The Portland daily press., 1885-06-12
New Publications.


Verifcstion. By E. c. Cummings. port
land: Hoyt, Fogg & Donham.) How d.
verse are the gifts of men! Some talents
shine by their own light, others only by re-
fecting borrowed rays. Some by their out
ward activity and ability quickly impress
themselves on a community and become
both widely known and generally admired.
Such men are looked up to, are pointed ont
OF the street and have large following
These are the men of magnetic power
They are sure of hearing, for they easily
draw crowd on whose suffrages they can
depend, at least tor season. Their fame,
however, is usually as evanescent as
it was sudden and surprising. Again,
in every city there are men COM
paratively unknown to fame, WHOSE
gifts and graces are as superior as they are
rarer and touched TO finer issues. They are
not men OF the forum or of the market.
They are not cited for their wealth or popu-
larity. Usually, indeed, they are influential
within certain limits. Within limited cir
Gle of friends and acquaiptances they are
held in the highest regard for their rare
qualities of head and heart. In this circle
they often exert an influence which in its
results, is far more potent, enduring, and
finally wide spread than that of the political
or pulpit orator. Such a man is the author
OF the volume entitled Nature in Scripture.
A man as modest aud retiring as he is schol-
arly and thoughtful. In his early manhood,
pastor of Congregational church, of late
years he has lived among us a retired and
studious life. Though seldom seen or heard
in any of our pulpits, not often even in
those OF his own denomination, no one is
held in higher esteem by men of thought
and culture, and we feel sure that the pub
LEGATION of Nature in Scripture will win him
many new friends, and greatly extend the
sphere of bis influence. Not that he has
written popular book, any more than he
himselfis what is called a popular preacher,
and for the same reason. As preacher, his
thought often is over the heads of his hear
ers, and as an author he essays no middle
flight. On the contrary, like a greater
though kindred spirit, he has in this volume
dared "to justify the ways of God to man."
He has made the bold attempt to solve many
of the profoundest mysteries of nature and
of life. The Scriptures to him, are lumi-
nous with Divine light and disclose in their
majestic march the procession of Divine
ideas-God and man, nature and grace, the
creation, tall, redemption, Justification and
conversion, the crises and the consumma-
ton of the creature made by God in his own
magazines are the themes which have en-
crossed his thoughts and enlisted his pen.
And these themes are stupendous in their
import as they are far-reacbng in their con-
sequences. Yet the cultivated and candid
reader will not consider the attempt pre-
sumptuous, or the execution feeble. He
will soon discover that he is cemmuning
with spirit kindred to the genius of the
Jewish Philo, the Greek Origin, the German
schleismacher, the French Lacordaire, and
the Platonizing divines of the English
church, such as Maurice, Stanley and Far
rrar to-day. not to speak of the create
names of other days,
OF all recent thinkers, perhaps our author
and toWnsman resembles Maurice most
He is as catholic, cultivated, and charitable,
while his system of thought and belief is
more coherent and consistent. And what
ever we think of his general way of looking
at things, we cannot fail to perceive that
Mr.. Cummings has been a careful student
and patient thinker, and that his conclu-
sions have been slowly and carefully ma
tured. The book is all of piece. All the
parts agree well one with another, and the
mind of the reader is never Jared by in
consistent and repellant modes of thought.
In brief, 1t is book to make one think,
seed book, very suggestive and stimulating.
1t is book, not for the many. but for the
few who can appreciate high thinking and
good writing. This volume will certainly
make its mark, and greatly influence the
few who in their turn influence the many.