18S3.] t)-.d [Muhlenberg. 



those of many of the German theologians, but wliich he defended, as in 

 accordance -^vith the teachings of Luther and the Confessions, and which 

 he continued to hokl, as he informed me near the end of his life. We are 

 not able say why it was not published with the others, possibly he did not 

 think it necessary to put it into this more permanent form. Some of the 

 German theologians so explain disconnected statements of Luther, with- 

 out taking them as a whole, that they dissipate altogether the divine obli- 

 gation with reference to the observance of the Lord's Day. Not so our 

 friend. "We allow him to speak for himself. "If Germaay has not en- 

 joyed a Christian Sabbath, it is because she has refused to follow what 

 the principles of Luther would have given her. The Sunday of Luther 

 is an entire day, not a half-day ; not a morning for the church and an 

 afternoon for the beer saloon or the dance, or the idle saunter ; but a day 

 for holy works ; and holy thoughts ; a holy day, not a holiday. Neither 

 the Augsburg Confession, nor the greatest theologians of the Church of the 

 Augsburg Confession, denies the divine obligation ot the Christian Sab- 

 bath. * * * Divine in its generic origin and obligation, and apostolic 

 in its specific detennination. " 



There is one delightful chapter of the book which has but little of a 

 controversial character in it ; it is a solemn requiem of praise in honor of 

 Luthei-, from almost every land of Christendom. The instrument selected 

 by God, for the great work of the Reformation, is the hero, who has caused 

 their strings to vibrate, in such perfect unison. No where else can there 

 be found such a collection of literary gems, bearing upon this one point. 

 The writer's soul was aglow with admiration and love for Luther, when 

 he wrote this admirable chapter, and after the full array of testimonies of 

 the most illustrious characters in his behalf, he closes the subject with 

 these striking words : "Luther abides as a power for all time. His image 

 casts itself upon the current of ages, as the mountain mirrors itself in the 

 river at its foot — the mighty fixing itself upon the changing." 



We may safely say, in passing from this volume, to the consideration of 

 his last publications on another subject and in a different sphere of his use- 

 ful and honorable toil, that no one can read it without reaching the pro- 

 found conviction that the author of it will bear favorable comparison with 

 the ablest theologians of this or any other land. Little else can be said of 

 it, except to express admiration of its merits ; if we may be allowed to say 

 anything of a contrary nature, we would merely respeat a remark already 

 made, with reference to some of his earlier writings, that his logic occa- 

 sionally is wanting in perspicuity, from an excessive accumulation of par- 

 ticulars, and now and then he exceeds the bounds of truth by indulging 

 that vein of his complex nature, alluded to by one of classmates, " a ready 

 and comical trick of exaggeration." A single illustration will sufficiently 

 explain our meaning. Thus he speaks of sects : " The insect-minded sec- 

 tarian allows the Reformation very little merit, except as it prepared the 

 way for the putting forth, in due time, of the particular twig of Protest- 



