It would allow an accidental vacancy to be filled at once, without leaving the minority in the particular district without representation. The new figures from this district would be substituted for the old ones in the aggregate vote of each party; each aggregate would be divided as before; and the quotient would be the number of votes which every representative of the party in question would now be entitled to cast. In satisfactorily meeting this dilemma, the system differs from all other proposed plans. It would put a stop to the crying sin of "gerrymandering” by making it useless. A vote, wherever cast, would count. It would greatly diminish the effect of fraud. ARTICLE IX. — NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. THEOLOGICAL, RELIGIOUS, AND PHILOSOPHICAL. FORGIVENESS AND LAW.*-This volume has been awaited with the more interest by many of Dr. Bushnell's admirers from vague expectations raised as to the relation it would bear to the views propounded in some of his foregoing works. That relation is clearly stated in the "advertisement" or preface. It proposes "a discontinuance of the last half," the third and fourth parts, of his "former treatise, The Vicarious Sacrifice," and "is put forth to occupy the place made vacant." His "design is, at some future time, to put the former first half and this last new half together, and recompose the treatise in a form to more satisfactorily represent what" he "would like to say of the whole subject." The "not less weighty part," which he retains, relates "to Christ as a power on character." That which this work supersedes is "what is included topically in our theology under the head of atonement" -the God-ward side or bearing of Christ's sacrifice-which he admits " may justly be more dear to us all that so many of the best and holiest believers of the past ages have found their life centered in it." It is characteristic of his discernment and his candor thus to appreciate the importance of this department of the subject, which to many he has before seemed to underrate or deny; yet we think injustice is done by overstatement to "the vast majority of disciples" when he says that to them this "has been and still is the whole topic;" for, ably and eloquently as he has expounded the bearing of Christ's work "as a power on character," we cannot concede that it has been by them so entirely overlooked. Rather we should say that according to their own testimony Christ's power on character in their experience has lain largely in their conception, however imperfect or partial this may have been, of his sacrificial work. One thing is certain and really wonderful to all readers of this volume who know the author, and that is his indomitable enterprise and unabated intellectual vigor, amidst physical infirmities that have clung to him * Forgiveness and Law, By HORACE BUSHNELL. 256. 1874. Grounded in Principles interpreted by Human Analogies. these many years as if ordained for a new proof of the mind's superiority to the body, and especially of "man's unconquerable will." After the ten volumes (enumerated before the title-page) which have brought him desirable renown, another man's ambition might have rested on his laurels, but like a prophet he has still wrought on by the momentum of his message, nor has his genius, as tried by former achievements, here come short of itself. The powerful writing in all these pages scarcely needed his name to indicate the author. For compass of language, vivid imagery, flow and fervor of thought, and what we must call "inspirational" gleams and flashes, they will not suffer by comparison with their predecessors. Particularly we refer to the whole account in the first chapter of the "propitiation" required to the sentiments of the divine nature through the "cost made" in order to forgiveness, and to what is said in the first article of the fourth chapter, of "sin" as distinguished from "sins," and of the "defects of the old methods" as compared with Christ's reproofs. We make no attempt to set forth the doctrine of the book, which our readers will hasten to learn for themselves. The introduction shows how the author conceives himself to have been led into new views here opened, reaffirms "the moral view of atonement," notes modern changes in theological thought, and vindicates, in view of the times, a revision of current doctrine. The first chapter on "Forgiveness and Propitiation, without Expiation," while not taking back what he has before maintained, or accepting the "legal" or "forensic" views, is an advance on his former position, setting forth a more positive doctrine, ascribing to Christ's work a real propitiation on the divine side, and thus far meeting a want left by the earlier treatise. He rightly appeals to human analogies for the necessity of some propitiation; but here his rationalistic admirers may complain of something like anthropomorphism, while other admirers, more orthodox, may ask why he should not as well appeal also to other human analogies in the legal and judicial processes of society. The sort of propitiation he contends for does not seem to us so novel as he supposes, nor so contrary to current conceptions. The citations from Shedd and Wessel (page 58) could be accepted by many others in the same qualified sense. as by him. Yet there is great power and novel impressiveness in Dr. Bushnell's interpretation here of the divine from the human. We suppose too that many an orthodox believer has substantially meant what is expressed so well in the citation from Edwards (p. 20) in the Introduction. Prof. Hovey, in the same book which is partly a review of Dr. Bushnell's earlier discussion, when adopting the most extreme doctrine of Christ's substitution even to the extent of his partaking of the remorse of sinners, seems to resolve it into substantially this. The second chapter, on "Law and Commandment," the latter importing Christ's exposition and gracious work, we think will be held to be even more valuable than the first. The two words indeed, exegetically considered, may not be admitted to bear the stress here laid on them as related to one another, and the author disclaims for them (p. 100) the uniform rigid distinction. Yet the two factors in redemption here intended are admirably so set forth as not to displace or dis. honor either, but rather to harmonize and exalt both in the work of man's recovery. The third chapter, on "Justification by Faith," reaffirms and amplifies what the author is understood to have maintained before, with the same divergence from the received Protestant doctrine. In admiring the great Reformer while dissenting from his favorite "article," he is still obliged to say, "Luther's head did not understand his heart." We think, however, that in so entirely excluding from justification what is called the "legal" or "forensic" element, he differs as well from the Roman Catholic as from the Lutheran doctrine; for instead of making justification and sanctification "virtually identical" (p. 210), we understand the Romanists by the former term (whatever else they include) to make account of the pardon of sin on the ground of the atonement, holding the expiation and merits of Christ to be the foundation of forgiveness. Pardon on this ground they would make a positive, though not the main, element of justification. The fourth chapter is on "the threefold doctrine of Christ concerning Himself," or the Spirit's work "in and by Christ's work," in reproving" the world of sin and of rightousness and of judgment" (John xyi, 7-15). We must still, with those whom we reckon the best critics, interpret "the prince of this world" of Satan, while the author's doctrine as before developed makes it evil as "a fearfully despotic organizer" (p. 237). The largest treatment of the passage under consideration we have found in Hare's "Mission of the Comforter." But Dr. Bushnell's discussion here is exceedingly rich and suggestive, and indeed we scarcely know any part of his writings more vivid in conception, or at once more just in thought and brilliant in style than some of these pages. In fact, we have become so accustomed to these high qualities in his treatises and sermons that to note them may seem superfluous. We may add that while it is his lot, and one that he accepts, to differ in important respects from the several "systems of theology," the followers of each, though disliking his dissent on one point, welcome his agreement with them on another, and he must needs find many earnest readers. He sheds light on every subject that he treats of, though it may not take the course nor exhibit the results most expected or desired. Dealing freely with ancient forms of truth, it is his habit to despoil them of some cherished meaning and then to enrich them with another to be also cherished. In the meantime such thinking as his quickens his readers, and we may be sure that, vindicating as it does the supernatural element in Christianity and the divinity and grace of its Head, in the result it will have enriched theology. BOWNE ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF HERBERT SPENCER.*—This volume will be recognized by our readers as a reproduction, with some modifications, of Essays that appeared in the New Englander during the year 1872. Few who then read them will have forgotten the searching criticism to which they subjected Mr. Spencer's Principles of Philosophy, or the lucid and damaging exposure of his errors which they so successfully made. It is seldom that a critic, before unknown, has attracted by his first published writings so general an attention as was bestowed upon these essays; or awakened so lively an interest in the abstract themes of philosophy. There The attempt itself is quite an adventurous one. A new comer, with no prestige of reputation, and little aid of experience, enters the lists, for a strife a l'outrance with the disciplined and mature combatant who has long held public admiration, and who now, since the death of Hamilton and Mill, is the acknowledged champion of his party; but the issue is not even doubtful. has been but one voice among those who are accustomed to the critical estimate of such conflicts. Mr. Bowne's conduct of the contest may be somewhat open to criticism, on the ground that it is more eager and enthusiastic than considerate towards his distinguished opponent; but that is a small matter. The unusual vigor of his onset cannot be questioned; the general fairness of his allegations is unimpeachable; and the essential success of his bold undertaking is beyond dispute. *The Philosophy of Herbert Spencer: being an Examination of the First Principles of his System. By B. P. BowNE, A.B. New York: Nelson & Phillips. Cincinnati: Hitchcock & Walden. |