Shadows of the Coming Truth t a Consideration of the
Broad Aspects of Religion, Visored in Connection with the Doctrines of
Development. (Elliot Stock.)—The full descriptive title of this book is given, because it indicates pretty clearly the contents, though by no means giving a full. impression of the many subjects therein brought forward, any one of which might furnish matter not only for endless discussion, but for boundless divergence of opinion. The author is indeed travelling and loading his readers amongst shadows, though ho seems, by the help of the Great Pyramid, to have made up his own mind very decidedly as to what the " cotoing truth" may be; only, as the substance in its full reality can but rarely be foretold by its shadow, there is a probability that the main truths of religion and philosophy accepted by tho •next generation may differ considerably from those sketched for us here. Tho author writes from an apparently Christian point of view, and quotes largely, and we must add, often loosely, from both the Old and the Now Testament, and yet he seems to be prepared to give up the human personality of Christ. He writes of our immortality as of an accepted fact, and yet appears to think it consists only in some mysterious in- fluence linking us with those who come after us. The remarks on the main truths underlying all old religions appear to be derived from the researches and conclusions of Max Midler ; and for the remarks on '" Pain," the author seems to be indebted to Horace Bushnell. But we cannot here indicate more of its characteristics. There is a solemn responsibility incurred by the writer, and, in a lesser degree, by the reader of such a book, so momentous are its themes ; but turning for a moment from its more serious aspect, wo must notice a remark made in illustration of one of what the author calls his "summarized conclusions," towards the end of the book. He says 'that in nature high tones represent the peaceful and joyous and refined; and low tones, the threatening and distressing ; but surely the high pitch of a shriek is far more " distressing " than any growl, and though the soprano of the thrush is joyous indeed, the alto of the blackbird is oven more "refined." The author calls thisimpression of his, from which we happen to differ, a noticeable "fact," just as in a previous chapter ho speaks of the development of mind from matter as an indisputable " fact ;" and in this confusion of things that differ—this calling by the name of " fact " matters which have not yet attained that stability—we point out what seems to be a great defect in the author's treatment of his subject.
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