The sun., 1882-08-06

largely tought by MIN amid thunder ana
through destroying angels hornets. and
hailstones. DR.. Blauvelt disposes Of this
Scriptural history very easily. II not
satisfactorily. by saying that 1t is merely
ancient Orientalism or anthropomorphism.
AS to the ancient Hebrew temple wor-
ship. we are told that II was crude and
coarse. bloody and revolving, nt for an ordinary
slaughter house: yet we cannot say that the
author shows 1t to be worthy Of heaven by tell
ing Of its superiority to the abominable rites
OF other ancient religions or by saying that 1t
contained the germ OF that religious progress
whose fruits we enjoy to-day. Many OF the old
Jewish features. therefore. must be eliminated
from the Biblical religion before It can be
adapted to the requirements Of modern times.
The religion Of Jesus. as related TO Jewry. was
radically revolutionary. proclaiming the Uni
versal Father. OF whom all men are
the beloved children, and the kingdom of
heaven. whose foundation is love Of God and
the neighbor; but the author OF this book
promises to develop more fully. in another
volume. the features Of the religion OF Jesus
Dr. Blauvelt assumes 1t to have been salts
factorlly established that the data of this re-
lgion are to be found almost exclusively in the
synoptical gospels. and that the remainder Of
the New Testament presents us q religious
system not belonging TO Jesus. 1t is this system
that Is vulnerable under criticism. and that has
suffered from the assaults Of so many philoso-
pliers and Biblical scholars. The most radical
religious rcvolutlonists of the day do not seek
u rupture with Jesus. whom. according to Re-
man, it will never be possible to surpass in the
matter Of religion. and who. according to Mill.
was an unique figure not more unlike all his
precursors than all his followers" But they
wage war upon the experimentation in which
Jesus himself was a believer, and which Is OF
the essence Of his religion. DR.. Bauvelt does
not enter upon the modern debate concerning
the divinity Of Jesus. though he protests
against making this question crucial and all
decisive in modern religious thought: but we
presume 1t will be brought to judgment in the
other volume that is promised.
II is natural that after having been adjudged
unfit to be minister Of the Reformed Church.
DR.. Bauvelt should. before concluding his vol
ume. offer his views upon Religious Repres-
sion" and Religious Liberty" Within recent
times Colenso. Renan. Strauss. Prof. Smith.
Tyndal and many others have felt the power
of cericalism. though their suffering has been
naught when compared with that of skeptcs in
other times. The author does not Of course.
deny the right Of church to discipline a minis
ter or a member for heresy. but he argues
that theological! jurisdiction ought to be con-
fined within the church. and that dogmas should
be defended only by legitimate methods He
holds. moreover that ecclesiastical repression
is irrelevant when applied to the heretics
and heresies peculiar to the present time; I;
for OF a strictly intellectual cast arc the
great religious questions OF to-day, such. for
example. as the question Of the authenticity Of
the fourth Gospel or that OF the authorship Of
the various books composing the canonical
Scriptures. or the question Of Biblical inspira-
tipD II that nj fnturp pnniShmput that of
the relation Of the religion of Jesus to the Old
Testament and to the general religion Of the
New Testament, or the question OF Darwinism
or that Of evolution: and what possible bearing
can trials for heresy, depositions from the min
istry. accommodations, anathcmas. and Will
acations have upon the intelligent and satis-
factory solution of such problems?
The closing chapter of this book is notable
one and Is. to some extent. vindication OF the
| Rev. DR.. Blauvet's personal course as a clergy
man. He refers 10 the hard lot Of the clergy
man. who. at middle ;ge. with dependent
household and untitled for any other pursuit.
finds himself holding views that must throw
| him out Of his profession as Il branded and ex-
| communicated clerical hereto. He does not
| speak harshly of such an one who cannot at
| once bring himself up to the point OF becoming
hero and martyr and it may require rcsOlu-
| tion and integrity for such an one TO refuse
! 10 promulgate dogmas already exploded in
| his own mind; but lie says all honor TO
/ him II no sacrifices his life to his con-
/ science. and accepts with mingled dignity
and fearlessness his ejoction from the pulpit
| by the orthodox theological police. In the or
| thodoX pulpits Of to-day. according 10 the
| author. there ara many heretics. and they are
| constantly increasing. though they may not be
/ disposed to betray their condolences to hcresy
| hunters. The orthodox clergyman who turns
! heretical is often surprised Mt the confessions
! OF his clerical brethren who are supposed
to bo sound in the faith; and we
venture the suspicion" says DR. Blau-
welt, based upon our own personal ex-
/ perience. that there IL not an Outspoken
hereto now before the public who could not
make it exceedingly troublesome for a great
many hitherto unsupported heretics in the or
thoiox ministry il he could only bo base
enough to brut abroad the secrets which have
been impaired to him." by the dogmatical lin
tations imposed upon such men in the Church
they are forced to systematical and habitua
concealmento of their actual religious views ol
even driven 10 the public advocacy OF opinion,
which in their heart they dispclieve. Tho onl,
| way of escape for them from the moral dete
rioration thus brought about. is to proclaim
their genuine belief bring it to trial before
tho Church, rejoice when their names ar,
stricken from the rolls Of orthodoxy. and emo
their liberty in some Of the heterOdox scots, o
else abandon the ministry. 1t is true that In tn
orthodox sects Of to-day the clergy can wit
lmpunity take religious liberties which even
few years ago they could not have ventures
upon without tho risk of being prompt
summoned before the ecclesiastical polio
courts that there has been an advancement 4
,,i,Y 4,