FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

GERMANY.

The Lutheran System of Doctrines. By Dr. Kahnis, Professor of Theology in the Leipsic University (Die lutherische Dogmatik historisch genetisch dargestellt, 1ster Bd. 1861), awakened a lively interest in Germany on its first appearance, some commending its freedom and vigor of thought, and others denouncing its heterodoxy. This interest has not yet subsided, and we therefore at this late day call attention to the work. When completed according to the plan of the author, it will be in two volumes, and embrace (1) A History of the Lutheran System of Doctrines; (2) The Evidences of Christianity, or Religion and Revelation; (3) The Word of God in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; (4) The Doctrinal System of the Ancient Church down to the Reformation; (5) The System of Doctrines held by the Lutheran Church. Only one volume has been given to the public, comprising it may be half the whole work. It takes up the first three topics mentioned above. The genetic history of the Lutheran system of doctrines, with which the work opens, is admirably executed. The language is forcible and exact, sometimes beautiful and eloquent. The second part, treating of religion and revelation, investigates the doctrines of natural theology, and attempts to show that Christianity is the truth of all religion. It exhibits with much freshness the principles of natural religion and the grounds in reason, conscience and analogy for our confidence in the Christian system.

But the third part, which discusses the authorship, credibility, and inspiration of the canonical scriptures, is sceptical both in spirit and in results. Dr. Kahnis here maintains that only those portions of the Bible which were written by prophets or apostles are in the highest sense inspired and of binding authority. He maintains that three distinct grades of inspiration may be distinguished in the Old Testament,

namely, that of the law and of the prophetic books, that of the historical parts, and that of the hagiographa, which represent more or less the subjective side of Jewish religion. He also insists on the distinction of proto-canonical and deutero-canonical writings in the New Testament. These positions cannot in Germany be regarded as very unsound, but the animus with which they are set forth and defended is more objectionable; the inclination everywhere manifest to overlook the arguments in favor of the so-called orthodox view, and to bring forward and use the small arms of scepticism, is an obvious fault in the discussion. Of course the first chapters of Genesis are pronounced mythical, and the Pentateuch as a whole a literary mosaic. Esther and Ecclesiastes are rejected as uncanonical, and the Song of Solomon is described as a miscellany of amatory verses, no better than the poetry of Ovid or Sir Thomas Moore. The epistles of James and Jude were written, it seems, without inspiration, and disagree in doctrine with other writings of the New Testament. The moral character of the Apocalypse is assailed on the ground of false pretences, since it professes to be a work of John, which it is not, as the style proves; and on the ground of false prophecy, since it makes the Saviour say: "Behold, I come quickly," while 1800 years have already passed with no sign of his appearing!

Besides, Dr. Kahnis finds it necessary to reject the usual doctrine of the Trinity as unscriptural, falling back upon the Arian view as substantially correct, and affirming that Christ is a "personality originated in a mysterious way from God before the world was," but not in his higher nature eternal. The Father alone is truly God. Moreover, it is a matter of special grief to strict Lutherans that he does not discover the doctrine of the "real presence" in any passage of the New Tes

tament..

Such opinions as these, in a work professing by its title to give "The Lutheran System of Doctrines," has naturally called forth many criticisms, some of them harsh and contemptuous, others just and respectful. To the latter class belongs an article by Prof. Delitzsch, of Erlangen, entitled: "For and Against Kahnis." A single sentence will show his view of the task which Kahnis undertook to perform. "It belongs indeed to the nature of the Lutheran, or rather the Evangelical, standpoint, to subject the doctrines of the church always afresh to the decisive authority of Scripture, and to draw from that original, inexhaustible source, whenever this is possible, a richer form for these doctrines; but a Dogmatik which finds even a single doctrine of the church contradictory to biblical expressions, rightly understood, and Vol. xxviii.-22.

which therefore produces it in a form substantially changed, cannot appropriate the name of a Lutheran Dogmatik." In reply to the attack upon Genesis i. ii., H. G. Holemann published, in 1862, a small treatise on "The Unity of the two Accounts of the Creation, Genesis i. ii., with a Letter to Dr. Kahnis." This treatise maintains that both these chapters were written by Moses, the second being complementary to the first. It contains many ingenious remarks, and repels effectually the charge of contradiction or useless repetition, but it hardly proves that Moses made use of no ancient record in the first chapter. Indeed we cannot see what is lost to the authority of the narrative by admitting that the lawgiver of Israel may have borrowed the language of this chapter, as well as the words of Lamech, from some existing document which he was led by the Spirit of God to employ.

The first volume of an extensive work by Professor von HOFMANN, of Erlangen, entitled: "The Holy Scripture of the New Testament connectedly investigated" (Die Heilige Schrift des Neuen Testaments zusammenhängend untersucht, Theil I. 1862), made its appearance during the last year. The learned author proposes to investigate all the books of the New Testament in the order of their composition, for the purpose of establishing, on critical and philosophical grounds, by the historical method, their divine authority and the true nature of inspiration. Such a work will embrace an interpretation of these writings, an introduction to the study of them, and a thorough discussion of their inspiration. The author is a distinguished theologian, taking rank with the ablest men in the Lutheran church, original, independent. If he completes the work now begun, it will contain a vast amount of suggestive and instructive thought. The present volume of 372 pages is devoted to a general introduction, and the epistles to the Thessalo nians. Another volume is expected to appear at once. Professor Hofman objects very decidedly to what he calls the old, mechanical theory of inspiration, as defended by PHILIPPI in his work, not yet completed, on the Doctrinal Creed of the Lutheran Church (Kirchliche Glaubenslehre). Whether he will be able to present any better theory may be seriously doubted. For while Philippi objects to the doctrine of verbal inspiration, or rather dictation, he maintains that the Scriptures are substantially the word of God, written by men who were moved and assisted by his Spirit to record his will, and endorsed by him as

Special Introduction to the Canonical Books of the Old Testament,”

is the title of a new work from the pen of Dr. Stähelin, Professor at Basle. It was published during the last year, 1862, and is in many respects a valuable addition to Biblical Literature. It does not, however, assert the Mosaic authorship of the entire Pentateuch, but maintains very forcibly the divine origin of the law. It supposes one original source, and additions by the final redactor in the time of Samuel. The historical truth of the Chronicles is defended, and the fundamental ideas of the Song of Solomon and the Ecclesiastes are developed, showing the right of these books to a place in the sacred canon. The author is an accomplished Arabic as well as Hebrew scholar, and has illustrated many points of difficulty from the literature of the sister dialect. The work is instructive and suggestive, fresh and earnest.

"The Idea of the Absolute Personality, or God and His Relation to the World, especially to the Human Personality," 2 vols., 1862, by Dr. J. W. Hanne, is, so far as published, historical and critical. The author reviews the Judaistic, Pagan and Modern Pantheistic or Deistic conceptions of God, and points out their gravest defects. In a subsequent volume he proposes to vindicate the Christian idea of God. The work is written with vigor, and is worthy of careful study.

"King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. and the Constitution of the Evangelical Church," by Dr. L. Richter, 1861, is a small volume, exhibiting by means of extracts from his manuscripts the views of the late King of Prussia respecting the constitution of the Lutheran church. From the pages of this book it appears that the King's relation to the church was a burden to his conscience. He was opposed to episcopacy in any except the primitive form. He does not refer to "episcopal right" without showing his dislike of it. He would have no presbyterial, episcopal, or consistorial government of the churches. Indeed, he wishes not circles, but churches, single churches, formed after the apostolic pattern, " in every one of which the life, the order, the officers of the universal church of Christ on earth may be seen in minature." A total separation of church and state and a recurrence to the apostolic model of government are advocated by him. The work has found few friends among the higher clergy of the Lutheran church, and the present King does not share the scruples of his predecessor. The supposition that apostolic wisdom in regard to church polity and order would be wisdom in the nineteenth century and in Germany is not entertained; nay, it is distinctly and expressly rejected as unworthy of thorough examination. See a notice of this work in the Jahrbücher für deutsche Theologie, 1862, 1te Heft.