RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS OF THE WORLD A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF Third Edition. SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. "From an interesting volume just published by Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein & Co., much of interest may be learned regarding the different religious systems that are in vogue in the different countries of the globe. Each system is treated by a specialist, and thus, far from exhibiting the faultiness sometimes apparent in such works, the volume treats the subject in question with a comprehensiveness and an accuracy that render the pages both interesting and instructive."-City Press. They give collectively such a view of the religions of the world as has not hitherto been attainable-a bird's-eye view of the field which will enable even the reader with little time at his disposal to appreciate the relations of the various systems, and to form some intelligent conception of what is involved in the study of comparative religion."—Birmingham Daily Post. "A remarkable contribution to the literature of religious thought."Manchester Guardian. "A remarkable compendium on religions which will well repay study." -Liverpool Post. "While on the subject of the Church and her clergy, let me recommend to you a book which is as significant as it is interesting and opportune, 'Religious Systems of the World."-Truth. "Will prove very agreeable and instructive reading."-Newbery House Magazine. "The volume is full of interest and instruction."- Christian World. "Valuable and fascinating."-Literary World. "As a contribution to a more reasonable method of arriving at truth, this collection of addresses will be welcomed by the serious mind. Its contents are unequal, but in many chapters we are given the essence of much thought and research. To the religious student who wishes to understand the wide questions of the origin and developments of religion itself the book will be especially useful. There is no other that we know of which has been compiled in exactly the same representative way; and the South Place Institute has more than justified its existence by the issue of such a volume."-Inquirer. LONDON SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. NEW YORK: MACMILLAN & CO. 1895 THOUGHTS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE AGES SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND VERSE FROM THE RELIGIOUS EDITED BY WILLIAM CHATTERTON COUPLAND, D. Sc., M. A. SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. NEW YORK: MACMILLAN & CO. 1895. 'If we can regard religions as stages in the evolution of religion, then we have no motive either to depreciate or unduly to extol any of them. The earlier stages of the development will have a peculiar interest for us, just as we look with affection on the home of our ancestors even though we should not choose to dwell there. We shall not divide religions into the true one, Christianity, and the false ones, all the rest; no religion will be to us a mere superstition, nor shall we regard any as unguided by God. Feeling that we cannot understand our own religion aright without understanding those out of which it has been built up, we shall value these others for the part they have played in the great movement, and our own most of all, without which they could not be made perfect. In the light of this principle of growth we shall find good in the lowest, and shall see that the good and true rather than the evil and false, furnish the ultimate meaning of even the poorest system." Extract from "A HISTORY OF RELIGION" BY ALAN MEnzies, D. D. "God is not dumb, that he should speak no more; If thou hast wanderings in the wilderness And find'st not Sinai, 'tis thy soul is poor; There towers the mountain of the voice no less, Intent on manna still and mortal ends, Sees it not, neither hears its thundered lore. And not on paper leaves nor leaves of stone; Each age, each kindred, adds a verse to it, Texts of despair or hope, of joy or moan. While swings the sea, while mists the mountains shroud, Still at the prophets' feet the nations sit." JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. Bibliolatres. |