New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ppOEFsSOR LADDS 1.-THE DOCTRINE OF
SACRED SCRIPTURE"

YORK: Charles ScribneTs Sons 1888.
M. dificuIt for any theological work to carry IN
IL higher titles to respectful welcome than the eA
4ensive treatise of Professor Laid on the origin
contents inspiration aud authority OF the hlDIe'
Regarded merely as monument OF patehC nuns
try. an ordinary student must look upon II WIN
somewhat of the sensation evoked in gazing on the
Pyramids. The analytical table OF contents ehi-
braces twenty closely printed pages. The index oil
Scrpture passages which are the subject Of refer
,nce or comment in the course of the book covers
m equal number of pages, in compact double COL
umns. Tvepty-seven additional pages arc required
for the topical index which follows. This bare
statistical statement wllindicate the consideration
winch the learned author has had for the readers
who desire to consult his book. The great LABOR
and painstaking involved in preparing these elaDor
ate indexes every at all experienced IN aulhor
ship will appreciate at a glance. In truth' Ihelo
lies Embedded in the book, as incidental u
the discussion, vast critical continental,
from an accomplished scholar on an
Darts of the Bible. The eXegetical stu
dent, who may care comparatively little
for doctrinal OF philosophical discussion, will resort
10 these volumes as an extremely valuable conVil-
button to his own special department.
When we pass from the apparatus of indexes we
find 500 pages. in which the Biblical literature Is
ovamued from nearly all the points OF vie" iIolu
which the modern mind is interested in cOntemp"I
,rgit The learning which is brought 10 this LOT
Inidable task is profound and varied III Is conhheu
TO no single branch of theology IL eAtehoS oeS o"u
the male of divinity into the adjacent province ol
,,hiosophv English theological literature bearing
on the TOPICS that are considered whether OF carrier
m of recent date is not in the least neglected. But
as was unavoidable, the modern Continental eS-
,,ooiaIIy German. researches furnish the largest
,,cI Cor oft
The investigations of the author stretch
hack over the entire domain Of Christian literature
hack of the Patristic age even to the jewish ana
stbpic authors of pre-Chrstian days. without
pedautry or needless expansion, or the heaplhs up
of useless lumber there brought togetherh thIs
massive treatise whatever can be gathered by an IN
tiriup scholar determined that nothing snail escape
him which is pertinent to his theme and cOnducNo
to ITS illustration Yet Professor Laid IS not en-
numbered by his eTuditOn. de walks WIN Lco
and sometimes with an elastic step. HIS lhnepeh-
dence OF Judgment is never surrendered lie uoeS
not ATTACH himself to any favorite author or school
He scans everything with kindly yet keen and
critical glance There is everywhere evidence oil
,natpre reflection When opinions are announced,
sos they always are without reserve the process By
which they are arrived at is spread before 'he
reader The reader can then judge Tor him5eH As 70
the Justice of the authors deductions.
This work 1t need hardly be said, is not the pro-
duction of a few months. 1t has been the pnnclpal
task of thorough scholar for the last i've years.
Dnring this time Professor Ladd has, TO be sure
held the pastoral Office for portion Of the period
and for the remaining portion has filled the chalr
of Philosophy, first ut BOwdoin and more lately at
Yale. Yet the preparation of this work has been
his chief labor To it his experiences IN parocul"i
life as we'll as his metaphysical studies, have been
he a
book-vorm. not conversant with the spirit and
,,oeas and experiences of the common man. Nor
can II he said that be is parish minister, unta-
noiliar with the academic spirit and the scholarly
method
The frank observations of Professor Ladd in
the preface are fitted to exercise prejudice. He
feels prompted to appeal to the candor OF two
classes of readers The first consists of those who
ore welded to traditional orthodox ideas IN relation
TO the Scriptures and look with repugnance, if not
with dread, upon critical science, and all modinca-
lion of accepted dogna5 respecting the origin and
+bo character of the books of Holy Writ To
this class probably more numerous IN the churches
of this country than in ecclesiastical bodies else
where. the author apparently suggests that they,
more than all others should be interested in know
,ro what the church in different ages has held and
Thought on these subjects. The second class made
uuof such as are established IN the naturalIstic
interpretation Of Christianity and of the Bible. 10
these il is admitted that the book is written on the
basis of an opposite assumption or pOstulate. But
this assumption Professor Ladd expects to make
good throuy % the natural progress of the discussion
Al least he viii take care that no bias IN favor OF
The position assumed shall prevent fair and full
consideration of all the facts and arguments germane
IN the investigation The spirit of candor which
in the preface it is only just to say IS kept
mn through the whole course Of the work. There Is
M blinking of difficulties. There is no effort to
bunt the force Of objection by sn artful or in
sidious method of stating It, Whatever modern
sceptIcIsm has to alege III opposition to formerly
nreyailng opinion is seriously considered ana an
honest endeavOr Is made to allow ana To conuTm
eyerything that commends itself TO reason Inc
senaration of the wheat from the chan IN the Wlde
field of literary and philosophical criticism CT the
Scriptures. is faithfully attempted. We have met
It'll no theological writer who evidently
aims 70 hold an even balance, TO discriminate
betwsen what is fairly and what is groundle sSly
alleged by critics of all the various parties Inc
work. it should be added, is constructive through
ont. Il does not content itself with demolShing
upsubstantiaI fabrics 1t does not limit Its eXertlou
TO the comparatively easy task Of exposing popular
andtime-honOred errors. There IS kept IN view the
positve problem of building up on the solld foun
dotion Of evidence an ineligible and tenable
view Of Scripture anu oL us N"liO0o P"i - ~
positions are abandoned which have been tena
ciously maintained, it is in the hrm
conviction that they are really un'
tenable, and that the defence OF them IS an aio
10 the cause of unbelief, whatever may be the mo
tiyes of their defenders. Those who complain that
theologians have nothing definite to say III reply
TO the assaults Of disbelief those who demand
formulated utterance on the disputed topics of In
sDiration and kindred themes, Will find in these
weiChty volumes their requirement met. At least
they will be able to learn what the verdicts OF
one very able and accomplished theologian Of the
evangelical school.
II will be gathered from what has been sane
-. a. % otord. noin+D of Professor IadQ