From: The Dial, Vol. II No. IV (April 1842)
Author:
Published: E. P. Peabody 1842 Boston
The History of Christianity, from the birth of Christ to the abolition of Paganism in the Roman Empire. By the Rev. H. H. MILMAN, & c., with an introduction by James Murdock, D.D. New York: 1841. 1 vol. 8vo.
Here, the three elegant volumes of the original are compressed into one, in the American reprint. The paper and type are such as we usually receive from the press of the Messrs. Harper. The work is written with a good deal of fairness, but bears few marks of that erudition, at once various, exact, and profound, which we expect from an historian of the church, and fewer still, it may be, of that grasp of mind, that philosophic power, which comprehends and delineates the course and spirit of an age; a grasp and a power which we may require of a writer, who measures himself against the greatest historical and philosophical problem of the world, the rise, extension, development, and destination of Christianity. Whoso attempts a history of Christianity, enters upon a vast field, where the ground is uncertain, and its limits not defined, perhaps scarce definable. He must tell us, 1. what Christianity is in itself, and what is its foundation; 2. when it was first made manifest in the world, under what circumstances, and with what limitations; 3. when, and in whom it reached its highest point; and, 4. what has been the course of its development, and what its influence, negative and positive, on the human race, how it has acted on men, and how their prejudices, sensuality, superstition, and sin have reacted upon their notions of Christianity. These four problems, as we take it, present themselves to the philosophic writer, who aims to delineate the Christian idea and its historical development. He must tell us whether Christianity be the Absolute religion, or not the Absolute religion; if the latter, what are its limitations, considered in itself; if the former, what is the history of its successive unfoldings, and of its application in the concrete. Under what forms has it been contemplated, and what limitations have men set to this perfect religion. If the author takes the view, that Christianity is Absolute religion, then the whole matter resolves itself into this query: What relation did the concrete form of any time and place bear to this Absolute religion? or when the absolute religion was proclaimed, what antagonists did it find, and how were they met?
Various preliminary questions must be answered, no doubt. For example: How do we get at the idea of absolute religion in general; how that of Christianity in particular? To look at the latter question, and see what it involves, Christianity is one historical manifestation of religion amongst many other manifestations, which are more or less imperfect. We become acquainted with it by means of historical witnesses, sacred and profane. Then the question comes, are the witnesses competent to testify in the premises? Here comes the critical question. If they are, and we find from their testimony that Christianity is absolute religion, then the question comes, What were the forms of religion it invented, how did they act upon one another, and what was the result?
The historian of Christianity must tell us what Christianity is. This is the great point. If he fail here, he does not accomplish his work. He may collect materials, but the history is not written. Now, we think this is what Mr. Milman has not done; of course, then, his work fails of its end. It is not a history of Christianity; he has left out that, by an unlucky accident.
Mr. Milman’s book is marked by fairness, in general; he writes generally in a pleasant style, though he is sometimes careless; he has a good deal of historical knowledge, though far too little for the undertaking, as we think. But he does not grapple with the subject like a strong man. He talks about it, not of it. He is wanting in the philosophy of the matter.
When he comes to the details of historical inquiry, he states some facts not previously known to the readers of ordinary ecclesiastical history. If his book be regarded as a whole, it is an interesting work. Beyond this, we can allow it little merit, either as an original performance, or considered as a compilation from ancient or contemporary scholars. His learning is not wide, nor his philosophy deep. He belongs rather to the class of historical dilettanti,—if it be not invidious to say so,—and not in the ranks of genuine historians. The work might be entitled, “Historical Pencilings about Christianity, by an Amateur.” However, we welcome the book, and will gratefully accept it for what it is, not for what it is not. We rejoice in its republication, spite of the shabby appearance the American edition makes; and trust it may recall attention to this too much neglected field of ecclesiastical history.
All Sub-Works of The Dial, Vol. II No. IV (April 1842):
PDF Sub-Works open in a new tab. Close the tab when done viewing to return here.
