The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-02

lated the most astounding miracles as II
they we're we'll attOsted historical oc-
~currences. There were, indeed. @somo
indications Of incipient scepticism, which
perhaps would not escape the notice OF
an intelligent child. The appearance OF
God in the burning bush Is mentioned only
as having been related by Moses on his
return to Egypt, not as a real event; and
the story OF Balaam's ass 10 similarly
treated" Then, too, the number OF the
~Israelites who fed from Egypt was left
uncertain. owing to the admitted pos
sibility OF an error in h received text.
Joshua's command to the sun and moon
to stand still was regarded as perhaps
a misunderstanding Of an old ballad. In
which those luminaries were invited. by a
bold image, to stop for tho purpose OF wit
Messing Jehovah's triumph over his en-
emies.
What perhaps gave most offence TO con-
temporary religionists was Milman's eau
tioning his readers against supporting h
the actions of Ehud and his SUCCESSORS in
the Book OF Judges were performed at the
~instigstion or with the approval OF the
Almighty. According to Milman's first
edition the Scriptural assertion that Ehud
and his SUCCESSORS we're raised up by God
merely means that they were animated by
an ardent spirit OF patriotism and piety.
This was quite enough to provoke the
orthodox without any Sitting OF docu-
mentary evidence when we consider
with what violence the religious reaction
was then raging in England it becomes
quite ineligible hat such views of the
Old Testament history could not be allowed
to circulate in families where the whole
Bible was systematically presented as the
work, not Of man, but Of God."/ Moreover,
the fact that Milman had taken orders has
to be allowed for. From the very nature
Of the case every heterodox expression in
the mouth Of a clergyman il liable to be
taken. and is justly taken, at an estimate
very much higher than it's faoe value. II
he swerve ever so little to the right or left
of the Anglican via media toward Rome
on the one hand, or toward Berlin on the
other, it is naturally assumed that he would
go very much further but for the r~estric-
lions entailed by his profession" The
most extreme suspicious Of Milman's or
thodoxy were later fully justified by his
History OF Latin Christianity" which
breathes throughout a spirit Of contempt
for dogmatic controversy. In the circum-
stances il was scarcely TO be expected that
Milman should receive high ecclesiastical
promotion. 1t should rather be a matter
of ond that he rose to be Dean of st.
Paul's. il deaneries had not become the
normal preferment OF eminent ~latitudina-
rian divines. We observe. lastly. that
notwithstanding the authors genius and
learning, Milman's History Of Christian
ity," of which the first edition was pub
lished in 1870, is now completely forgotten
even by his warmest admirers.
OF the three large volumes composing the
work the first is almost entirely filed will
a life Of Christ, preceded by an account Of
the antecedents Of His religion and OF the
environment in which il arose. Without
committing himself to any distinct theory,
Milman practically treats the Gospels as
human compositions. and Christianity itself
very much in the semi-rationalistic style
Of the eighteenth century-as a purely ethi-
cal religion. with supernatural sanctions.
This part seems to have been written be-
fore the appearance Of Strauss book; but
the latter's mythical theory is c~ontroverted
in an appendix" In Milman's history
miracles are upheld. but rather feebly;
ana ono Is 6lN uOuDtlul ar 70 NLClHCT Lie
writer really believes in what he seems half
ashamed to defend. Everything is done
to put Christianity in line with the worlds
other great religions and to exhibit it as
the spontaneous outgrowth OF human
thought. On the whole, it is by no means
surprising that a writer OF the Protestant
side should ave cautioned his readers
against -this most dangerous and insidious
work" Milman interpreted tho Catholic
system as a sort Of eclectic scheme, select
ing and combining what was best in the.
religions and PHILOSOPHERS OF the age. to
which Newman replied that the selection
could only have been made by a diviuely
guided authority-the Church. Mr.. Bonn
submits that this criticism did not touch
Milman's weakest point his omission Of
what was most characteristic in Christianity
1.-THE sacrificial m sacramental elements).
Little light is thrown ON this side by a COM
parison with the more highly evolved re-
ligions, and none 10y a comparison with
Greek philosophy. The key m u be sought
in primitive ideas and in their survivals
among the lower strata of civilized socie-
ties"