New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-01
DIR. sHEDD'S NEW WORK.
a GREAT SYSTEM oP THEOLOGY.

theological Seminary, NeW-1o'A'
II mugt seldom fan to the lot Of any publishing
house to issue two such systems OF theology as
thoze Of Dr. Charles Hodge and DR.. Sbedd. works
trayersinr portions of the vast field are not OF
anYreouenN appearance. But systems OF theology
.vh;ch treat the questions Of divinity with any
erpannveness and fhoroughness are rare. Dr.
Ssmmx1 willard. tbs president Of Harvard College.
,,,.blshed n f7e8 A Compleat Body Of Divinity
II Two Hundred and Fifty Lectures on the AS
.smhlv,s Shorter Catechism." The works of Presi-
dsns Edwards, In eight volumes were published in
8o2 and. Though they do not constitute formal
system Of theology, they mark an epoch In the
theological history OF the country. President
Dwight. Of Yale College, was tho author OF
Theology Explained and Defended In series OF
l7s sermons, which were collected and published
after his death, in 1919 Tho Systematlc Inc
ologys Of Dr. Charles Hodge appeared IN 1879.
Covering the same period, Great Britain has con-
tributed fewer werlxs Of like compass with those
named above. In Germany only has there been
ANYTHING answering TO the theological productive
ness OF American scholarship. The reason Tor the
comparatively infreQucnt issue OF sucn WORKS
q not far 70 seek. The demand for them has
been largely supplied by the monumental produo-
tions Of the past. Besides this, the time and
labor required for their preparation are enor lous
President Willard's $50 sermons on tho Shorter
Catechism and President Dwight's ] 70 sermons
explaining and defending theology represent q
long period Of study. Half century Of research
ana thought appear in Dr. Charles Hodges three
volumes. DR.. Sheild informs us in his preface
that this work under notice, closes the labors Of
sortv wears in theological research and meditation
These laSors began in the publication 1855 OF
some theological essays followed by q History OF
Christian Doctrine 1853, the fruit OF studies
while occupying the chair Of Church History in
Andover Theological Seminary. He had also
rendered valuable service to the study OF the
ology in his edition of Coleridge, to which he
contributed O valuable introductory essay. In
fact. DR. Shedd's theological parentage may be
traced here The study Of Coleridge, to which
President Marsh of the University OF Vermont
rave such an impetus, has had very marked
effect on American thinking on theological sub
jccts or all his pupils, none show more traces
OF his fertilixing methods than DR.. Shedd. Per-
hans however, his occupancy of the chair OF New
Testament Exegesis in Union The illogical Seminary
should be regarded as completing his theological
equipment. These facts should commend at once
his Doematic Theology" TO o careful attention
Whatever its readers may have to say about lis
theological views, it comes before the community
with no ordinary claim for consideration III
this treatise has any merits" he remarks In bis
preface, they are due very much to daily and
nightly communion with that noble army Of
theologians, which is composed OF the
elite Of the fathers, of the school
men, Of the reformers and of the seven
tenth century divines of England and the Con-
tiuentn 1t is evident that work conceived and
wrought out in such spirit cannot be dismissed
with sneer ct theology, nor quietly ignored as an
anachronism in the nineteenth century.
DR.. shedd Is Mt nc pains to conceal on the
contrary he frankly avows. that he has pro-
found sense OF the worth Of theological labors
in the past ages that he is in close sympathy with
much Of the theologizing in the patristic, medi-
aeyal and reformation periods" He has no dis-
position to repel the charge of Ascholastcism and
perhaps oil speculativenesss He avcws his con-
xiction ! that there were some minds IN the
former ages Ct Christ anity who were called to
do work that Will never be outgrown and left
behind by the Christian Church, some men who
thought more deeply, and came nearer to the centre
of truth upon some subjects than any modern
minds II, then, it be asked what necessity ex-
lists for simple reproduction OF past opinions, OF
e II be asserted that this age is tired Of the re
hash OF old dogmas, the reply and the counter
assertion VII be that DR.. Shedd has power OF
lucid statement and logical discussion which re-
WITTY old issues, and that he has not Jailed to
treat modern issues which recent forms Of un-
belief have raised.
The author begins his work by unfolding the
true method in theological science. This he af-
firms to be natural, viz. coincding with the
structure Of the object and logical. Subjects
should DO treated in q logical order. so that the
whole will be true evolution. Following this
method, DR.. Shedd departs from the method OF
patristic, medieval and reformation theologans,
who made the Trinity the basis Of their theolog-
zeal discussions. lie rejects also tn I-esrnation
IS basis Of theological science, ,slloh more re-
cent theologians had adopted. These doctrines
stituts divisions of the subject, and ir Is not
logical nor natural to build science upon one Of
its divisions. He makes, therefore, Bibfology, or
the doctrine Of the Scriptures their authenticity,
renuineness and inspiration his point Of departure
His reason for this is that Biblology is or
cauically connected with the several divisions OF
theological science, and in some Of its parts GER
fanIv Il best discussed In connection with them"
Beginning thus his wors, in an unfolding Of
Bibliology, and under this treating Of the Sacred
Scriptures a. to their revelation. inspiration, au
thenticity credibilty and oanoncfty, he next con-
sjders theology proper, or the doctrine Of God
"a TO His nature, mode Of existence attributes,
DEGREES. including also Discussion OF creation,
uroyjdcnce and miracles. This is followed BY
snthropology, or the doctrine Of man, which is
mainly an unfolding Of the authors views on
tho subject of sin. Christology, or tho doctrine
Of Christ. comes next in which the different
points regarding Cbrists nature and person are
treated. A separate division. Soteriology' or
discussion Of thu work Of the Saviour. naturally
foIlows. Under this head win be found the
authors views on the subject of regeneration,
Is wen az atoncmenf. on that Of the sacraments
a. wen Is the church. The last general division
is eschatology, which treats OF the final issue
and result Of redemption IN the winding up Of
human hstory. Recent discussions will perhaps
attach IS much interest to this as to any OF the
great subjects the author has discussed in his
1xeatdsc His Views on eternal punishment are