192 straits, than what many of these pagan Independents practised as well as taught: no clearer statement than theirs of the Eternal Right and Good; theoretically, at least, no wider love of man, no deeper reverence for God. The Stoics infused equity and humanity into Roman jurisprudence. Their central idea was the unity of the race: their prophetic vision a grand republic with God for its ruler, and His Justice for its Law. Nature, material and spiritual, was His "City;" to live according to its true dictates, was to live free and happy, and "all that its seasons brought was fruit." That Stoicism, while exhorting men to "die as became the divine within them," and requiring no sanction for virtue from the rewards and penalties of another life, has seemed to some Christian historians to prove its ingrace of feriority to their own belief. Rather is it a spectacle of human dignity unsurpassed in history; this tribute to the inherent authority and Righteousness. So to take the highest ideals on their own merits, to love the purest virtue for its own nobility alone, is indeed to walk in the perfect liberty of the children of God. If this be not Christian, the worse for our Christianity. These great Romans should be greeted as the timeliest and most welcome of our guests. Their words should have such praise from us as they never before received from any age or people. For they are an essential part of that Bible of Bibles which Democracy demands in the name of Universal Religion; the gathered wisdom of holy men out of all times and all communions, which it will learn to cherish not with slavish book-worship, but with grateful recognition and enduring respect. It is good to see the excellent version of Marcus Aurelius by Mr. Long followed so speedily by this of Epictetus, which in no respect yields to it as a translation, and will be found in style more attractive to ordinary readers. No competent scholar will hesitate to award very high praise to Mrs. Carter's work. Yet this careful and thorough revision of it has resulted in very great improvement both verbal and essential, of which every page affords examples. If the philosopher be not rightly apprehended by the thoughtful reader, it will not be for lack of a faithful rendering of the records left us by his disciple. Mr. Higginson's preface contains a concise and effective outline of his life and belief, as well as of the literature of the subject. There is need of a like service to the works of Seneca, known to the American public only in the Abstract of his Morals and Epistles by Sir Roger L'Estrange. And when this has been accomplished, it will, we may hope, become a common duty and delight to observe how this divine philosophy, which Seneca himself entitled "the founder of the rights of man," could place on a common level of spiritual aspiration and dignity an Emperor, a Nobleman, and a Slave. Would we might also recover the writings of those older Stoics, Zeno, Cleanthes and Chrysippus; from whom we possess a few fragments, true for all time; and concerning whom we know at least this, that they taught in Greece, previous to the Christian Era, the same principles which we find in their successors of the first and second centuries. S. J. THE following writers, among others, are engaged as regular or occasional Contributors: - JOHN WEISS; SAMUEL JOHNSON; D. A. WASSON; ROBERT COLLYER; J. K. HOSMER; JOHN W. CHADWICK; JOHN SAVARY; EVERETT FINLEY; SILAS FARRINGTON; FRED. MAY HOLLAND; C. K. WHIPPLE; F. E. ABBOT; ROBERT MOORE; MYRON B. BENTON; D. H. MONTGOMERY; J. C. LEARNED; J. B. MARVIN M. D. CONWAY; SAMUEL LONGFELLOW; EDWARD C. TOWNE; DANIEL BOWEN; HENRY JAMES; T. W. HIGGINSON; O. B. FROTHINGHAM ; W. H. FURNESS. S. H. MORSE, EDITOR. NOTICES OF THE PRESS. A magazine which addresses itself thus courageously to the discussion of great questions, and which can call upon such contributors, is sure to make its mark on. the public. We commend it to all who are not too closely wedded to their own opinions to tolerate freedom of inquiry and earnest discussion.-Commonwealth. This number, (October,) is full of fresh and earnest thought, and is one of the best.representatives of radical religious ideas which we know. It will be read with interest by all who love truth more than party, whether their party be a conservative or a radical clique.— Christian Register. THE RADICAL.-Number three of this new aspirant for public favor lies on our table. It contains eleven articles, each of which is worthy a place in our best rcviews. Combining boldness with excellent literary culture; thoughtful, yet never wearisome; independent but decorous, it fills a place in religious literature that has too long been vacant. Disagreeing, as we most earnestly do, with many of its theories, we admire the "pluck" everywhere exhibited on its pages. — Hebrew Leader. THE RADICAL, as its name indicates, is an idol-breaker. It presents in various ways, and with remarkable vigor, the views of the extreme advance in religious inquiry. Certainly writers and publishers who undertake such a work cannot be moved thereto by any prospect of pecuniary reward. Therefore all those who sympathize with the principles and purposes which characterize it should be prompt to assist in its support; and so able and earnest are its contributors that its friends will find it very attractive, and all who venture to think on its special subject will find in its pages much food for meditation.-Taunton Gazette. THE RADICAL.-We cannot do justice to this magazine by a passing notice. It must be regarded as a work of more than ordinary merit. While many of the articles may be above the capacity of the general reader, they cannot fail to be perused with profit and satisfaction by the more thoughtful. The work opens a new era in the history of religious inquiry, and it is needless to observe that the productions bear upon their face unmistakable evidence of being the work of those who have thought long and profoundly on all those matters pertaining to our spiritual and religious nature.-Cincinnati Journal of Commerce. CONTENTS, No. V. 1. Hymn for the New Year. 7. C. L. 2. On the Foundations of Religious Belief- The Fallacy of Supernaturalism. Samuel Johnson. 153 154 THE following writers, among others, are engaged as regular or occasional Contributors: - JOHN WEISS; SAMUEL JOHNSON; D. A. WASSON; ROBERT COLLYER; J. K. HOSMER; JOHN W. CHADWICK; JOHN SAVARY; EVERETT FINLEY; SILAS FARRINGTON; FRED MAY HOLLAND; C. K. WHIPPLE; F. E. ABBOt; ROBERT MOORE; MYRON B. BENTON; D. H. MONTGOMERY; J. C. LEARNED; J. B. MARVIN; M. D. CONWAY; SAMUEL LONGFELLOW; EDWARD C. TOWNE; DANIEL BOWEN; HENRY JAMES; T. W. HIGGINSON; O. B. FROTHINGHAM ; W. H. FURNESS. S. H. MORSE, EDITOR. TERMS: Single Subscriptions, Two Dollars per annum. SINGLE COPIES, 25 CTS. The postage on "The Radical" is 12 cts. a year, paid at the office where it is received. Subscribers desiring the back numbers, must so state in their letters of subscription. Subscriptions and Communications relating to business should be addressd to" The Radical," Boston, Mass. Communications for the Editor should be addressed to the Editor of "The Radical.” W F. Brown & Co., Steam Job Printers, No. 15 Cornhill, Boflon. |