Year: 1867

1 ;,ies NJ high order; and is always sustained by


vqor of thought and depth OF feeling when make IT,
NOT the growth Of rhetorical culture but the genuine eA


ression Of the man. His mind is essentially poeca; his
ioination sezes the delicate and subtle relations which
are a blank TO the common eye; and his language IS
marked by a gracousness, sweetness, charming uhc
ton in keeping with the tender beauty OF his conceptions
In their prevailing tone his dlscQurses remark
able for their naturalness than for any other quaY


He carries his hearers with him into the realm OF expert
ence Of reality With attempt TO explain intricate
theories to their satisfaction, to amuse their fancy with
dramatic scenes to impress high sonorous phrases
upon their ears speaks from the funess OF richly
endowed nature to the deepest consciousness OF MS leo"
men and hence his words clothed with vital power
which no imitation, no training Of the schools can
impart


Liber LibrO,afn: It's Structure. Limitations, and Pr
pose: A Friendly Communication TO Reluctant Scep"e'
Charles scrbner e. Coz The motive OF this work may be
stated as the desire to ascertain to what extent the trad
tonal claims of the Book Of Books must be surrendered
10 the results of modern critical inquiry The author has
in view class Of sceptcs whose faith In the accreteu
doctrines of the Church has been shaken but who are re-
lucant 10 give up the religion Of their ancestors ana the
teachings of their childhood without further research
and examination. There is multitude Of young men, lie
believes who have been pepexed by the reasonngs ana
conclusions Of popular writers regard to the prevalent
ideas OF religion whose position has heen too often mis-
understood They not Knockers OF sacred things they
cherish reverence for the faith in which they nave
been brought up and persons Of pure and exemplary
lives Nor do they deny the truth Of Christianity orthat
the Bible is the OF books But they cannot see any
reason for admitting its Divine character, and It's IN
falibe authority As rule they have wish to under
mine the faith of others They would not deprive any
one of consultations that dear TO him. Thelr spirit
is critical not contemptuous historical but not nolerant
Where others enthusiasts, they are calm and judicial
They dsbeeYe in miracles hut have no desire to contend
with those who hold to them Questions which with
many involve the Of life and death are regarded by
them with supreme Indifference. On the subject OF III
spration they allow claim Of the Bible TO H. IN any
peculiar sense but maintain that all truly great men are
inspired. The author Of tins volume has no sympathy
with their doubts chershcs esteem for their char
acter and wishes their difficulties by making
certain CONCESSIONS In this point Of view, his work pos
sesses no inconsderablc interest II is like the expert
mcnt Of the mariner to tighten the vessel In danger OF
shipwrcc by throwing overheard portion Of the cargo
Tie first point OF discussion is the nature Of inspiration
On this question the author comedies that too much has
been claimed for the Bible and that the idea Of ITS infa
by in every portion of its contents is untenable He
argues that the Scriptures themselves nowhere put for
ward such prctenson aud that although rs a whole,
they may be regarded in certain sense as the Work OF
tho Divine minds, it by means follows that all
parts are divincy inspired, ntalby true. or even
profitable for instruction in doctrine and practice We
need not be nrcgard the literal accuracy any
thing in the Pentatcuch Iti not important 70 our trust
in tho Bible whether the two accounts Of the creation IN
Genesis can be rccOnced with each other; whether tho


six days spoken Of mean six Of days, periods OF
long or short duration; whether the narrative Of the
Fa is to be understood literally, 70 be taken as an
alegory or some other figure OF speech Tic principle
by winch we may distinguish between what is human
and what divine in the Bible is to be found in the eli


ghtened aud purified reason All moral teaching
worthy Of the name urged, addresses Itself 20 the
consciousness Of those to whom it speaks. And this i'
true OF the Bible pretminent degree Like the sun
in heaven 10 is seen by its light without spiritual
insight. nothing is dsceruod which takes hold Of the
spt or influences the character Until this is received
truth itself is but opinion, and d0.s not vt1zc be-
cause IL is not itself vital Nor miracles 20 be re-
carded as tho exclusive foundation OF the Christian
faith is the excellence OF the doctrine which gives
probability TO the miracle although the admission OF the
supernatural is essential 10 the acceptance Of any
divine revelation whatever for revelation, II any
thing at all, is itself a miracle. In general,
the author conducts the discussion with fair
ness and moderation. Although he percciyes the
necessity Of yielding something 20 tho spirit " The age
he chershos firm conviction Of tie essential truth OF the
Bible He regards this question one Of infinite mo-
meat and believes that the life death OF modern
society hangs upon the The influence Of his work.
on the whole may considered favorable TO freedom
Of inquiry. and hospitable reception Of ideas,
although it IS not marked by any striking intellectual
| ability or attractiveness OF style