190 REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 



Reply Letters. By S. P. Smith to R. F. Johnston's "Letters to a 



Missionary." 

 "These letters are a reply to Mr. Johnston's attack on Christianity in 

 general, and his attack on Christian Missions in particular." "The 

 personal questions raised are answered in a separate letter." In this 

 reply Mr. Smith also takes into account Mr. Johnston's articles in 

 various periodicals. 



The Reply, for financial reasons, is in pamphlet form, and dis- 

 tributed gratis. We think Mr. Smith was not well advised. There is 



■ a reading public that would buy such a book as this, if it had been 

 presented in an attractive form. The public will now pass it by, and 

 in that way it will miss the other side of the case presented by Dr. 

 Johnston, which is unfortunate. For Mr. Smith has an effective reply, 

 -and he can write with spirit. 



Mr. Smith joins issue at once with Dr. Johnston and has no 



•difficulty in disposing of his satirical representation of the nature of the 

 gospel. "Hell fire" is not the glad news. He also defines his own 

 view of the Bible and the seat of authority in religion. This is at 

 neither extreme, but a very sane and therefore sound position. The 

 Scriptures contain a progressive revelation. They were not written by 



.automata — and they require discernment in their interpretation. Whilst 

 they are not an infallible authority, they reveal the work of the Spirit. 

 He quotes weighty authorities in support of his position. What Mr. 

 Smith says about heathen religions is correct as far as it goes — but the 



.arguments of neither controversialist take us far. Dr. Johnston 

 glorifies Buddhism and detracts from Christianity — Mr. Smith has no 

 difficulty in showing that his opponent has been too free with the 

 whitewash and also blackwash. But we should like something more 

 constructive than even what Mr. Smith gives us. It is true he hasn't 

 the same prejudices and animus as Dr. Johnston : nevertheless there 

 is needed a more comprehensive doctrine of reconciliation in these 



'things. 



The standpoint of the two writers are far apart and very different. 

 The one is the supercilious critic the other the earnest evangelist. 

 Can they ever meet? 



More Gems of Chinese Poetry. By W. J. B. Fletcher. Shanghai. 



The Commercial Press. 

 Much of the criticism offered in the review of the first volume that 

 appeared in Vol. XLIX, p. 195 of the Journal will equally apply to this 

 and we would refer readers to that review. Students will derive much 

 profit and advantage from these works both in a negative and positive 

 way. The perusal of these poems with the help of text and translation 



