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Notices of Books.

Internal History of German Protestantism since the Middle of Last Century. By CH. FRED. AUG. KAHNIS, D.D., Professor of Theology in the University of Leipsic. Translated from the German by the Rev. Theodore Meyer, Hebrew Tutor in the New College, Edinburgh. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

It is with peculiar pleasure that we welcome this work of Dr. Kahnis'. So little is known in this country of the later religious life of Germany, and our impressions of it are often so confused and erroneous, that we cannot but feel grateful to one who tells us the story of it in an orderly and systematic form, while investing it, at the same time, with the charm of an agreeable and fluent style. We are apt to forget that, between the Reformation and the present time, there existed a religious life in Germany at all. With the exception of a few meagre chapters in our Church histories, and a few still more meagre biographies of Pietists, published by some of our religious societies, we are left in utter ignorance of it. It is true that in Germany, as in this country, the great reaction of Protestantism passed away, during the eighteenth century, into a low utilitarian infidelity; that the Christian life ceased to be national, and existed only in isolated forms; that instead of Luther and Melancthon, men like Wolff and Spinoza came to be the leaders of thought. But the seventeenth century, so rich in godly life, in pious deeds, in its brave and holy hymns, in its noble systems of theology; and the nineteenth, with its yearning for truth and life, its bold manly thought, its wide Christian philosophy, its subtle criticism, and, pervading and colouring all these, its fierce conflict between the negative philosophies and the positive faith, these are epochs of intense interest to all who delight in the welfare and development of the kingdom of God.

Dr. Kahnis confines his history within the last hundred years. He thus includes two distinct and opposite periods, strongly contrasted and divided, though such a division can never be logically accurate, by the boundary line which separates this century from the preceding. The latter half of the last century exhibits the last and worst stage of infidelity, materialism and the popular philosophy; the first half of this present, the beginning of a new era, when, amid much doubt and scepticism, and in a

time of infinite confusion, the religious life has again put forth fresh and beautiful blossoms, and already bears rich and abundant fruit. The one is a picture of death; the other of life; and both are drawn by the author with rare skill and power. The book is naturally divided into two parts, corresponding to the periods of which it treats. The period of Illuminism,-which Frederic II. aptly enough expressed to consist in "enlightening the head and civilising the manners,"occupies the first. The relation of Protestantism to the spurious philosophy which sprung from it in the eighteenth century, and of the men who founded this philosophy to each other, the pernicious influence of English and French Deism on German religious thought, the rise and spread of Humanism, which sought to level all nationalities, all family traditions, all difference of social position, and to sink the personality of men in their humanity, and the various modes in which the universal tendency to scepticism affected literature and the social life, are the subjects of the admirable introductory chapter. The author next proceeds to develop the theological tendencies of the time, and to show how, in spite of, and even through such men as Bengel, Crusius, Oetingen on the one side, and Mosheim, Ernesti, and Michaelis on the other, the principle of Illuminism found its way, and finally gave birth to the rationalism and supernaturalism which reached their height in the early part of this century. The second part is occupied with the "Renovation." The new philosophy represented by Schelling, and the new theology, which found its fittest type in Schleiermacher, are traced in their manifold and mutual influences down to the present day. The different schools of theology which sprung up, are carefully distinguished; their influence, present position, and their connexion with the progress of thought in Germany are accurately marked; and the many beautiful and healthy forms in which the new life is manifesting itself in the Church, the school and the mission are diligently and lovingly recorded.

Dr. Kahnis belongs to the ultra-Lutheran party in Germany. In saying so, we award his book a very high praise. It is written with a striking candour and impartiality. The facts necessary to the elucidation of the history are neither dis

torted nor suppressed. And though we may not at all times agree with the judgment the author forms, though his estimate of particular movements, such as the "Kirchentay," and the "Inner Mission," appears strongly tinged by his peculiar theory of the Church, yet we feel that he judges honestly and thoughtfully, and if we hold his estimate a wrong one, it is he himself who affords the grounds of our opinion. The history of German Protestantism is the work of a widehearted, scholarly, and erudite man, who is gifted at the same time with a healthy freshness, and a power of graphic and

pictorial writing; and we feel confident that the unusual interest with which it has been hailed by men of all parties in Germany, will also attend its reception in our own country. It is rendered into excellent and intelligent English, and retains in the translation all the ease and vivacity of the original. Mr. Clark has been somewhat harshly blamed for the imperfect translation of some of the early works in his admirable series, and we trust that, for his own advantage, as well as that of the public, he may continue to obtain the services of one so capable as the present translator.

NOTE BY THE EDITOR.

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THE Editor closes a seventh volume | Menzies, who every year since the Magawith his hearty thanks to his kind subscribers, and heartier still to his kind contributors, for the support and encouragement he has received from both.

He begins another volume, and probably the last, with the usual good intentions, fair promises, and bright hopes of fulfilling both; but also with the usual fears and misgivings! He asks one other trial from his friends.

The Editor takes this opportunity of replying, once for all, to one or two anonymous correspondents, by protesting that he never announced or intended the Magazine "solely for Sunday reading," and will not involve himself in so nice a question, as to what this or that reader may deem suited for the holy day. Each must select articles out of the Magazine for himself, as he does books out of the library, or subjects out of his own mind, and such as he deems most suitable for Sabbath. Those who "cannot stand the temptation" (!) may fly from it.

There are several new subjects of practical importance which the Editor hopes to be able to overtake for the next volume. Able and tried friends have promised him their aid. Alas! one friend, Professor Allan

zine commenced, has contributed to its pages valuable papers, especially upon the Missions of the Church, has been called home. Great is his gain; but great and bitter is the loss of his many friends. His noble catholic spirit,—his readiness for every good work, and earnest zeal in doing it,—his gentle, pleasing manners,—his high and refined sense of all that was true, and lovely, and of good report, made him respected, trusted, and loved by men of all parties, and by Christians of all churches, But only those who had the privilege of enjoying his friendship could estimate the quiet depths of his spiritual life, the tenderness of his conscience, the constant overflowings of his love, and the touching humility and unselfishness of his disposition.

It is only when such men leave us, and their light is here extinguished, that we in some degree realise what they have been to us, and what a precious gift from God in "this present evil world" is even one man who truly loves God and his neighbour; and what a glorious world that must be where all are just men made perfect," and "like the angels of God!"

END OF VOLUME SEVENTH.

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PATON AND RITCHIE, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.

THE

EDINBURGH CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE

APRIL 1856-MARCH 1857

VOLUME VIII

PATON AND RITCHIE

3 SOUTH HANOVER STREET, EDINBURGH

MDCCCLVII

INDEX.

Indian Despatch, 58.

America, Spirit of Modern Unitarianism in, 267. | India Missions, 52.
American Religious Societies, Statistics of, 31.
Appeal to the Church in behalf of Scotchmen
Abroad, 47.

India, Our Mission in, 207, 247, 301, 343.

Archer Butler, Extracts from Sermons by, 168. Judas and Saul, 159.
Arrow, the, from the Little Bow, 275.

Judas' Testimony to Christ, 159.

Bengel's Account of his own Religious Experi- Kitto, Dr. John, 136.
ence, 155.

Bible, The, and Eastern Travel, 308,

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Leighton, Archbishop, Extracts from, 25.

Mackenzie, Henry and Frank, 169.
Mercantile Morality, 116.

Mission Field, Gleanings from the, 127.
in India, Our, 207, 247, 301, 343.

Missions, Foreign, 278.

Newton, Adelaide L., 236

Note by the Editor, 380.

Notice to Correspondents, 288.
Notes from my Crimean Journal, 89, 146.

NOTICES OF BOOKS-

Eadie's Analytical Concordance to the Holy
Scriptures, 32.

Anderson's Pleasures of Home, 62,

Gloag's Treatise on Justification by Faith, 160.
Brodie's Rational Creation, 192.

The Tongue of Fire, 379.
Nova Scotia, the Church in, 282.
Nursery, Wellington Industrial, 276.

Parish Schools and the Privy Council Grants,
244.

Patagonian Mission, the, 87, 378,

Education of Women, is it what it ought to Petra, 115.

be? 121.

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