Contemporary Literature [pp. 175-196]

178 CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE. [January,
course cannot be strictly transferred. But as far as justifying righteousness is
concerned, a real imputation is allowed, in fact advocated as scriptural and
necessary: "There must be an equivalent for obedience to the precept, which
God wanted and the sinning subject did not give; and this, when clearly apprehended, will be seen to be a rio-hteousness which God may accelt in place
of the righteousness which the sinner should have rendered, and which, when
applied, will satisfy the end of the law."
The bearings of these views will be at once appreciated. We give them
not for the sake of discussion, but to show how difficult it would be to classify
the author in respect to "the schools." His system is wrought out, as is
usual with him, quite independent of names or parties. It aims rather at a
reconciliation of parties than to perpetuate past feuds. Those who may dissent from some of his formulas or conclusions, will still be instructed by his
fairness and stimulated by his theories. And the work is instructive for the
additional reason, that it shows how the most speculative of our metaphysicians can still receive and expound God's revelation in a reverential spirit. A
high speculative talent and a high orthodoxy may go hand in hand.-H. B. S.
The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment Vindicated against Recent Attacks.
A Tractate. By the Rev. Professor WATfS, D. D., Assembly's College,
Belfast. Belfast.- William Mullan.
It is our impression that the times demand able and thorough defenses of
the doctrine here vindicated. It is quite certain that some of the different
forms of denying this doctrine are claiming tolerance and gaining headway
in evangelical and orthodox communions that have hitherto excluded it as a
fundamental error. Nor can it be overlooked that appeals are widely circulated among evangelical Christians, contending for the admission of Unitarians and Universalists within the circle of recognized evangelical fellowship. This is true not only in this country, but, if we are rightly informed,
even more widely in Britain.
This tract, which, with a different type and page, might easily make a
small volume, is a "Tract for the Times." The argument is ably put, and
the fallacy of current objections decisively shown. The a priori arguments
from the moral intuitions of man and the perfections of God, against eternal
punishment, are vigorously refuted. The absurdity of the scriptural exegesis in support of Restorationism and Annihilationism is exposed. And they
are exposed more particularly as they have been lately urged by men of
mark in the Broad Church party in Great Britain.
Another more important, because more extended and exhaustive volume,
and fully adapted to the various humors and shifts of Universalism among
ourselves, has been issued by the Methodist Book Concern, (Nelson & Phillips:'New York), in obedience to the request of the Preachers' Meetings of
Boston and Worcester Districts. It is entitled:
Universalismn not of the Bible; being an Examination of more than One
Hundred Texts of Scripture, in Controversy between Evangelical Christians
and Universalists, comprising a Refutation of Universalist Theology, and an