number Of calm and serious
minde.
Such q reform. according to Prof. Seeley
must rest upon the principle that as Chris
tianity was wider than Judaism. so the re-
ligion Of the present age must be wider than
Christianity; but at the same time. as Chris
tianity did not renounce Judaism. SO our
ligion must not renounce Christianity. 1t is
alleged here that by reviving the Hebrew doc
trine Of development the Christian priest may
recover great part OF his lost ground. For Of
the new knowledge. the new views Of the uni
verse. of man and OF the history OF man. which
have opened upon US. by far the larger part is
only additional to our established Christianity.
and by no means opposed to 1t. The monkish
asceticlsm and horror Of nature against which
art protests. the dread OF FREQ inquiry which
seems SO contemplate to science-those fea-
lures OF religion are not to DO found in the
original Christianity Indeed. Prof Seeey
would rather designate them rs the vices which
mark the failure OF Christianity to adapt itself
to new and trying conditions. He can see no
reason why Christianity should not now recog
nize views OF life which are really kindred to
its own. though they were beyond the Hebrew
culture of it's first preachers.
There is an obvious objection to the assiml-
lation OF science by Christianity. which is. OF
course. not overlooked by the author Of " Ecce
Homo" The difficulty which the modern
world feels In dealing with its ancient religion
is that this religion Is believed to be mistaken
in the most important points. It's fundamen-
tai statement. upon which ayowedly it's whole
system is built. is itself now maintained to be
AMIR For hut yvaa ly @
still essentially the Gospel but the announce
ment that Jesus was risen from tho dead
Now it is the prevalent opinion among those
who are most penetrated with the modern
spirit that Jesus did not rise from the dead.
What IL to be done In this dilemma by those
who would fain hold themselves at liberty TO
reject miracle and yet avoid the abyss which
they fear would be left on the disappearance OF
the ancient religion Of Chrlstendom2
Prof Seeley would solve this difficulty by OK
csing firmly and frankly the supernatural ele-
ment from Christianity. He insists that the
very failure OF Christianity is due to the UNI
natural stress 1t lays upon u future life. lie
alfirms that the vision of tho future life cher
ished by tho orthodox Christian is far too dis
tinct and mythologlcal-th by the side OF such
vision everything historical, all the destiny OF
States and nations. fades away. and men be-
como Quietists. II not monks. A religion arises
| which "is intensely personal, II not selfish
which does not like tho religion OF the Old
Testament, accompany history. interpret
every historical change, and in fact make time
| change. and development its subject matter
| but contompates fixed objects and forGcts tse
| to marble in contemplating them" In short
| Prof. Scoloy would adapt to the wants Of the
present aye the original Judaic religion. which
twill BIO remembered, was essentially pollu'
cal and social, and In which tho super.
natural element played subordinate part
The experimentation OF the early Hebrew faith
was chiefly exhibited in it's doctrine o
prophecy. and Prof. Secley thinks 1t would bt
practicable to revive prophecy in tho form OF
philosophy OF history But We hear it said tina
If We strip religion OF It's supernat uralsm II W,