Guesses at the Riddle of Existence
“GUESSES AT THE RIDDLE OF EXISTENCE, AND OTHER ESSAYS ON KINDRED SUBJECTS,” by Goldwin Smith, D.C.L. Finely printed; 244 octavo pages; cloth, $1.25. The Macmillan Company, New York and London. The book is a blow against the orthodox creeds, and the Bible. The author states a known truth when he says that “liberal theologians have at least resigned the belief in miracles, rationalizing whenever they can and minimizing where that process fails;” and that these same “liberal theologians,” and others “not ranked as liberal, if they are learned and open-minded, have given up the authenticity and authority of Genesis. With these they must apparently give up the Fall, the Redemption, and the Incarnation.” And this is both fact and logic as regards the theologians, but not as regards the Book. Professor Smith doubts, doubts, doubts, Old Testament, New Testament, Prophecy, Miracle. And yet he calls the truth which Christ preached “the Word of Life.” He pleads for freedom, but binds himself about with the shackles of a doubting egotism. The Master may well say to him as to the philosophers of old, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” If Professor Smith and the ultra critics and doubters knew these, doubt would vanish, and they would see in the Word of God the revelation of the all-imperfect human, and the mighty regeneratory power of God. Christianity is not a system of theology, but a life. It is received and appropriated not by intellectual dissection and analysis, but by faith in God through Jesus Christ. The Book will stand when the puny hands of those who would smite it, as well as the despairing hearts of those who doubt it, are moldered into dust.