moral order in the cosmos because they have found a commanding moral order in their own souls." He notes, too, that this faith is associated with various theological views—in Buddhism, with atheism, in the religion of the Greeks, with polytheism, and in that of the Hebrews with monotheism—and he remarks that "in view of this theological diversity, the common faith in an eternal august moral order may be regarded as the fundamental certainty, the vital element in the religion of humanity" (pp. 380, 381).
In illustrating the thesis thus laid down, Mr. Bruce pursues, as we have said, a historical method, though not with strict regard to chronology. He begins with a brief account of Buddhism, treating particularly of the doctrines of Karma and Nirvana, and then passes to a similar account of Zoroastrianism; but the chapters dealing with these two religions contain nothing new, and nothing specially characteristic of the author. Next, he proceeds to an examination of the Greek religion as distinguished from Greek mythology, dwelling particularly on the doctrine of nemesis as set forth by the three great tragedians, and on the Stoical doctrine of Providence, his account of the tragic writers being very sympathetic and full. Next comes a chapter on divination, which is treated as a really serious subject, and as if the author himself almost wished to believe in it. "Divination," he thinks, "may be regarded as a primitive form of revelation, and when placed under this category it gains in dignity" (p. 143); and he adds that "the conception of a system of interpretable signs inwoven into the frame of nature, intended by Divine Providence to serve the purpose of revealing the future, is not on the face of it absurd" (p. 159). In the end, however, he abandons divination as out of date and possibly mischievous.
Having thus dealt with the Greeks and the earlier Asiatics, Mr. Bruce devotes a chapter to the Hebrew prophets, and another to the book of Job, and both chapters will be found interesting, though they contain nothing that is new. Then comes what the author, of course, regards as the most essential part of the book, the account of "Christ's teaching concerning Divine Providence." Yet here again he presents nothing really new, but merely sets forth the views now prevalent in the Christian church. There are, however, certain defects in Mr. Bruce's exposition, which ought not to be passed over in silence. Thus, he is not willing to admit the notorious fact that Christ believed in evil spirits, and leaves out of view the notion entertained by Christ and all his first disciples that the world was speedily coming to an end.
Having thus reviewed the principal moral systems of the ancient
