THE HISTORY OF THEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND LITERATURE, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY TO 1810. BY CARL. FRED. STAEUDLIN, PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AT GÖTTINGEN. EDINBURGH: THOMAS CLARK, 38, GEORGE STREET. MDCCCXXXV. PREFATORY NOTICE. STAEUDLIN'S History is designed to exhibit the state and progress of theological knowledge, from the revival of literature to the present time.* Its author, the Professor of theology at Goettingen, has divided the work into three periods—from the year 1450 to the Reformation; from the Reformation to the commencement of the 18th century; from the beginning of the 18th century to the present time. This history is given under different heads -as, Theological knowledge generally; Hermeneutics; Systematic theology; Church history, &c. &c. The portion here translated, is from the first head, of the third period, in which the writer, before entering upon the details of his history, presents us with an exhibition of the causes which led to the great revolution in theolo The Preface of the first Volume is dated May 1810, gical opinion, which occurred during the 18th century. To this succeeds an account of the most important works of this period, intended to prescribe the manner and course of theological education, &c. There are few subjects on which information is more generally desired, than the state of theological opinion and learning on the continent, during the last fifty or hundred years. The reader will find the greater part of this interesting account in the following article. THE HISTORY OF THEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE DURING this period a great revolution in all departments of theological learning was gradually effected. Like all other revolutions, it was long preparing, and its seeds were scattered during the previous period, although that period exhibited so remarkable a contrast with the present. This change owed its origin to various causes, and is capable of being viewed in a variety of aspects. Its principal cause was the deism which arose in the 17th century in England; and its principal aspect, is that of a species of deism, which gradually pervaded all departments of theology. It is easy to find many other causes and aspects, of this great literary revolution. Some may even produce many appearances, seemingly inconsistent with the representation just given; they may appeal to the fact, that deism was zealously and powerfully opposed, and that many theologians set themselves with all their strength against the design of making it prevalent, and of reducing Christianity to its level; and yet it may have been the main tendency and principal effect of the literary labours of these theologians to render the deism they opposed still more prevalent. |