The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-24
r,oo,oov of Matthew Arnold.

1nfOfbEt Oi
The fundamental principle of Mr..
Arnold's system Of theology may be
stated thus: Character, culture, ana
experience produce a sort of intuition,
or inner sense of truth. This intultive
faculty is the sole source and test OF
truth, and apart from what we learn
by the natural exercise of this faculty
there l. no revelation. The system and
the method by which it is worked out
have their merits as well as their de-
fects.
Mr.. Arnold rightly rejects the
doctrines that every word of the Bible is
inspired. that the writers oil II are III
fallible. that taken as whole 1t is a
scientific canon, TO be interpreted as
science, and that il Is complete revela-
ton, TO which nothing can be added.
Mr.. Arnold properly denies that by
the authority of miracles we are cou-
PEELED to accept, or are even Justified III
accepting, dogmas which are most
palpably at war with common sense and
EXPERIENCE such as the doctrines OF
the Trinity, the Second Advent, the
Judment Day. and the theory tina; sal
walton is mechanical, magical or vica'
rious, and dependent on creed, or logi
cal abilities. or metaphysical concep-
tioDs.
Mr.. Arnold also rightly rejects both
orthodox pessimism. such as the doc
trines of the devil. of total depravity,
and of endless hell and heterodox pes
simism, such as nihilism and material
ism. The distinguishing feature OF his
work is its optimism. lie believes that
there is q real power which makes for
righteousness and happiness, believes
that nature is good, man is good, and
life is worth living.
Further, Mr.. Arnold rightly holds
that the harmonious aud complete de-
vslopment of the higher faculties, or.
in other words, that the perfection OF
character. is prime consideration and
purpose of life. and that character can
not be perfected except by close famll-
iarity with the Bible, and especially
with the Gospels but he falls short OF
the best Christian philosophy in subor-
dinating religion to culture, instead OF
giving religion the chief place as the
great thing of which culture is
only part. This has been well pointed
out by Principal SHARP, who says
Matthew Arnold does not entirely
clear himself of the charge that he
seeks religion for culture sake
which Is &thetics and not religion at
all. One cannot so get religion.
Thus if one seek culture as chief
end he cannot attain it. Seek first the
kingdom Of God, aud all these things
shall be added unto you. In otner
words, Matthew -Arnold's starting
point is the perfection Of self-the sell
fish philosophy. True. he advances
many noble maxims, and proposes as
the end of culture to make reason and
the kingdom of God to prevail. even
sees that isolated self culture is impos-
sible: that we cannot progress towards
perfection unless we take our fellow
beings along with ~. But tEese true
aud unselflsh maximS are advanced,
not because they are simply good in
themselves, but because they are clearly
seen to be necessary to our PERFECTION.
After all, Matthew Arnold is an Athe-
MAN.
Again, Mr. Arnold believes that Jesus
Christ is, beyond all comparison with
9th ers, the chief power in true civlliza-
ton; that his teachings are not only
peculiarly excellent but free from all
faint of error; that salvation is TO be
found in him alone. and that the reli
gion of those who love and follow him
is not critical knowledge. but feel
ing founded on experience. While thus
virtually confessipg. however, that he
1,oo fA..n1 10 N tthnnt Hau hn
illogically accepts nothing on the au-
thority of Jesus.
Once more, Mr.. Arnold's inducti0ns
are strained, and there are obvious
flaws in the arguments by which he
attempts 10 decide the open question.
whether Jesus cleared the temDle on
more than one occasion or not, and to
account for the belief of the apostles in
the miracles of Jesus and in his resur-
rection; but the strongest objection to
his system, critically considered, is
that bis principles and methods If
rightly understood lead not to his sys-
tenn of religion but TO Christianity.
Lastly. while dwelling on the eff
cacy of prayer and justly holding that
religion must be based on experience.
Mr.. Arnold enormously dedLces from
experience that God is only an infiu
ence. not a person. He thus not only
falls short Of the Christians faith in
great personal father. from whose love
and care we cannot escape, but breaches
a religion which must be short-lived.
because it is lacking in interest and
motive.-ProfessoI G.. T. Knight III
Universalist Quarterly.