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inherited principles with the utmost tenacity. But, after all, we do not find them exhibiting the spirit of Party. They seem to have no private objects. They think and speak for themselves; no man putting his conscience into the keeping of another. -And, yet, amidst the fullest freedom of thought and speech, there was evidently among these persons a most unusual unanimity of opinion; not the cold, dry, hard unanimity of men who were indifferent to truth, and resolved, for some private purpose, to combine; but that of men drawn to a common centre by some great and mysterious force.

And finally-and this was their grand distinguishing mark -they had found such a common centre, in their deep homage and love to that glorious Lord to whom, as Ministers and men, they had solemnly consecrated themselves. Christ was in all their thoughts. To do Him honor, to welcome His revealed word, to build on His promises, to live as in His presence, to rely on His grace, and wrap themselves round in His righteousness, to breathe His spirit, and tread in His steps- these were the great paramount ends and objects for which they lived. They were men of "one mind, in the Lord." They were prepared, according to the measure of human infirmity, to reply to the question, "Lovest thou Me?" in the words of the weak but affectionate disciple, "Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love thee." And while this is the case, neither the ultra-Churchmanship of one party, nor the no- Churchmanship of another, will be able to drive them from the high place which they occupy in the minds of large masses of their countrymen; and, what is of infinitely higher importance, in the favor of the Great Head of the Church.

Believing, then, as we do, that the disclosure of all the mysteries of the Vestry will neither degrade the men themselves, nor injure the cause so precious to their hearts, we must renew the expression of our gratitude for the volume which Archdeacon Pratt has put into our hands. These gold diggings, we think, have answered their purpose. Friendly hands will get rid for themselves of the quartz with which the ore is sometimes encrusted; and they will find in the residue much precious metal. We shall be surprised if the book is not largely circulated,-if its discussions are not often carefully consulted by perplexed and disturbed minds,—and if large numbers, in the present day, should not be led often to take their stand, by means of this volume, in the "old ways," and hear what the men of half-a-century since have got to say to them. And they will find nothing here which will dispose them to exchange for the fantasies of one party and the scepticism of another, the truths in the faith of which these holy men lived well and died happily.

BRIEF NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Christ et le Siècle. Quatre Discours par Felix Bungener.

Paris, 1856.

THE title of this work in English might be, "The Age in its relation to Christianity." It consists of discourses delivered by the Author at various towns in France, upon special invitation, and with particular reference to the prevalent modes of thought among the men of the present day. They are singularly striking and impressive. We wish the Tract Society would publish, in an attractive form, a really good and readable translation. It would be very useful in our own country. We annex an English version of one passage, as a sample of the tone of the work.

"There are others who set themselves to regard Christianity merely in its elements and social effects. In this point of view they are willing enough to allow it a place-even a conspicuous place-in the history of the human race. They even yield it a certain amount of respect and gratitude; though less, it must be confessed, on account of what it is likely to accomplish in future, than on account of what it has already done. In fine, they flatter themselves that they are just-rigidly just-towards it; and inasmuch as Infidelity has often shewn itself unjust-ridiculously unjust-on these points, they conclude that they and Infidelity have nothing in common. To be a Christian (they consider) is to say every now and then something in praise of Christianity and of Christ: or perhaps even less is required, viz., to say nothing against Christianity. But there is a question which still remains behind, and this question is everything-What is Christianity to you? what is Christ to you ?-To many persons Christ is nothing more nor less than an historical personage; that Jesus who appeared nearly nineteen centuries ago, for the purpose of planting in society the seeds of its future progress; the Teacher who taught that all men are brethren, who spoke eloquently against injustice and oppression-the martyr who did not hesitate to seal with his blood a moral system more admirable and more complete than the world had ever seen before. Such is the Christ, such the Christianity of a large class; such, we might even venture to say, is the Christianity of the Indeed, I have represented it as of a higher order than is always the case; for the progress which men are willing to trace to Christianity as its source, is not always of the best or most noble kind; even if it be not such a progress as would be repudiated by all who have the least measure of true Christianity. Man, in the age of Paganism, made to himself a God after his own image. The present age has done the same with Christ.—True it is, that if it be natural for us to preserve the memory of mere men who have been benefactors to their species, no one can show a better title than Jesus, even on this score, to live in the remembrance of the nations. You are aware that His statue had a place at Rome in the private chapel of a pagan Emperor, and you know that those modern regenerators of society who contrive to rid themselves so readily of Christianity in its doctrinal aspect, are unable with all their efforts to rid themselves of Christ. Let them talk as they will of progress and emancipation, it is but talk; the real merit belongs to another. Everywhere He of Bethlehem crosses their path, and in spite of themselves they are compelled to yield him the palm. But is a Jesus such as this, brethren, your Jesus? Is this the Jesus of Christians, the Jesus of the Gospel? Is this He who came and cast into the midst of a world just

age.

like your own, taken up with cares and pleasures and priding itself on its civilization, that awful saying,One thing is needful? One thing! and what is that one thing? Ah! it is in vain for you to have lived forty, sixty, eighty years in ignorance of it, or it may be in wilfully drowning the thought of it; know it you must one day, either in this world or another. This one thing is the same which he elsewhere calls the good part.' It means salvation-salvation through him. Now to whom is salvation offered? To whom-weigh well the thought-to whom must it, in the very nature of things, be offered? We say in ordinary language, that it is preached to the nations, to the human race. And this is true in the sense that it is preached everywhere, or at least should be so. But it is not on that account the less an individual affair, a work to be wrought out in and for each single soul. There might be but a single Christian on the face of the globe, and he might know nothing of the effects of Christianity on civilization-nay, might be ignorant of the meaning of civilization, yet he would possess, by the sole fact of being a Christian, the one thing needful. Christianity would be Christianity, Salvation would be Salvation, the Saviour would be the Saviour. Is it civilization, is it humanity, that God will bring into judgment? Has a nation, as such, any life beyond the present? Is it not as individuals that we must render our account, and seek to make our own the blessings which result from a Saviour's having come into the world? why then do you tell us of the benefits of Christianity over the world and for the world? I acknowledge them as well as you; but I have something else to acknowledge, something else to preach. When I hear you celebrating them, I should like first of all to feel sure that you are not employing herein, unconsciously, a sort of stratagem by which to escape from its religious influence, and to close your heart against it in its aspect of a divine doctrine and a proclamation of salvation.... Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added to you.' What, let me ask once more, is the earth in its best aspects? What is civilization? What is a people? What is humanity? Is there a heaven to be waited for? Is there a soul to be saved? If so, it is not for humanity, but for souls, for each particular soul, that the Saviour came; and if you allow yourselves, no matter how, to stop short of that point, in the aspect in which you regard Christianity, or in the acceptance which you give to it, rest assured that you neither comprehend nor accept it to any purpose." (p. 40 et seq.)

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

It is enough to say of Spain, that it is still Spain, and, therefore, a country overridden by a vicious Court, an unbelieving priesthood, and intriguing adventurers. And yet we believe that the people have within them all the elements of something better: those "seeds of great thoughts" and great actions, of which Lord Bacon speaks, but which were, in this instance, first trampled down by the heel of tyranny under Philip II., but which, perhaps, if ever the curse of Popery should be removed, may burst the soil, and spring up, and bear fruit a hundred-fold.

Italy, not only in the days of ancient Rome, but ever since, has filled a prominent space in the eyes of European nations. Then, she wrought openly: now, she works more secretly, but not less mischievously for the welfare of other nations; accomplishing by

intrigues what her ancestors achieved by arms. Julius Cæsar was scarcely a less dangerous visitor in a strange land than Cardinal Wiseman and his ecclesiastical coadjutors. We have no reason-at least we hope not-to expect other Gunpowder Plots, but there is always a good deal of mischief going on in the vaults and underground places of Popery; and which, if they do not issue in explosions, and the sudden annihilation of all that is opposed to them, yet do their secret work among the ignorant and unsettled minds which abound in every commonwealth.

Austria, for the present, is our devoted friend; and will be as long as she wants us. It would be too serious a matter to her to restore the mouths of the Danube to Russia, or to throw open her own frontiers to so restless a neighbour, not to assure us of her fidelity, at least till all is safe by land and by sea.

Prussia, however slow to interfere with a strong Power such as Russia, is quick enough in her resentments and threats against Switzerland. She had a right, by treaty, to a sort of Protectorate over Neufchatel, but none to supremacy. A body of Prussian conspirators, who sought, early in the present year, to convert the first into the last, were defeated and imprisoned. Prussia insists. on their liberation without trial. Neufchatel insists on a trial. We must hope that so preposterous a conflict is not to interrupt this short harmony of the Nations. France leans to the side of Prussia.

It is difficult to understand the course which the French Emperor has been pursuing for many months in the present year. It seems incredible to some writers on the subject, that a thirst for mere dissipation should so soon absorb what they call a nobler ambition. And yet, is it anything strange? Where the appetite for excitement is once whetted, it easily fastens on different and even on antagonistic objects. Hannibal, at Capua, was neither the first nor the last of his class. One great mischief of the Emperor's absence from the capital has been, that his Ministers appear to have been playing false as to Russia; and this, perhaps, has led to the new "Conference" at Paris, on the subject of some unfulfilled pledges of Russia to the rest of Europe. It is to be hoped, however, that the Congress is rather for form than for discussion; and that England and France are resolved that Russia shall be forced to fulfil promises from which she would be too happy to escape.

In America, the expiring President has been issuing what may be compared to the "last dying speech" of another class of offenders. It is formidable as respects domestic policy; but with regard to foreign nations, as harmless as could be hoped. Slavery is to be sustained and cherished. Foreign war is to be avoided. The Southern are to set themselves resolutely against the Northern Provinces, and to quench, if it be possible, the ignis fatuus of Emancipation. What a position will the new President occupy! Does he choose to be a captain of Fillibusters and slave-drivers, or the

chosen ruler of a whole nation of freemen? Our American cousins talk sometimes about the ghost of Washington. Were he to present himself to his countrymen amidst the shades of a December night, he could read them some useful lessons on the antagonism of slavery to real greatness and virtue.

The ships have sailed from our Indian ports, which are freighted with an army of assault on Persia. There can be little doubt that Herat has been taken possession of by that power in violation of treaty, and that therefore this Indian war has apologies painfully absent in some former wars. And the success of our arms cannot be regarded as doubtful, unless Russia is, as reported, to bring 500,000 men to the aid of Persia. This, however, is, we should think, a mere flash in the pan, and that not a single gun of the 500,000 will be fired.-One of the most interesting features in the present circumstances of India is the Peshawur Mission, of which a brief but interesting account has been recently published by Mr. Phelps, a chaplain in that Station, who has returned to England for a short time for health. Peshawur is a city of Affghanistan, containing about 80,000 inhabitants. It is subjected to the authority of Great Britain, and is a frontier city to the north-west of India. The English camp is at a short distance from it, between the city and that celebrated Kyber Pass, where our troops were offered as a bloody sacrifice to the folly of incompetent generals and the stratagems of a perfidious enemy. The European authorities in the city, and especially Colonel Edwards— a man who has won for himself the highest honours as a Christian and a soldier-have thrown their broad shield over the Missionaries. And the Church Missionary Society has entered on the field with its usual alacrity; and, in the end, it may be hoped that those rich plains may be brought under the share and harrow of Gospel cultivation. Have we not here a key to the mystery why the Great Father should permit a company of merchants to subdue the millions of India? The next passage through the Kyber Pass may be that of conquering Missionaries, bearing aloft the standard of the Cross.

Intelligence has been received during the month, which renders it probable that one obstacle to the establishment of Tae-pa-wing's supremacy in China is removed, inasmuch as it is reported that the "Eastern king," who described himself as the Holy Ghost, and who appears to be little better than a political adventurer, clothing himself in the robe of a specious Christianity to accomplish his own ambitious purposes, has been slain in a conflict with the Northern king. If this be true, Tae-pa-wing probably may be at once recognised as the undisputed Captain of the movement, and at least a part of the blasphemous absurdities mixed up with the professed Christian faith of the "Eastern king" will be swept away. In the mean time, there can be little doubt that the Imperial Government is becoming every day weaker and more corrupt, and therefore, that it presents a less formidable resistance to the

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