New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-13

SOME RELIGIOUS LITERATURE.

The most valuable Of the biblical Essays by
the late Bishop Lghtfoot Of Durham Macmhian
& Coz is without doubt. the three on the Internal
evidence for the authority and genuineness OF 81
Johns Gospel which make up half the volume IL
would be much to say that he has proved De-
yond cavll the Johannine authorship Of the fourth
Gospel; but he has most decidedly LAID the purdeh
of proof on those who deny that authorship Inc
remaining essays relate to the Epistles. ana are
noteworthy examples Of DR.. Lightfoot's profound
learning and logical acumen.
In 1.-The Johannne Theology Charles Scrioners
sons) Professor George r. Stevens. OF Yale Uni
versty, does not enter into the vexed question OF
the authorship OF the fourth Gospel and the Jo-
hannne Epstles. He assumes them to have Deeh
written by the Apostle John. and limits himsel' 10
a discussion OF the question whether the author'
whoever he was gives a verbatim account Of the
discourses OF Jesus After careful examination
Of the whole subject his conclusion Is that the
Apostle gives the teaching Of Jesus in his own
words and In the shape and color which 1t had
assumed through long reflection upon Its contents
and meaning. This whole subject is one that must
deeply interest Christians and poofessor Stevens
discusses 1t in manner calculated to win respect
for his learning. candor and clearness OF thought
The ancient Babylonan cuneiform inscriptions
that have been unearthed In recent years have IN
many matters confirmed the historical statements
OF the Bible But they have also shown that much,
II not all of the Biblical story OF the creation was
an inheritance from Babylon. The relation or the
Book Of Genesis. therefore. to the Semitic trad-
ton as recorded in the cunelform inscriptions OF
ancient Babylon ard Assyria is well worthy OF
full study. Professor John d. Davis, Of Princeton
Seminary has written monograph entitled Gene
sis and Semitic Tradition Charles Scribners Sons)
His presentation of the subject Is lucid. and en-
bodies the latest discoveries of archaeology.
Professor W. II. Bennett. of Hackney and New
colleges prepared the volume in the Exposltors
Bible series "a. c. Armstrong SOM relating to the
Books OF the Chronicles, These books. which the
author aptly calls curious literary torso. possess
little ethical interest. They saturated with me-
chanca ecclesiastical spirit which delights in priest
~ genealoges and rituastic functions rather than
in those Appeals to the conscience which charace1ze
the prophetic writings. Nevertheless the Chronicles
have legitimate place in the literature that AFTER
ward came to be known the Bible because OF
that very fact for 1t indicates. though Of Itself 1t
does not prove that the type Of elaborate ceremonial
worship that came to be associated with the Mosaic
Code a late development in the religious life OF
the Israe,tes The Chronicles were confessedy
written between B. c. 332 and b. c. l66. But In their
spirit they exactly fit in with the Book Of Levcus,
and In fact. nowhere else in the Bible can there be
found such a perfect echo of the Levtical type Of
worship. Certainly If that type OF worship was
known 70 the Israeites in the Of the Judges and
the earlier Kings the books relating TO that era are
strangely silent about IT, mat the fTestY Noue
in the Pentateuch expanded from simple
Mosaic germ TO its present form by post-exilic
ritualist like the writer of the Chronicles is not
proved by the critics. and may never be proved But
It is theory that explains many anomalies IN the
religious history Of the Israelites, which are other
wise unexplainable While Professor Bennett Is by
no means radical critic. he is possessed OF wide
learning honesty and critical insight, and his work
is a welcome addition to the popular literature OF
Biblical criticism
Professor Otto Pheiderer. OF the University OF
Berlin is OF the most eminent living opponents
of Christian ratonalism In Germany. II is doubt
full II ne admits the supernatural at ALL certainly
he does admit il in the evangelical meaning OF
the word. In his TWO fascinating volumes on the
PHILOSOPHY and Development OF Religion Ci T.
Putnam's sons he declares miracles Impossible
and the resurrection OF Christ deluson. The
Bible is him simply collection Of Hebrew
literature whose value must be ascertained by
critical examination. The idea that IT is heaven
descended revelation from God cannot he feels. be
seriously maintained. Nevertheless. the spirit That
characterizes these volumes is essentially religious
and devout The author is evidently a man who
is supremacy honest with himself and his readers
He is. moreover, great scholar and an original
thinker a combination OF gifts not always asso-
ciated together He Is the master OF n trenchant
and luminous style and he has been fortunate in
having for his translator into English DR.. William
Haste whose TRANSACTIONS Of Hege and Kant are
so highly regarded. For these reasons he VIII be
read with interest, II not with pleasure. by many
who would vehemently disavow his views
The Christian Literature Company issues IN It's
series Of American Church History valuable
book by Dr. II. X. Carroll. entitled THE Religious
Forces OF the United States" DR.. Carroll had
charge OF the Division Of Churches OF the Xlth
Census and in that capacity did admirable work
in gathering tabuatng and analysing the sta
tistical facts relating TO religion in the United
States. In this volume he gives in concise and
readable form a bird's-eye view Of American
Christianity as revealed in the XIth Census. II Is.
we believe the first attempt OF the kind that has
had any scientific value; and for this reason as
we'll as for its intrinsic merits. ii deserves gen
srous recognition.