The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-12
TREND OF THOUGHT
 ALONG PATHS LITERARY

Now that the centenary occdeAohs VI Emerson and Wesley are past. It VIII pc interesting to make note. in conserva- tive way, of their work. as seen in the many studies made of them through all the current literature in June. sbotn have been called prophets. They were at distance of one hundred years apart: They were both gentlemen. by birth ana culture; tboth were fruitful m .ne ~orr l,, of literature: both had generations back of them in the ministry. and they were themselves minister's: both were noble in mind: both were pure in life; both were apostles of new thought; both had message for mankind. How different that message wesley's message was, as we are told in The Standard. by Charles M. Stuart, a simple message. He says, "The world justly regards it as vital. Wesley as the herald of a new order which was still an old order; the light which he brought was borrowed light. but a true light. the light which Christ was and brought. the light intended Of God from the very beginning of creat- ton to tighten every man coming into the world Rev. O. P. Eaches, D. D., writes in The Herald and Presbyter: ''when that interesting work 'Ecce Homo was making a great impress upon the reading world, an intelligent and devout Christian was asked, What do you think of 'Ecce Honor His reply was What does Ecce Homo think of ChristT Stuart again says, "Men and women who had never known anything but the wearing war with poverty without and passion within, and who never dreamed of any ioy in life beyond the perilous pleasure of self-indulgence. were made conscious of the treasures of their disposal in the freedom, riches. Joy of the life in Christ" Eaches reminds his reader that Emerson thought that Forgiveness through Christ was a wild motion, salvation from sin Is not needful."
 Wesley records in his journal that one evening. when attending the services Of the Moravians in London. a layman was reading Luther's preface to the Epistie to the Romans. when T felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust In Christ and Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine. and saved me from the law of sin and death. Dr. Eaches says that Emerson had no sense of sin-the group of words familiar to Jesus and the New Testament writers Sin, condemnation. lost, repentance, be- lief eternal life. justification, regenera- tion-these are utterly foreign to the lit- erature of Emerson" Stuart says that ''The evangel of Wesley was that men might have God for the asking" Pres ident Eliot of Harvard. interprets Elm erson as seeing fin every gleam of hu- man virtue not only the presence of God. but some atom of His nature.
 While Wesley thought that God placed Jesus in a position eternally first-Dr. Robertson Nico1l in The North American Review interprets Emerson's thought of Christ as "one of many gifted spirits with whom the Oversoul had sweet com r.unication. He was to be reverenced; but one day he would be estimated and set aside for another while whatever was true in his words and acts would contln- ue to live, Nobler than Christ were yet to come in the eternal prog ress"
 Bishop Candler says in The Christian Advocate what firm faith, what con fldence in the Bible Wesley had. He quotes Wesley's own words as proof. T have thought I am a creature of day. passing through life as an arrow through the air I am a spirit come from God; just lowering over the great gulf: till few moments hence I am no more scent drop into an unchangeable eternity! want to know one thing, the way to heaven! how to land safe on that happy shore God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written 1t down in n book. give fne that book! At any price give me the book of God! Is there doubt concerning the meaning of what read I lift my heart to the Father of Lights. I then search ana consider parallel passages OL 0CIIp- ture, comparing spiritual things with spiritual mediate thereon, with all at- tention and earnestness of which my mind is capable If any doubt still remains. I consult those who are experienced in the things of God: and then the writings whereby. being dead. they yet speak" Dr. Eaches still explains Emerson for us, To Emerson Christianity is not any final and exclusive revelation of God. The New Testament is a book of the same kind with the Vedas. with Tennyson and Browning. The miracles of Christ are myths; the exclusive claims made by Christ are delicious in poetic exaggera- tions."
 Influence on Christendom.
 Dr. Sutherland has this today. What Wesley did for Christendom at large and he has done much in the way of breaking down Journalism and the awak- ening of zeal for the salvation of men is due to the fact that he was able to so infuse his own spirit into the church which he founded that the work he in- augurated has proved an inspiration to all the other Christian denominations
 We are told that "All who hold fast to Jesus Christ as the final revelation of God and the ultimate authority in all matters of faith. must distinguish clearly between the Iierary productions of Emer- son and his moral and religious teachings. There are two Emersors Emerson, as a creator of literature may be commended and enjoyed Emerson as an interpreter of mans moral nature and of the person of Christ, must be condemned
 One of our exchanges says that Wesley