New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-27

ners Sons.
We are glad TO welcome this new eliar
and revised edition of an admirable DOCK Inc
first edition was characterized by the tnoroueh
investigation and faultess candor' which tne
author himself attributes to Canon Sunday IN
his appropriate dedication Of this volume 10
him. and it is q matter of distinct congratula-
tion that we now have the same learned and falr
minded treatise rewritten and enlarged IN the
light OF recent criticism and or the conlrlpu-
Mons 10 the subject which have accumulated
during the last twenty years since the nrSI
edition was published. For the questions mere
treated are of perennial interest An apt Illus
tration Of this is seen in the motto OF the VOL
,r,a which consists Of q quotation from the
..Pbaedo" of Plato and one from the Analogy
Of Bishop Butler showing with what earnest in
1erest both the greatest philosopher of Greece
and the profoundest apologist for Christianity
investigated the questions here discussed In
any and every age the Grounds of Thelsuc
and Christian Belief Will present themselves Tor
consideration, because Theism and the Chrlstlan
Interpretation of it permanently interest man
kind and must continue TO do so so long as
men think concerning their origin and destiny.
Moreover, these questions which persist cam
not be answered completely by one age Tor an
other The conditions Of existence perpetually
vary, and the constant growth in knowledge
factory solution Of the problems involved.
The authors treatment Of the Scriptures is
throughout reverent Of the spirit of them ana
enlightened and scholarly in the criticism OF
their letter He does not find the substance OF
the sacred writings impaired by inaccuracies OF
divergence of statements in regions not so much
moral and theological as scientific and statls-
teal The results Of both teXtual and the
higher criticism are fully recognized and freely
used and the reader is fortunately spared those
ingenious coniectures which do not so much
clear up the points IN question as exploit the
ingenuity of the commentator in avoiding them
In the n,rs1Iit of moral and religious truth he
insists on the recognition Of the gradualness Of
revelation as essential the calculation or
the meaning and relative force of the several
parts Of the Bible, Yet, while rejecting extreme
formulas of Biblical inerrancy, he stands for
that sanity of intellectual balance which may
--eserve US from a boundess license of con-
lecture in the reaction from the hard and fast
formulas of an earlier criticism
In regard to Christian evidences, while giving
precedence 10 internal evidence, such as the
sdaptedness Of Christianity TO mans deepest
snirituaI necessities and its transforming inffu-
ence over human society. he regards the ex-
fernsI proof from miracles a conflrmatorY
support The inquiry concerning the nature OF
miracles carries with II an inquiry into the
meaning OF nature. Of natural law. OF the order
Of nature and the objective idealism. which the
author adopts. ir conformity with the modern
trend Of philosophy, obviates the difficulty that
miracle II wrought, would be subVerslVe OF
the system OF natural law. Law describes the
action Of things In nature when such action Is
not modified by voluntary agency back of it
But granted Theism or divine will. miracle
Is as consistent with natural law as the lifting
Of 2 mans hand by his voIition." Yet DR.. Fisher
contends that while miracles may be used as
credentials of religion. If substantially proved.
they are not to be considered appendages. but
rather as constituent elements of revelation.
Christ's miracles were not wrought chiefly az q
sign for Himself but for such alienation Of
Others as might lead 10 spiritual cure They
were an element in the decentralization OF
Christ The whole treatment Of miracles is ex
ceedingly interesting. II the space devoted to
their consideration shows that Christianity
moves the miracles rather than the miracles
Christianity the author contends that the his
toricaI verify OF the New Testament miracles
in general is proved by considerations apart
from the special authorship Of the Gospels;
though he also devotes a chapter 20 showing
that the Gospels contain authentic record Of
the Apostles testimony. The criticism Of Hume
and Huxley in this connection is very keen, and
the quotations from Lotze and Motley are very
apt and Illuminating
In regard 10 theology, or the argument from
design in nature, md this volume peculiarly
satisfactory The influence Of the doctrine Of evo-
luton on this form Of argument is very fully
stated and considered. He concludes, after very
accurate and candid examination of Darwin and
his followers, that the evidence OF final causes
is not impaired by It. The notion Of design and
end, as Wheweu stated it. is simply transferred
from the region Of facts TO that Of laws, l. e,
from particular cases TO the general plan. In
one aspect evolution becomes argument for
q spiritual revelation. According to it, is
not merely a superior creature upon earth; he is
the ultimate outcome Of all natures processes,
rhe end and aim OF all It's progressive advances.
Nature looked forward TO him from the begin
ming even II unconsciously: and when he APP
pears with a spiritual nature, seeking the
vironment Of spiritual forces necessary TO de-
velop him. We logically expect that such spir-
ftual environment viii be given. seeing that che
whole advance Of nature up 10 has resulted
from the adaptation of environment to organ
ism, OF favorable circumstances TO inward
impulse. Mans spiritual nature, inclusive of
his intellect and reason and conscience
would stand in fat contradiction 10 the princi-
pies OF evolution were not spiritual environ
rnent afforded him. This is the very argument
Of John Fiske 1t is founded on the evidence or
purpose in nature. and author in accord
with IT, ends his chapter with an indignant pro-
test against the unreason of requiring a good
and noble purpose in man in order to fulfil his
being II there be no purpose OF end in the uni
verse in which he is acting his part
THE UNITED STATES"