Descartes' Philosophy By Benedictus De Spinoza The Philosopher's earliest work. Translated from the Fages lxxxi+177. Price, cloth 75 cents, mailed 85 cents; paper covered, sewed, 35 cents, mailed 42 cents This work of Spinoza, here translated for the first time into English, is this philosopher's earliest work, and, strange to say, the only one to which he ever subscribed his name. As the title indicates, it is a presentation of Descartes' "Principles of Philosophy," but ample material is also given to reveal the character of Spinoza's early thinking. Little has been done to study Spinoza's system historically, so this book evidently has a place in the literature on this subject. In his Introduction the author has sought to point out the causes that turned Spinoza's thought, even at this early period, irrevocably to Pantheism. The two points upon which he centers most of his attention are the geometrical method, employed by Spinoza only here and in the "Ethics," and the concept of God. These are both shown to be the acme of logical procedure from the standpoint of deduction. Spinoza, better than any of his predecessors, carried this method of thought through to its logical conclusion, with the results found in the "Ethics." This work, therefore, by directing attention to Spinoza's early thought and to the forces that were, even then, carrying him on to his pantheistic conception of God, cannot but add new light to the "Ethics," and help the student to a fuller appreciation of Spinoza's mature philosophy. The Open Court Publishing Company 1322 Wabash Avenue, Chicago evil is, but give me, O God, that sublime belief, that seeing evil I yet have faith.” My Little Book of Prayer BY MURIEL STRODE If you want to know the greatness of a soul and the true mastery of life, apply to The Open Court Publishing Company for a slip of a book by Muriel Strode entitled simply "My Little Book of Prayer. The modern progress of sovereign mind and inner divinity from the narrow cell of the ascetic to the open heaven of man, made in God's own image, is triumphantly shown in it, yet a self-abnegation and sacrifice beyond anything that a St. Francis or a Thomas a'Kempis ever dreamed of glorifies the path. To attempt to tell what a treasure-trove for the struggling soul is in this little volume would be impossible without giving it complete, for every paragraph marks a milestone on the higher way. That the best of all modern thought and religion is garnered in it, its very creed proclaims: Not one holy day but seven; Worshiping, not at the call of a bell, but at the call of my soul; Doing for the joy of it. Some one who has "entered in" sends back to us this inspiring prayer book, and to seize its spirit and walk in the light of it would still the moan and bitterness of human lives, as the bay wreath ends the toilsome struggle in the hero's path. Measure the height attained in this one reflection for the weary army of the unsuccessful: "He is to rejoice with exceeding great joy who plucks the fruit of his planting, but his the divine anointing who watched and waited, and toiled, and prayed, and failed-and can yet be glad." Or this, in exchange for the piping cries of the unfortunate: "I do not bemoan misfortune. To me there is no misfortune. I welcome whatever comes; I go· out gladly to meet it." Cover all misfortune, too, with this master prayer: "O God, whatever befall, spare me that supreme calamity-let no afterbitterness settle down with me. Misfortune is not mine until that hour." Here, too, is the triumph of the unconquerable mind: "The earth shall yet surrender to him and the fates shall do his will who marches on, though the promised land proved to be but a mirage and the day of deliverance was canceled. The gods shall yet anoint him and the morning stars shall sing." And this the true prayer for the battlefield: "I never doubt my strength to bear whatever fate may bring, but, oh! that I may not go down before that which I bring myself." Nuggets of pure gold like these abound in this mine of the mind which the victorious author has opened for us. To seek it out swiftly and resolve its great wealth for himself should be the glad purpose of the elect. And who are not the elect in the light of its large teaching? To claim them in spite of themselves is its crowning lesson. "It is but common to believe in him who believes in himself, but, oh! if you would do aught uncommon, believe in him who does not believe in himself-restore the faith to him."-St Louis GlobeDemocrat, March 5. Printed on Strathmore Japan Paper, Gilt Top, Cloth, $1. Alexis Paper, Bds. 50c Postpaid The Open Court Publishing Co., 1322 Wabash Ave., Chicago A MONTHLY MAGAZINE CARD NEGE MASS. Devoted to the Science of Religion, the Religion of Science, and tbe Ertension of the Religious Parliament Idea Babel and Bible. Third and Last Lecture. (Illustrated.) FRIEDrich De LITZSCH. Gems of Buddhist Poetry. EDITOR. The Nobel Prizes. (Illustrated.) JOHN LUND. 134 156 168 Medhurst's New Translation of the Tao-Teh-King. EDITOR. 174 Longevity Symbols. . 182 In Mars, What Avatar? (Poem.) DON MARQUIS. .... 183 The Open Court Publishing Company LONDON: Kegan Paul. Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd. Per copy, 10 cents (sixpence). Yearly, $1.00 (in the U. P. U., 5s. 6d.). Copyright, 1906, by The Open Court Publishing Co. Entered at the Chicago Post Office as Second Class Matter. evil is, but give me, O God, that sublime belief, that seeing evil I yet have faith.” My Little Book of Prayer BY MURIEL STRODE 99 If you want to know the greatness of a soul and the true mastery of life, apply to The Open Court Publishing Company for a slip of a book by Muriel Strode entitled simply "My Little Book of Prayer. The modern progress of sovereign mind and inner divinity from the narrow cell of the ascetic to the open heaven of man, made in God's own image, is triumphantly shown in it, yet a self-abnegation and sacrifice beyond anything that a St. Francis or a Thomas a'Kempis ever dreamed of glorifies the path. To attempt to tell what a treasure-trove for the struggling soul is in this little volume would be impossible without giving it complete, for every paragraph marks a milestone on the higher way. That the best of all modern thought and religion is garnered in it, its very creed proclaims: Not one holy day but seven; Worshiping, not at the call of a bell, but at the call of my soul; Doing for the joy of it. Some one who has "entered in" sends back to us this inspiring prayer book, and to seize its spirit and walk in the light of it would still the moan and bitterness of human lives, as the bay wreath ends the toilsome struggle in the hero's path. Measure the height attained in this one reflection for the weary army of the unsuccessful: "He is to rejoice with exceeding great joy who plucks the fruit of his planting, but his the divine anointing who watched and waited, and toiled, and prayed, and failed-and can yet be glad." Or this, in exchange for the piping cries of the unfortunate: "I do not bemoan misfortune. To me there is no misfortune. I welcome whatever comes; I go out gladly to meet it." Cover all misfortune, too, with this master prayer: "O God, whatever befall, spare me that supreme calamity-let no afterbitterness settle down with me. Misfortune is not mine until that hour." Here, too, is the triumph of the unconquerable mind: "The earth shall yet surrender to him and the fates shall do his will who marches on, though the promised land proved to be but a mirage and the day of deliverance was canceled. The gods shall yet anoint him and the morning stars shall sing." And this the true prayer for the battlefield: "I never doubt my strength to bear whatever fate may bring, but, oh! that I may not go down before that which I bring myself." Nuggets of pure gold like these abound in this mine of the mind which the victorious author has opened for us. To seek it out swiftly and resolve its great wealth for himself should be the glad purpose of the elect. And who are not the elect in the light of its large teaching? To claim them in spite of themselves is its crowning lesson. "It is but common to believe in him who believes in himself, but, oh! if you would do aught uncommon, believe in him who does not believe in himself-restore the faith to him.”—St Louis GlobeDemocrat, March 5. Printed on Strathmore Japan Paper, Gilt Top, Cloth, $1. Alexis Paper, Bds. 500 Postpaid The Open Court Publishing Co., 1322 Wabash Ave., Chicago |