The Iola register., 1889-11-29
"rHR MAN OF CALLER. !"

'THE MAN OF 0AL1LEE."
1t is refreshing to find, in orthodox
Christian literature, q book which
proves something, which establishes
its premises instead of merely assum-
ing them, and draws its conclusions
with some regard for the rules of Logic.
"The Man of Galilee," by Atticus
G.. Haygood, is this kind of book.
The avowed object of it is to prove the
divinity, at least the super-humanity
of Jesus Christ, and 1T does 1t by the
most scientific method that has yet
come to our notice. The reader is not
asked to believe that the Gospels are
inspired, nor is he asked to consider
any of the miracles recorded therein,
nor are any proof-texts cited. The
author simply appeals to universal hu.
man experience to prove that such a
person as Jesus must have once lived
and that he must have been as the
Apostles pictured him. perfect man,
teacnlng perfect GOspel.
The EXTREMIST claim of skepticism is,
that no such person ever existed, that
the four evangelists simply invented
the character which is called by the
name of Jesus. Mr.. Haygood points
out the unreason of this claim. He
calls attention to the historical fact
that the Hebrew mind in ancient days
was not given to this kind of literary
work, that the Jews were not drama
fists as the Greeks were, that there is
absolutely no fiction in Hebrew litera.
ture of the period assigned to Jesus, SC
it is utterly unreasonable to suppose
that four Jews at about the same time
should have been siezed with desire
to write books and should have given
to the world, as product Of dramatic
genius, this character of Jesus.
But even if they might have under.
taken such a task, it is impossible thai
they, mere men, should have invent.
ed character which has been conced-
ed for 1900 years as the type of a per.
feet man. "No dramatist can draw
taller men than himself" said Hugh
Miller. He may write about men VIII,
are greater and wiser and better thar
himself, but he cannot create such
men. The evangeIists were Jews
with all the habits of thought, th.
strong prejudices of their race. Even
had they been dramatists by profession
it would have been impossible tor them
to have conceived such character Al
Jesus. They were neither good mol
great enough. Measure them ano
their thoughts with Jesus and lis
thoughts. How small, narrow, mea
ger and lean of soul they are! They
constantly inexperienced him
and misinterpreted his simplest words
He was constantly talking about ths
Kingdom of heaven" but they ex'
pected to the very last that he would
establish an earthly kingdom, ano
quarreled with one another about the
places of honor they should have
They had no moral courage to resis,
public opinion; but who can imagine
Jesus as veering the thickness of line
from the perfect truth to curry favor
or to avoid resentment? They were
full of race and caste prejudice, and
were scandalized because Jesus enter.
ed into the house of Zacheus, the pub.
lican, and talked with the woman OF
Sychar by Jacobs will. How is it pos.
sible that these men should have in.
vented character which was 30 unlike
themselves, which they could neither
understand nor appreciate?
Ifspace permitted we should be glad
to present the other arguments that
are used, the clearness with which ii
is demonstrated that Jesus is not an
ideal Jew of that period, such as the
evangelists would have depicted had
they been drawing only upon their
Imagination, that there is absolutely
nothing in his race or age that can ao-
count for him, that his method OF
thought was utterly unlike that OF the
men ofhis own or any other nation,
that there is no analogy between him
and the mythical founders of other
religions, that he must be e, ell as he
himself said, "the Christ, the Son OF
God" But from the little that has
been said the general plan and drift of
the book may perhaps be adequa tely
understood. If is certainly an original
and valuable contribution 20 Christian
literature, and should find wide sale.
The book is published by Cranston &
Stone, Cincinnati, and will be sent,
postpaid, for so cents.
OUR CLUBBING LIST.