LITERARY NOTICES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 17, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 50.

LITERARY NOTICES.

By Editor

"DISCUSSION OF THE SABBATH AND NATURE OF MAN," between Elder W. M. Healey, of the S. D. Adventist Church, and Bishop W. E. Dillon, of the United Brethren denomination. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal.; 39 Bond Street, N. Y.

This neatly-printed book of 228 pages presents on the Sunday side as able an argument as doubtless could be produced. Bishop Dillon is an old debater. On the other side is the able argument made by Elder Healey. While we do not believe in the presentation of the truth in this way, yet this work presents the latest and best published debate on these questions. The reader may not always agree with the arguments used, or with the explanations given the Scripture testimony adduced, but we believe, if candid, he will come to the conclusion that the law of God is in its entirety of binding obligation, and that only in Jesus Christ have we eternal life and immortality.

"THE LEGAL SUNDAY," by James T. Ringgold, Esq., of the Baltimore Bar, author of the "Law of Sunday," "The Theory of Culpability," "Fallacy of the Civil Service Act," etc. International Religious Liberty Association, 39 Bond Street, N. Y.

This is emphatically a timely book, and we wish it could be candidly read by every Sunday law advocate, clerical, lay, and legal, in the land.

The author's "Law of Sunday" is a technical legal work, addressed to the profession. This is in a more popular vein. It discusses the Historical Aspect of the Question, in six chapters; The Moral Aspect of the Question, in six chapters; The Constitutional Aspect of the Question, in five chapters; with a supplementary part on the distinction between Immorality and Incivility. Two hundred and sixty pages, pamphlet form, 40 cents; cloth, 75 cents.

"THE MISSING LINKS; OR THE ANGLO-SAXONS THE TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL," by Rev. Morton W. Spencer, A.M. Volume 1, 474 pages, price $2.00; sold by subscription. M. W. Spencer & Co., Augustine, Fla.

Of the mechanical execution of this book, it is all that is required. It is neatly, clearly, printed and bound, tho such a work as this demands an index.

The entire argument of the writer, as indeed the arguments of all who write on that side of the question, is based on the supposition that there were ten tribes of Israel lost, and that they never were found until found in the Anglo-Saxon race. The position, to our mind, is: (1) Contrary to the free Gospel of Christ as set forth in Rom. 9: 6-8, 24; 10: 11, 12; 1 Cor. 12: 13; Gal. 3: 27-29; Eph. 3: 2, 8-22; 3: 1-6, and many other passages. (2) It ignores the idea expressed in the term "spiritual Israel," demanding that Israel must be of the literal seed, when the original idea of Israel is spiritual. The true Israel of God are those who obtain victory by faith. See Gen. 28: 24-28. (3) It places, to our mind, strained and false interpretations on many passages of Scripture to endeavor to make them fit England's commercial and maritime supremacy. (4) This book makes God responsible for a change in his law that he said could not be changed, and makes him the indorser of the old pagan sun-worship and Sunday. Mr. Spencer also finds proof of his theory in the nursery rhymes, "Jack and Jill," "Little Jack Horner," etc. We wish the talents of these writers, earnest men we believe, were turned in a better direction. The last part of the book is a poem, entitled "The Rosy Cross; or Christ in the Catacombs." It contains some beautiful and precious truths.

"THE NEW AND TRUE RELIGION," by Charles M. Stebbins. Bound in the same volume by the same author, "THE BODY POLITIC; SOME OF ITS ILLS, AND THE REMEDIES THEREFOR." Publishers Printing Co., Boston, Mass.

The two works together form a neatly printed volume of 338 pages. The mechanical work is good, the reading clear. The author writes in a clear style, and you know what he means. The greater part of the book is taken up with a discussion of financial schemes. But the religion of it is both old and false. It is simply nature worship, which results in man being his own guide, own god, and finally his own destruction.

AMONG the interesting articles in the Cosmopolitan of December are the following: "A Pre-Arranged Head End Collision," in which two engines and trains were made to collide; "The Ancient Silver Mines of Zacatecas;" "The Gold Fields of South Africa;" "Personal Recollections of the Tai-Ping Rebellion," and other articles of interest. Nicely illustrated.