The Place of Christ in Modern Theology. By A. M.
Fairbairn, D.D. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—" Our discussion," writes Dr. Fairbairn in his preface, " will fall into two main parts : one his- torical and critical, and one positive and constructive." Both parts are treated with conspicuous ability. Dr. Fairbairn's learning is great ; but it is never permitted to overpower his originality and freedom of mind. While he knows with a thoroughness in which few contemporary divines can equal him, what others have thought, he is always determined to think for himself. The freedom with which he moves in regions made perilous by the controversies of many centuries is quite remark• able. It is impossible to help wondering now and again, as we read, what his fellow. Congregationalists feel. They will thoroughly agree with him, for instance, when he writes that Christianity stood among the ancient faiths as a strange and extraordinary thing,—a priestless religion ; " but what will they say to his reason : "It so stood, because its God did not need to be propitiated, but was propitious " P And yet, less than fifty years ago, Dr. Ross was condemned, with the almost unanimous approval of the Non- conforming bodies, for maintaining this very doctrine, that God was the Reconciler, not the one that needed to be reconciled. And, more recently, Mr. T. T. Lynch was, if not actually expelled, put under the ban by his orthodox brethren for much the same teaching. However, it would be ungracious to continue this style of criticism. It is sufficient to acknowledge the thoroughly satis- factory position, as far as liberality and candour are concerned, which Dr. Fairbairn takes up. We do not always agree with him ; but his work is, without doubt, one of the most valuable and comprehensive contributions to theology that has been made during this generation.
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