New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-14
RELIGIOUS LITERATURE.
BOOKS BY AMERICAN AND FORElGN
THINKERS.

.,,,o 90 ..-ba Crou1n4 Revelation" Che Macmillan
Counanv, fourteen sermons which have been
given to large congregations In Engiaho as VIC"
as in America They are not essays upon the evo-
,u,,ot Of religion nor do they address themselves
20 any speculative interest or theological ci"''
They are vigorous discourses 10 popular auoienceS
upon the fundamental truths OF Chrstiahl'!'
Their aim il emphasize those truths as CROWNS
In clearness OF vision and certainty OIL co''i0''o"
through the experience Of the ages. amid the prob
lens OF human Ignorance sin and sunerlns Inc
preacher does not argue. though he reasons ne
reasons on which he bases his appeals are that
the faith he urges is tho necessity OF MS nearer
lives circumstanced they are. and tha' the',
own consciences tell them so mat ms nioue Vi
address inspired by profound earnestness IN a
man facing men. is more potent than an a'lenip'
to breach the fort of Indifference or OF DOUBT by
phIlosophic artillery experience testihes
These sermons are quite devoid OF technlcai
theology. Their prologue on physiological lhous"t
To-day condenses in three pages statement oi
tho nresent situation and OF the chief interests
and beliefs OF theology to-day. This has decioeo
value as the statement OF a representative mem
Der Of the liberal orthodox school. Concerning
Christ Dr. Bradford says simply this: the
theology OF to-day IL more anxious 10 know
what lie taught than who He was IL peheNes
Him 10 have been In a unique sense divine De
cause He satisfies that which Is nearest diV'ne IN
man" Or Bradford is Unitarian but II Is
pIsin from this that the chasm between Trini-
tartan and Unitarian is not what II once was.
..ro live according TO nature" was the ideal Of
the Stole philosophy. Only in so doing could inc
possibilities Of life be realized. Such realization
was the chief end Of man. the supreme OBJECT OF
his life II there be such thing as fuI happF
ness Il must be in that. But human weakness re-
ouires spur TO that. This spur has been sup
piled In the past by the external sanctions OF re-
ward or a punishment to be received beyond the
grave at the hands Of an Almighty Judge But TOT
many these sanctions are no more TO muiu'uoes
God has become unknowable or non-exlsteh'' anu
immortality mere perhaps In the m'dst OF
suffering and temptation men are saying. Let us
eat and drink for tomorrow we die But IN
This ,mminency Of moral chaos there Is still
serious business urgent every man. II Is tho
business the ancient Stotcs urged. TO live one
own life In the best fuhlmen OF its natural posi-
bilities This Is the way which leads from dark
70 light II one has found God In the universe.
He is 70 be found within In the life of purity. OF
humanity Of courageous righteousness. OF I'M
selfish devotion to the good OF our 1enow-strus-
glers Is grasped the clew which leads out OF the
intellectual labyrinth to Vision OF the Eternal
Goodness.
such is the motif and such the line Of Mr.. George
a Merriam's book The Chief End of Man
Houghton M,flin & Coz. The power Of IT Is that
II f. written out OF personal experience. The
charm Of IL Is IN its wide discurs.veness through
the provinces of universal history Tho poets
prophets philosophers, are called IN turn from the
past and the present to testify that the path
pointed out is the path Of the sage. the hero. and
every soul that has been faithful TO the inner
light What Kant demonstrated by his philosophy
these have demonstrated by action II IS in the
struggle Of the moral life for fidelity 10 the best
one knows that the certainty OF the divine Is
reached Mr. Merriam's pages abound in thought
full criticism and striking generalizations Though
one may often dissent. he is still In debt for fresh
suggestions.
zone may as we'll speak Of Christian chemistry
as Christian sociology. This current ohjec-
ton Professor Smaller Mathews. IN his Social
Preaching Of Jesus Ohe Macmillan Com
pany) disposcs Of a. the outset by the
distinction between a scientific method ard the
formulation and application Of results scientifically
reached by Induction and generalization. This. as
undertaken by Christian men. he holds legitimate
ly entitled TO be called Christian sociology. 1t
strikes that he has here omitted the decisive
consideration that this application OF scientifically
obtained results always involves an ethical choice
between better and worse and so cals into activity
the Christian conscience. Professor Matthew's pro-
ferred definition OF Christian sociology is the socol-
osy Of Christ" his social philosophy and teach
inxs II Is the necessary complement OF Chris
tan theology"
The fidelity to scientific method which Professor
Mathews observes cannot be called in question.
The results which he reaches not different
ing Of the Gospels. To such readers. however.
this essay will be welcome and valuable con-
frmation Of their common-senss conclusions.
Jesus's central doctrine is his doctrine Of the
kingdom Of God. ian ideal Though progressively
approximately social order, In which the relation
Of men TO God is that OF sons. and Oherefore) TO
each other that OF brothers" This, moreover. Is
for the present world For its realization Jesus de-
ponds on the religious forces resident in human IN
stincts. whenever they can be awakened into nor
NAL action. History has already partially verified
his expectations: he has been thus far tho great
est ethical force known among
Professor Mathews Is thoroughly conservative
in temper He will not concede that Jesus
socalist-a term he aba ndons TO those who preach
a Gospel Of creature comforts. He insists upon
the paramount value Of the individual man as de-
term!ning what social institutions shall be- while
ne does not give equal emphasis to the fact that
the making marring OF men depends their
social Institutions He thinks II Objectionable.
cept in extreme cases. to recognize desertion
valid ground OF divorce Yet not Professor
Heron has dealt more incisivey with the aberra-
lion of the Church from the doctrine Of Jesus
corning wealth and Its employment as divine
trust. He pithily reminds that j. sus has much
more to say about marriage and wealth than about
heaven and hell" He does not mince matters
with those who ind capital no incentive fratern-
fly who grow fat with that which should be
shared with society" There is. after ALL such
thing as Christian sociology. Professor Mathews
has demonstrated the fact. At the time he
has exhibited a fact now sometimes called in ques-
tion tho faultlessness Of the ethical teachings OF
Jesus.
THE veracity Of the Hexateuch. Defence of
the Historic Character Of the First Six Books Of
the Bible" by Samuel Concord Bartlett. D. D
(Fleming H. Revell Company. TO be q work
due to the authors impression. In which many
people agree with him. that divine inspiration
he att ted 70 no Il "a
ments at all points be indicated against the
charge OF error To do this in the Of the first
six books OF the Old Testament is his endeavor
Those who have found moral uplift and light IN tho
speech OF some good man woman. notwithstand-
ing misstatements In II, hardly believe
ahafd Inf