1848.] Theological Value. 233 We specified, cent German writers fall under this censure. some little time since,* the case of so distinguished a writer as Augusti (Denkwürdigkeiten aus der Christlichen Archäologie, etc.). His want of a "nice appreciation of the comparative value of the testimony he adduces, as affected by the time of the writer," and the proof or suspicion of forgery or interpolation, and his neglect to refer events and usages to their proper epochs, were mentioned as serious defects in his work, in many respects one of great research and learning. At the time we offered this criticism we had not seen Krabbe's Essay, in which a similar censure occurs. After some remarks on the arbitrary assumptions of Augusti, the author of the Essay observes, that," throughout his whole investigation, he never gained a firm position, to which, amidst his abundant use of these documents [the Constitutions] in his great archæological work, he might go back, and sustain himself." Mr. Coleman's volume on the "Antiquities of the Christian Church," founded mainly upon the work of Augusti, very naturally partook of the same defect. We are the more disposed to notice this looseness in the use of the materials of history and criticism, as we think that we discover growing evidence of it in several of the productions of German theologians at the present day, and the school of Strauss is not wholly faultless in this particular. As Unitarians, certainly, we can have no ground for wishing to undervalue the testimony of the Constitutions, or deny them the least particle of the respect to which they can be considered as reasonably entitled; for they are wholly with us, so far, at least, as regards the first seven books, to which is generally assigned an earlier origin than to the eighth. We have already spoken of their care to preserve the supremacy of the Father, and to assert the subordinate and derived nature of the Son; and their testimony on these points, we have said, is not casual and isolated, it interpenetrates their whole language. The old form of ascription at the conclusion of prayers, we may observe, is retained, giving glory to the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Nor is there a trace to be found of the theory of total depravity or of kindred doctrines of the Augustinian and Calvinistic theology. Many frivolous and many foolish things occur in these books; * Christian Examiner for Jan. 1845. Christian Examiner for Nov. 1844. VOL. XLIV. 4TH S. VOL. IX. NO. II. † p. 298. 21 but they will be searched in vain for any germs of the metaphysical or scholastic subtilties of subsequent ages. We will conclude our notice of them with two speci mens, - one of the ridiculous, and the other of a serious character. The first is Peter's account of what happened to Simon the magician. "Now, when he [Simon] was in Rome, he mightily disturbed e Church, and subverted many, and brought them over to himelf, and astonished the Gentiles with his skill in magic; insomuch that once, in the middle of the day, he went into their theatre, and commanded the people that I also be brought into the theatre, and promised that he would fly in the air. And when all the people were in suspense at this, I prayed by myself. And, indeed, he was carried up into the air by demons, and flew on high in the air, saying that he was returning into heaven, and that he would supply them with good things from thence. And the people making acclamations to him, as to a god, I stretched out my hands to heaven with my mind, and besought God, through the Lord Jesus, to throw down this pestilent fellow, and to destroy the power of those demons who made use of it for the seduction and perdition of men; to dash him against the ground, and bruise him, but not to kill him. And then, fixing my eyes on Simon, I said to him, 'If I be a man of God, and a real apostle of Jesus Christ, and a teacher of piety, and not of deceit, as thou art, O Simon, I command those wicked powers of the apostate from piety, by which Simon the magician is carried, to let go their hold, that he may fall down headlong from his height, and be exposed to the laughter of those who have been seduced by him.' "When I had said these words, Simon was deprived of his powers, and fell down headlong with a great noise, and was violently dashed against the ground, and had his hip and anklebones broken. And the people cried out, saying, 'There is one God only, whom Peter rightfully preacheth in truth.' And many left him; but some, who were worthy of perdition, continued in his wicked doctrine. And thus this most atheistical heresy was fixed in Rome. The devil wrought also by the rest of the false apostles." pp. 137, 138. On the next page commences what is called "An Exposition of Apostolic Preaching," which would not at the present day, we suppose, be regarded as coming up to the standard of orthodox sects. The following is the first paragraph. "But we, who are the children of God and the sons of peace, 1848.] Torrey's Neander. 235 preach the holy and right word of piety, and declare one God only, the Lord of the Law and of the Prophets, the Maker of the world, the Father of Christ; not a being that caused himself or begat himself, as they suppose, but eternal, and without origin, and dwelling in light inaccessible; not second, or third, or one of many, but the only one eternally; not unknown, or that must not be spoken of, but that was preached by the Law and the Prophets; the Almighty, the Supreme Governor of all things, having authority over all; the God and Father of the Only-begotten, and of the First-born of the whole creation; one God, the Father of one Son, not of many; the Source sending forth one Comforter by Christ; the Maker of the other orders, the one Creator of the several creatures by Christ, the same their Preserver and Legislator by him; the Author of the resurrection and of the judgment, and of the retribution which shall be made by him; and that his Son himself was pleased to become man, and lived among men without sin, and suffered, and rose from the dead, and returned to Him that sent him." pp. 139, 140. The publication of Professor Torrey's translation of Neander's Church History, the second volume of which has just appeared, affords another gratifying proof that the minds of our theologians are not wholly inactive; and the fact, that a bookselling firm can be found willing to incur the risk of issuing such works, for which the demand must be slow and limited, augurs well for the interests of American scholarship. We hope the enterprise may prove successful. Neander's second volume carries down the history of the Church from the end of the Diocletian persecution to the time of Gregory the Great, that is, from A. D. 312 to A. D. 590, a period of great importance, whether we regard the external diffusion of Christianity, the internal organization and discipline of the Church, or the development of its doctrines and the distinguished names that adorn it. During this period lived Arius and Athanasius, Eusebius, Jerome, Chrysostom, Pelagius and Augustine, and a multitude of inferior note; the doctrine of the Trinity in a manner received its finishing touches; the most celebrated of the ancient councils were held; the ambition of the clergy became rife, superstition grew apace, and events transpired of the utmost significance in the history of Christianity. The portion of Neander's work embraced in this volume is marked by his usual traits, his tendency to mysticism and occasional obscurity, redeemed, however, by his laboriousness, his fidelity and earnestness, his great learning and thoroughness. We do not always assent to his views; we think that he sometimes refines and theorizes too much, that he finds a meaning in his authors of which they were themselves unconscious, attributing to them his own idiosyncrasies of thought; still, we hold his name and writings in great respect, and sincerely thank Professor Torrey for laying open to the American public treasures of so great worth. A. L. ART. VI.-ITALY AND PIUS THE NINTH.* Ir evidence were wanting in support of the philosophical theory, that all political and religious movements are in accordance with a central law and tend to a principle of unity, the swift succession and the order of such movements would both confirm and illustrate the theory. No great interest of humanity can now be confined to a narrow range, or be isolated in space or time. The questions which engage local communities are debated for them far beyond their borders, and have almost the same universality as have questions of science. And how swiftly do the great events which involve political and religious changes succeed each other! The last decade of years has been distinguished by a most remarkable series of revolutions. Leaving mere political concerns unmentioned, though both continents would furnish most signal matters for rehearsal, each of the last ten years has given birth to as marked a movement in the religious interests of the world as can be dated in any previous year in the long interval back to the birth of Jesus Christ. Using the word religion in its broadest sense, as including all the moral, philanthropic, and ecclesiastical relations of Christendom, what memorable incidents are recorded already in the 1. Italy: General Views of its History and Literature in Reference to its Present State. By L. MARIOTTI. London. 1841. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 376, 422. 2. Dublin Review, Vol. XVIII., Article VIII. The Italian Insurrection and Mr. Mazzini. 3. Facts and Figures from Italy. By DON JEREMY SAVONAROLA, etc. Being the Roman Correspondence of the London "Daily News" for 1846-7. London: Bentley. 1847. 12mo. pp. 309. 4. Italy, Past and Present. By L. MARIOTTI. London: Chapman. 1848. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 479, 444. 1848.] Recent Works. 237 religious history of the last half-score of years! We have before us the crowding images with which they fill the picture of passing events, so full that we can scarce study them as they move across the scene. The emancipation of the slaves at Jamaica, Puseyism, the Free Church of Scotland, the German Catholic Church, the opening of China to Christian missionaries, the excitements involved in the admission of the Jesuits or their exclusion which have agitated three European countries, the establishment of Christian schools in Egypt under Mehemet Ali, the accession of Pius IX. to the Papal throne, and the removal of civil disabilities from the Jews in England, these are all religious movements, and they are only the most prominent of those which have occurred in the brief period of time just defined. So hurried is the progress of human affairs, so complicated are the relations of the parts of Christendom, so intense, though momentary, is the interest which each signal change excites, that common judgment would accord with philosophy in affirming that all things are rushing on to some grand conclusion. - One of the great central points of interest for the civilized world at this time is the Papal throne and the States of the Church. That there has been popular exaggeration and extravagance as to the relative importance of "the movement in Italy," has been already made evident to the observing. That some other incidents and events are as big with momentous consequences to the world at large as is any thing that has occurred or that can occur in Italy, is undeniable. Italy and the Roman Pontiff do not now have under their control the peace or the larger interests of Christendom. Only so far as events there harmonize with or impede the workings of a reformatory spirit in the world at large, can they claim attention or invite discussion. In addressing ourselves, therefore, to the theme which we have chosen, we would not exaggerate its relative interest. We must remind our readers that we write at some disadvantage, as new developments appear from day to day. We have given the titles of some of the recent publications which have presented the affairs of Italy with the freshest interest to our notice. All the religious sects, and all political parties, have turned their attention, as by common consent, to the theme, and all the journals and reviews have furnished their readers with information upon it. We have been diligent to gather up these scattered and various helps. |