590 Literature. 
read much would have been surprised to read of an annual 
rain-fall of 600 inches, for example ; and a consideration of 
rainy days at high latitudes, tropical showers, and much 
other vastly amusing and useful information, might have 
been given. 
History of Rationalism. By JOHN F. HURST ae 
Revised and Enlarged from the Third American Edition. 
London: Triibner and Co. 
WE do not believe that ignorance is ever really blissful 
and assuredly it is never safe. The general reluctance to 
read sceptical books is natural, and on the whole, exceed- 
ing wise. The time devoted to studying the attacks upon 
Christianity would be better employed in studying Christi- 
anity itself. But the sceptics are much indebted to this 
reluctance for their reputation and position. They boast 
of their reason, and the Christian world is prone to think 
that infidelity is a dreadful power which it is discreet to 
avoid because it would be dangerous to encounter. We 
therefore deem Dr. Hurst’s History of Rationalism a 
useful and much needed work. It is a work that no one 
will be afraid to read, for the author does not profess 
impartiality, but writes in the spirit, and with the zeal, of a 
Christian. Yet he deals fairly with the sceptics. He re- 
cites their opinions very fully, and as far as possible in their 
own language. Those who read this work will learn as 
much about the creed and arguments of infidelity as it is 
necessary to know, and the knowledge will be extremely 
reassuring. 
One important fact stands out in bold relief. It is 
that the rationalism of this age is only a hash of the 
infidelity of past ages. Strauss, Renan, Colenso, and 
Leckey, only present us with modern editions of the 
opinions of Paine, Voltaire, and other Deists of the eighteenth 
century. Their ideas and their arguments are merely old 
ideas and arguments ina nineteenth century dress. There 
is, however, a difference in the method. The Deists were 
avowed assailants of Christianity, but the Rationalists pro- 
fess a certain respect for Christianity. The Deists de- 
nounced Christianity as an imposture. The plan of the 
Rationalists is more cunning. They do not ask us to 
reject Christianity. By all means they would have it 
retained as a system of philosophy, that was formerly of 
great service to mankind, and which may still be of service — 
if duly corrected and improved by them. They are in 
