Year: 1869

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Review of New Books.
CHIPS FROM A GERMAN WORKSHOP. BY Max Muller


Two volumes. New York Charles Scrioner Co.


1869.


We have long known Mr.. Muller as student OF |
Sanscrit literature, and have read with deep interest
his History Of Ancient Sanscrt Literature and his
Lectures on the Science Of Language" But even
had we never read his previous productions or heard
Of his name before the recommendation OF that truly
great and learned man, the late Baron Bunsen
would have insured for the books before us ath0ugh
fu, attentive perusal. The study Of ancient Ian
guages Is not popular one with men OF genius
There Is too much drudgery IN the task OF learning
tongues which have ceased to be mediums for the
interchange OF thought between men, In many cases
for centuries before the birth OF Christ. And
yet there Is nothing more essential to clear
understanding OF our present civliization-
indeed, of the very Christianity we profess
than that the mystery which wells the past from the
present shall be removed, enabling men to fully
perceive the great work Of creation and to fully ap
preciate the sublime truths Of Scripture Mr.. Muller
is one of the few men Of ability who have devoted
their lives to this work exclusively. without being
pretenous and In spite OF some obvious errors, to
which we shall call attention. his "ChIps" must bc
regarded as valuable original contributions to lin
guistlc researches.


essays on the Science OF Religion" comprise the
first volume, which is assuredly the most In
structive and entertaining Of the two. mas
much as 1t dispels many illusions and gives
US clearer idea OF ancient religions than we
have yet obtained from perusng the cumbrous
volumes OF transations which have from time to
time been published A recognition Of relationship
between languages apparently separated from each
other by the most nsurmountable differences has
paved the way for final discovery OF the original
language Of man. II we believe what the Bible
teaches-and cannot reject part without reject
ing al-there must have been an era In the worlds
history when mankind comprised but one family,
| which spoke but one language, and we must also
believe that before or with the end OF time this
unity Of peoples and Of tongues must return. Mr..
Muller, throwing aside the prejudices of sincere
believer In Christianity, but addressing himself to
his work with the strict mpartiality of philosophical
inquiry, has shown us how above the gross dolatry
and superstition OF the anclens, there existed an
| intutve faith In a Supreme Being, upon whom the
| utmost dependence was placed, even though there
was no clear conception Of the Divine attributes.
And after ALL the only advantage we can claim over
the Brahman and Buddhist lies in that intellectual
revelation or development which, coming
with Christ S enabled % US to understand I the the


as people ba e Of the nnte
than did the Inhabitants Of India, OF Greece OF Per.
sia and Of Arabia True, the Almighty had revealed
prOpnets but these favored few were not permitted
to explain the mystery they had beheld unveiled fur
ther than necessary to insure the worship OF the
true God and TO compel an implicit obedience to His
win. In the first volume Of the books before Mr..
the important facts recently discovered, He writes
in charming style. uniting interest with instruc.
ton. He has gathered the few grains Of wheat from
the many bushels of chat, and by doing, given to
the world better knowledge OF the religion of the
other prehistoric people, with his denial that there
are any points OF resemblance between "Geness and
inclined O.
lessor Spiegel, even though we are unable TO decide
from whence arises the similarity.


There is another subject too, which we must enter
our protest against. 1t requires no great linguistic
ability. no unusual deep study Of ancient ancient religion
Siplss Ninilism 1t is undoubtedly true that Mr.
mainly because Of the treac6ery Of the Buddhist
priests in furnishing traditions where facts were
meaning Of the word "Nirvana, has always been
hold that 1t means "eternal rest and peace" ga
place O. happiness" while few hold that 1t means
essentially protest against, reformation OF,
Brahmanism as Lutheranism was protest against
to Professionalism because 1t retained those material
and spiritual elements which are essential to the


St pabc pH declare a
their faith Is failuref Simply because Protestant
as al Fl
many persons who, while rejecting Cathoicity re-
gard PrOtestanism as lacking IN the essentials Of
that Of Moses. He taught the masses OF the people
not to take human liie not 10 steal, not to commit
adultery, not to bear false wtness-in word he
taught them to be righteous. Is 1t natural to sup
pose that millions Of the inhabitants OF the world
righteousness without the hope OF q reward after
deaths There is nothing more pleasant than sin;
than virtue. II, then, the Nlrvana OF Buddha had
implied extinction ne never would have been the
founder Of probably the most powerful numerically



he was an atheist Is impossible Tor US TO arrive at
he tssi tsnsht must nsvs promsea reneWed
existence after death, although we agree
with M Muller tna Nryana could not have
avoided all linguistic investigation into the meaning
Of this word, because 1t is impossible to say that
implies. But looking at the subject IN the light OF
human nature, we find how superior Brahmanism
Gda SG sccs esGno axIs il ss Sson nea q
Nhlliss. The first essential 10 society Is a belief
IN future life. Even pure deism cannot form
or control society, because OF It's selfish unity.
lhe Jew Is by no means deist although he rejects
The CHRISTIAN Trinity but large proportion OF the
society. Now, there was not only society IN the
time Of Buddha, but there was also civilization:
How absurd would have been to preach TO civilized
men the doctrines OF righteousness necessary
adjunct to nothingness after death. Ignorant and
Classes Of the early BSddhlsis, their instincts
alone would have prompted the rejection
men, not having the hope OF future reward for virtue
and not having the fear OF future punishment for
vice, would instnctively have INDUCED In the end
less earthly pleasures which sin affords. Looking at
the subject In this light, must reject Mr.. Muers
argument TO prove that the Nlrvana OF Buddha
meant annihilation. while acknowledging the very
Ingenious logical AMI entertaining manner In which
he has defended himself against the attacks OF others


The second volume comprises Essays on Mytho
logy, Traditions and Customs.n Here Mr.. Muller has
exercised his great abilities as lingust TO prove that
all the NEUROLOGICAL stories OF the Greeks and other
ancient peoples are Simply nothings-that they never
mad actual occurrences. We hold his arguments to
be most dangerous to historical research and he Is
not the first that has INDUCED In the same specula
tlons. For instance, the Greek mythological story
about kephaos Is simply an allegory. Now u Is
plainly evident that large number oi these myths
are mere alegories; but many OF them must evidently
contain historic facts. which, from the absence of