"ENOCH" REVIEWED.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1975, 4 May 1875, Page 2

"ENOCH" REVIEWED.

" To see oursels as ithers see us."—Bukns'. '

Of all the. forms in which "an insensate desire of writing," or, as Juvenal not inaptly terms it, cacoelhes scribendi, may make itself unpleasant, that which affects the style of literary religionism is most particularly offensive. Ifc was bad enough for those who did not:agree with him to be obliged to road the diatribes of S. G-. O. in the Times at home, but he at all events never descended to personalities when enunciating his private' beliefs, and his opponents always had the satisfaction of knowing that they had read the views of the " other side" well and fairly expressed. This, however, cannot be said of the would-be literary religious product of the Thames, of which the second number has been issued, for pro- < bably a more egotistical and inconsistent " periodical " (we use its own word) has seldom or never appeared. As regards ' its inconsistency is ia sufficient to say! that it quotes from St. Peter language to the effect that "no prophecy is of any private interpretation," and then j declares that Napoleon 111. ,is the Antichrist spoken of in Revelation because, forsooth, the writer in * Enoch (a private person) declares him to be so ! The writer in Enoch seems fond of Greek, perhaps he can find another meaning for the word idiotes ' besides its original signification (a private person). The! egotism and good taste of the writer of Enoch are also charmingly displayed in his abuse of the Her. J. Hill. One would have thought that a gentleman who devoted eight of the best years of his life to fit himself for his sacred calling, and who, after many years of patient toil in his Master's service, receives such .a salary as many men of half his ago are making in this Colony, might fancy himself secure from the charge of lovoof money; but it is not so. Mr Hill, although' as oven Enoch is bound to allow, a " respectable gontleman," has the misfortune to differ from the editor of Enoch in matters of faith—in short,,Mr Hill is a Presbyterian, and therefore, adds, he of; Enoch, Mr Hill cannot be a Christian! Tho logic of this argument would perhaps hardly satisfy disciples of Aldrich or Sir

W. Hamilton—but it is quite sufficient for the egotism of Enoch, which paper, after a trite quotation from Hamlet— which might more aptly he applied to itself—proceeds to givo twenty-four passages in which the word "coming" occurs in the New Testament, and" declares forthwith that if Mr Hill or any one else does nof, after reading them, agree with the writer, he must be destitute of even common sense. In other words his argument is this : " I think one thing—you think another. I'm right, therefore you must be wrong;" pleasing no doubt to egotistical vanity, though hardly--perhap9 - satisfactory. The Editor of Enoch, however, is not all frowns; Jie'smiles-propitiously on the pamphlet "of Mr Gladstone, and speaks-of - him in language^ which should make that statesman's heart rejoice. Unfortunately,' Mr' Gladstone may not bo aware of the existence-of Enoch, but, it, would ,be no bad mov_e.-to I send him a copy. At-least, it could $!o him no harm, as Mr Gladstone, baring retired from political cares; has, no doubt, but few papers to* look over, arid' consequently- more room'in his waste paptav, basket. Fiat experimentum. We are niSlp*-' threatened with another- infliction .of Enoch until June, 26 ; so that the editor has ample time before him of presenting to the, residents-of .the Thames, .specimens of writing in equally as. good taste as that of Mr Hill's sermontranslations of Greek'words"equally as true as hosmos } signifies , whole, and articles ,on 'subjects ' with'-which he is as well conversant ' as he is with, "prophetical expositions."'"-;Th'e tditor kindly invites suggestions, &c.y so if-we might suggesthe-might inform tkose who read Enoch (gratis) on- June^Qtu, prox., how many times, the Greek word agape (love or charity) occurs "in the New Testament, j.He could easily find'-Stout;by the help of a Cruden's Concordance, ami then give .the. context, as he ..has Jn. the the case of parousia; and perhaps some such text as ".Above all things .have fervent charity among yourselves r; " for, "Loveworketh *o ill-to; his neighbor?" would be an appropriate subject" on which to . dwell, and afford . ample -scope rfor further showing- forth -the consistency rf this !'Chadband -Bedmveus." T.fV* '