Skip to main content

Full text of "The Jewish expositor and friend of Israel; containing monthly communications respecting the Jews and the proceedings of the London Society"

See other formats 


_ ot  ft*  II,eo%%  $rui. 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


Shelf.. 


Division nln... 

Section  ,VA. 

Number 


THE 


JEWISH  EXPOSITOR, 

AND 

jFmno  of  Israel ♦ 


JUNE,  1828. 


A SERMON  PREACHED  AT  THE  CHRIS- 
TENING OF  A CERTAIN E JEW,  AT 
LONDON,  BY  JOHN  FOXE. 

( Continued  from  page  125.) 

I have  declared  unto  you,  what 
shall  become  of  your  nation  and 
people.  Now  will  I proceed  to 
explain  unto  you  of  your  temple, 
and  place  of  prayer,  whereupon 
you  vaunt  yourselves  so  much. 
The  prophet  therefore  goeth  for- 
ward : In  all  places  shall  pure  of- 
ferings be  offered  unto  my  name , 
from  the  rising  of  the  sun,  even  to 
the  going  down  of  the  same.  As 
if  God  would  say,  You  Jews  are 
so  addicted  to  that  only  sanctuary 
and  temple  of  the  Lord,  which  he 
did  erect  amongst  you  long  ago, 
as  though  he  ought  not  be  wor- 
shipped in  any  place  else,  and  as 
though  no  nation  in  the  whole 
earth  might  offer  sacrifice  unto 
the  Lord,  except  you  alone.  And 
under  colour  of  this  prerogative 
being  puffed  up  with  pride,  you 
swell  with  immeasurable  vain-glo- 
rious persuasion  of  fleshly  courage, 
and  set  all  other  nations  at  nought, 
as  though  you  alone  were  the  only 
inheritance  of  the  Lord,  and  as 
VOL.  XIII. 


though  you  held  him  fast  tied  to 
your  generation,  with  an  insepa- 
rable chain  of  privileged  bounty 
and  favour,  ancT  so  fast  locked 
within  the  walls  of  your  temple, 
that  he  could  not  be  of  power  to 
depart  from  you,  nor  would  not, 
for  any  cause,  sequester  himself 
from  your  temple.  But  to  the 
end  your  blundered  senses  may 
no  longer  slumber  in  darkness, 
flattering  yourselves  with  vain  and 
counterfeit  confidence  of  falsely- 
conceived  opinion,  I will  by  way 
of  friendly  advertisement  pro- 
nounce, and  even  now  do  de- 
nounce and  forewarn  you,  That 
the  calling  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  is  not  inseparably  bound  to 
place,  time,  or  persons : but  that 
the  largess  of  his  mercy  is  ex- 
tended also  upon  all  people,  na- 
tions, and  tongues,  whether  they 
be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  Scythians  or 
Indians : and  that  this  his  loving- 
kindness, wherewith  he  embraceth 
all  mankind,  will  reject  no  person 
from  his  fatherly  protection : 
wheresoever  his  name  is  feared, 
and  his  majesty  worshipped,  there 
he  doth  indifferently  distribute  the 
gifts  of  his  grace  towards  all  per- 
D D 


202 


A SERMON  PREACHED  AT  THE  BAPTISM  OF  A JEW, 


sons,  without  partiality.  Yea,  and 
because  you  shall  understand  my 
saying  more  plainly,  behold  I do 
protest  unto  you  in  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  that  it  shall  come  to 
pass,  that  you  yourselves  being 
Jews,  and  your  whole  race  for  the 
most  part  being  cast  away,  and 
this  your  sanctuary  (whereupon 
you  boast  so  much)  being  utterly 
rejected,  the  Lord  will  transpose 
his  loving  countenance,  not  into 
one  angle  of  the  world  among  the 
Jews  only,  but  will  be  magnified, 
and  have  the  glory  of  his  name 
called  upon,  in  everyplace  through- 
out all  nations  and  tongues,  where- 
soever scattered  over  the  face  of 
the  earth,  from  the  rising  of  the 
sun,  to  the  going  down  of  the 
same,  For  my  name  is  great  among 
the  Gentiles,  saith  the  Lord  of 
hosts.  Hitherto  you  have  heard 
the  words  of  Malachi  used  towards 
your  people. 

It  remaineth,  lastly,  that  we 
speak  of  the  sacrifices.  For  the 
prophet  doth  evidently  declare, 
that  innovation  shall  ensue  of  the 
sacrifices  also,  speaking  in  this 
wise : Among  the  Gentiles,  and  in 
every  place,  incense  and  a pure  of- 
fering shall  he  offered  unto  my 
name.  Well  now,  what  manner 
of  offerings  be  these  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, which  the  prophet  doth  com- 
mend so  highly?  Be  they  sacri- 
fices of  goats,  or  calves?  They 
be  sacrifices  of  calves,  truly,  but 
such  as  the  prophet  Hosea  men- 
tioneth  in  his  prophecy : And  me 
will  render  (saith  he)  the  calves  of 
our  lips.  Verily  these  be  the 
calves,  wherewith  the  Lord  is  now 
well  delighted.  These  calves  do 
we  offer,  when  acknowledging  our 
unrighteousness,  we  yield  humble 
thanks  to  the  gracious  goodness 
of  God,  who  cleansing  our  wick- 
edness with  the  fountain  of  the 


blood  and  death  of  his  dearly- 
beloved  Son  Christ  Jesu,  doth 
endue  us  with  the  inheritance  of 
everlasting  life.  These  be  the 
spiritual  offerings  of  the  Gentiles, 
differing  very  much  from  the  sa- 
crifices of  the  Jews  : for  these  are 
the  pure  offerings  of  the  spirit, 
that  consist  not  in  bloody  broiling 
of  brute  beasts,  nor  in  smelling 
of  flesh,  nor  are  offered  with  the 
hands  of  priests  imbrued  with 
gore.  And  for  that  cause,  the 
prophet  doth  call  them  clean. 
Well,  then,  and  why  are  these 
offerings  called  clean,  rather  than 
the  Jewish  sacrifices?  What!  shall 
we  say,  that  their  blood-offerings 
are  unclean,  and  their  sacrifices 
defiled  then?  Verily,  albeit  the 
prophet  doth  not  in  express  words 
verify  the  same,  yet  whoso  shall 
duly  ponder  the  substance  and 
pith  of  his  talk,  shall  easily  dis- 
cern, that  the  prophet,  by  secret 
implication,  doth  condemn  the 
Jewish  sacrifices,  as  polluted,  and 
profane  in  the  respect  of  offering 
of  the  heathen. 

But  here  will  one  of  your  sect 
urge  again,  and  demand,  whether 
these  sacrifices  were  not  instituted 
by  God  at  the  first,  and  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  same  prescribed 
unto  us  by  Moses  ? whether  in 
them  also  were  not  contained  the 
calves  of  lips,  thanksgiving  and 
purging  of  sins?  whether  God 
could  be  the  author  of  any  ob- 
servances and  ceremonies,  that 
were  not  of  all  parts  sincere,  pure, 
and  without  blemish  ? For  an- 
swer whereof,  we  do  not  deny, 
that  those  sacrifices  were  insti- 
tuted on  your  behalf,  by  special 
commandment  and  sufferance  of 
the  high  and  most  excellent  law- 
maker Almighty  God.  But  con- 
sideration must  be  had  of  the 
meaning,  purpose,  end,  and  time. 


BY  JOHN  FOX. 


203 


wherein  they  were  to  be  fre- 
quented. Not  that  they  were  of 
value  in  their  own  nature,  to  pur- 
chase true  righteousness,  but  to 
direct  and  lead  us  to  the  righte- 
ousness that  was  to  come : not  that 
you  should  account  them  as  infal- 
lible pledges  of  perfect  piety,  but 
that  Almighty  God  might  train 
and  instruct  you  with  these,  as 
with  certain  principles  meanwhiles, 
until  you  might  be  made  apt  to 
receive  higher  mysteries.  Not  be- 
cause the  Great  Lord  and  Father 
of  spirits  was  delighted  with  the 
slaughter  of  brute  beasts,  of  bloody 
gore  of  his  creatures : but  his 
good  pleasure  was,  under  these 
shadows,  types,  and  figures,  to 
prefigure  the  death  of  his  only 
Son  : who  by  his  bloodshedding 
should  be  of  power  to  wash  men’s 
consciences  clean  from  all  filth 
and  corruption  of  sin : not  because 
you  should  always  lie  nestling  in 
these,  and  proceed  no  further,  but 
to  nurture  your  childhood,  for  a 
time  were  they  delivered,  lest  by 
pursuing  the  error  of  the  Gentiles, 
ye  should  . either  rush  headlong 
into  the  idolatrous  abominations  of 
the  heathen,'  or  at  the  least  re- 
strain you  instead  of  a school- 
master, in  some  orderly  comeliness 
for  a time,  until  the  clear  day 
should  appear,  wherein  better 
things  should  be  revealed,  and  the 
truth  itself  should  shut  up,  and  abo- 
lish those  shadows  and  sacrifices. 

Briefly  to  satisfy  this  matter  in 
two  words,  two  notes  are  chiefly 
to  be  observed  in  these  kinds  of 
sacrifices:  namely,  the  use  and 
the  time.  As  concerning  the  use  : 
Truly  the  due  observation  of  those 
sacrifices  was  not  of  force  by  their 
own  nature,  to  make  a chosen  and 
beloved  people  of  God;  but  to  be 
rules  and  principles,  for  that  peo- 


ple whom  Moses  had  gathered  to 
minister  in  his  synagogue ; not 
because  they  were  able  of  them- 
selves to  give  eternal  salvation, 
but  that  they  should  foreshew  the 
coming  of  him,  in  whom  rested  true 
safety,  and  withal  should  repre- 
sent an  outward  shadow  of  inward 
holiness  and  cleanness  of  mind. 
And  for  that  cause  provision  was 
made  for  such  beasts  only,  that 
were  clean,  unspotted,  and  unde- 
filed: hereby  inducing  the  people 
of  the  old  synagogue  to  learn,  how 
they  ought  to  behave  themselves 
in  their  daily  conversation,  unblam- 
able. As  to  that  which  apper- 
taineth  to  the  consideration  of  the 
time,  this  ought  to  be  holden  for 
certain,  that  those  blood-offerings 
of  the  ceremonial  law,  were  not 
delivered,  because  they  should 
never  cease,  even  as  neither  the 
temple  was  built,  to  the  end  it 
should  never  be  razed  and  de- 
stroyed: or  as  though  the  over- 
throw thereof,  should  forthwith 
extinguish  the  worshipping  of  God 
withal,  but  were  given  for  a time 
only,  not  to  continue  for  ever,  but 
transitory  rather,  and  removable, 
remaining  in  use  as  certain  exer- 
cises and  introductions  of  outward 
discipline,  until  the  blessed  seed 
should  come,  in  whom  the  pro- 
mise took  effect.  And  therefore 
Almighty  God  did  with  great  care, 
long  time  as  it  were,  allow  the 
sacrifices,  to  nurture  the  weak  ca- 
pacity of  the  people  of  that  rude 
age:  by  means  whereof  the  said 
sacrifices  had  then  their  certain 
use  and  estimation,  nor  were  ad- 
judged unclean  during  that  season. 
But  as  now',  the  estate  of  the  time 
being  altered,  since  the  truth  itself 
doth  overspread  the  world  with 
wonderful  lightsomeness,  and  the 
Sun  of  righteousness  displayeth  his 


204 


A SERMON  PREACHED  AT  THE  BAPTISM  OF  A JEW, 


clear  and  palpable  brightness : 
these  carnal  sacrifices  and  blood- 
offerings  do  utterly  cease,  and  are 
altogether  discharged  from  further 
use. 

For  what  availeth  to  gaze  after 
shadows,  where  the  body  is  pre- 
sent to  be  beholden  plainly  ? What 
senseless  man  will  burn  candle,  or 
light  a torch  in  sunshine  at  mid- 
day ? who  will  grope  for  darkness 
in  open  light  ? or  seek  for  night  in 
clearest  day  ? The  cause  why  that 
butchery  of  silly  beasts  was  per- 
mitted you  for  a time,  was  to  in- 
form your  grossness,  and  tame  the 
hardness  of  your  hearts  : that  so, 
by  view  of  visible  signs,  and  re- 
presentations of  visible  shadows, 
the  Lord  might  train  you  along  to 
the  true  and  pure  cleansing  of 
sins,  which  was  then  to  come. 
But  now,  since  we  are  come  to 
the  truth  itself  (whereof  the  other 
were  but  shadows)  it  is  a neces- 
sary consequence,  that  those  things 
which  were  some  time  esteemed 
for  clean,  the  very  same  again 
through  alteration  of  time,  may  be 
accounted  not  only  unclean  and 
defiled,  but  filthy  also,  and  abo- 
minable. 

Which  things  being  undoubtedly 
true,  ye  men  of  Israel,  as  may 
most  manifestly  appear  unto  you 
by  the  testimony  and  discourse  of 
Malachi  and  other  prophets,  what 
extreme  madness  is  this  in  you,  to 
persevere  still  in  so  deep  a slum- 
ber, dreaming  yet  about  your  old 
rotten  tabernacles,  your  forlorn 
temple,  your  carnal  worshippings, 
and  moth-eaten  sacrifices  ? But 
let  us  imagine  and  grant,  by  way  of 
a case  put,  that  you  may  recover 
your  Jerusalem  again,  I would 
fain  learn  of  you  then,  what  you 
would  do  there.  First,  you  will 
procure  your  temple  to  be  built 


up  again.  And  why  so  ? because 
ye  may  offer  incense  and  sacrifice 
to  God  after  your  accustomed 
manner?  As  though  that  general 
Lord  of  all  nations  cannot  be  wor- 
shipped elsewhere,  than  in  a blind 
angle  of  the  world,  at  Jerusalem? 
And  how  then  will  the  saying  of 
the  prophet  Malachi  be  verified? 
who  saith  that  the  time  shouldcome, 
when  the  Lord  of  Hosts  should  he 
worshipped  in  all  places,  and  in- 
cense offered  unto  him  throughout 
all  the  world,  from  the  rising  of 
the  sun,  to  the  going  down  thereof. 
If  you  will  so  strait  and  restrain 
all  worship  due  unto  God,  within 
the  walls  of  your  temple  only,  as 
it  were  locked  fast  in  some  closet, 
then  I demand  of  you  further,  with 
what  kind  of  sacrifice  you  will 
pacify  your  God,  within  that  tem- 
ple? forsooth  with  blood  and 
butchery  of  beasts.  But  where  is 
then  that  pure  and  undefiled  offer- 
ing mentioned  by  Malachi,  which 
is  not  imbrued  with  slaughter,  I 
suppose,  but  performed  by  spiri- 
tual sacrifices  ? 

Finally,  with  what  argument 
can  you  persuade,  that  the  living 
God  ought  to  be  worshipped  more 
properly  and  peculiarly  of  you 
Jews,  than  of  all  other  nations, 
namely,  since  you  are  so  plainly 
convinced  with  the  express  testi- 
mony of  Malachi  ? who  making 
no  mention  of  the  Jews,  doth  pro- 
phesy, that  the  name  of  God  shall 
be  had  in  great  admiration  amongst 
the  Gentiles.  What  answer  will 
you  make,  also,  to  that  promise 
of  the  same  Malachi,  in  the  chap- 
ter following : where  foretelling 
the  signs  and  tokens  that  should 
go  before  the  coming  of  Messias  : 
to  wit,  That  his  forerunner  should 
come  first  and  prepare  the  way 
before  the  face  of  the  Lord  ? And 


BY  JOHN  FOX. 


205 


immediately  saith,  And  the  Lord 
whom  ye  seek,  shall  speedily  come 
to  liis  holy  temple,  even  the  angel 
of  the  covenant  whom  you  desire, 
&c.  What  ? came  not  that  same 
forerunner  that  was  promised? 
Was  not  his  voice  heard  also  in 
the  desert  according  to  the  pro- 
phecy of  Isaiah,  crying  out  as 
loud  as  he  could,  to  the  end  you 
should  prepare  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  and  should  make  straight  in 
the  desert  a path  for  your  God. 
Why  did  you  not  make  prepara- 
tion then?  Why  did  you  not  re- 
ceive the  angel  of  the  covenant, 
whom  ye  desired,  coming  into  his 
holy  temple  ? Nay,  rather,  why 
did  you  banish  him  from  out  your 
synagogue  ? why  did  you  daily 
exclude  him  from  thence,  railing 
continually  upon  the  Lord  with 
outrageous  reproaches,  and  taunt- 
ing blasphemies  ? What  punish- 
ment or  torture  may  be  imagined 
horrible  enough  to  countervail  so 
execrable  outrages? 

Also,  by  the  way,  here  is  not 
to  be  passed  over  in  silence,  the 
saying  of  the  same  prophet,  an- 
nexed in  the  end  of  the  same 
chapter,  concerning  that  dreadful 
and  terrible  day  of  the  Lord, 
wherewith  he  will  overwhelm  the 
proud  and  wicked  doers,  whom 
that  hot  scorching  day,  even  as 
an  hot  burning  oven  should  de- 
vour, as  flame  consumeth  the 
stubble,  leaving  neither  branch 
nor  root  of  them. 

But  you  will  say,  that  this 
threatening  doth  concern  others, 
and  appertaineth  nothing  at  all  to 
you.  Yes,  trely,  the  very  order, 
proceeding,  and  event  of  the  mat- 
ter do  most  manifestly  convince, 
that  this  direful  threatening  was  de- 
nounced against  you  chiefly : whose 
words  that  ensue  hereupon  imme- 
diately, are  these  : Behold  (saith 


he)  I will  send  you  Elias  the  pro- 
phet, before  the  coming  of  the  great 
and  fearful  day  of  the  Lord,  and 
he  shall  turn  the  hearts  of  the  fa- 
thers to  the  children,  and  the  hearts 
of  the  children  to  the  fathers,  lest 
haply  I come  and  smile  the  earth 
with  cursing.  And  to  whom  must 
this  Elias  be  sent,  but  unto  you? 
and  therefore,  what  land  shall  be 
accursed  but  you  ? Finally,  what 
signifieth  the  word  anathema,  but 
a certain  final  destruction  of  all 
mankind,  except  those  persons 
only,  whom  Elias  should  reduce  to 
amendment  of  conversation  ? For 
God  hath  not  so  utterly  rejected 
his  people,  that  no  remnant  thereof 
shall  be  saved,  as  I declared  be- 
fore unto  you  out  of  St.  Paul. 

But  I will  cease  to  surcharge 
you  with  more  testimonies,  add- 
ing only  one  or  two  places : first, 
out  of  the  book  of  Genesis,  and 
then  out  of  the  prophet  Hosea : 
wherein  it  shall  not  be  needful  to 
use  long  discourse.  For  who  is 
so  ignorant  in  the  holy  Scriptures, 
that  understandeth  not  what  is 
meant  by  that  sceptre  which  the 
patriarch  Jacob,  inspired  by  divine 
oracle,  did  boldly  pronounce, 
should  never  be  removed  from  the 
tribe  of  Judah  ? And  who  is  he, 
at  the  length,  but  even  the  same 
whom  the  prophet  Isaiah  describ- 
* eth,  saying,  1 have  given  him  for 
a governor  and  teacher  of  the  Gen- 
tiles— which  sentence  the  holy 
patriarch,  inspired  with  the  same 
Holy  Ghost,  did  long  before,  in 
the  same  sense  profess,  though  in 
other  words : And  the  Gentiles 
shall  be  gathered  unto  him.  But 
as  then  was  not  the  sceptre  yet  of 
power  in  Israel.  But  the  godly 
greyheaded  father,  foreseeing  long 
before,  the  events  of  things  to 
come,  did  prophesy  of  Judah  in 
this  wise  : The  sceptre  or  mace  of 


206 


A SERMON  PREACHED  AT  THE  BAPTISM  OF  A JEW, 


the  empire  shall  not  depart  from 
Judah,  nor  a lawgiver  from  between 
his  feet,  until  Shiloh  come,  and  the 
gathering  of  the  Gentiles  shall  be 
unto  him.  Howsoever  some  Tal- 
mudists do  practise  to  pervert  this 
place  with  most  frivolous  cavilla- 
tions  : yea,  though  all  the  upstart 
rabbins  would  burst  in  sunder, 
yet  can  this  sentence  by  no  violent 
wrest  be  framed  applicable  other- 
wise, but  that  two  special  matters 
must  necessarily  be  grounded 
thereupon.  First,  that  Judah  and 
his  tribe  should  be  invested  in  the 
title,  and  the  interest  of  his  king- 
dom. Next,  that  this  preroga- 
tive should  endure  unmoveable, 
.until  Messiasdid  come,  unto  whom 
the  Gentiles  should  gather  them- 
selves. And  to  the  same  effect 
tendeth  the  interpretation  of  Jona- 
than and  others,  who  lived  long 
before  the  age  of  Christ,  whose 
words,  who  listeth  to  hear,  are 
these : “ The  king’s  seat  shall  not 
be  taken  or  depart  from  the  house 
of  Judah  : neither  shall  lawgivers 
want  of  their  children’s  children, 
until  the  time  that  Messias  shall 
come,  to  whom  the  kingdom  doth 
belong.  And  all  the  kings  of  the 
earth  shall  become  his  vassals. 
How  beautiful  is  this  Messias, 
that  shall  come  to  continue  in  the 
house  of  Judah  ? He  shall  gird 
up  his  loins  and  go  forth  to  battle 
against  his  enemies,  and  the  kings 
and  their  princes  shall  be  slain.  He 
shall  dye  the  rivers  red  with  the 
blood  of  the  slain : his  teeth  shall 
be  ordered  with  knowledge,  lest  he 
partake  the  fruits  of  their  spoils 
and  wrong  doings.  The  hills  shall 
look  red  with  their  vines,  and  their 
wine-presses  with  the  wine:  the 
fields  shall  be  adorned  with  beau- 
tiful blossom  by  reason  of  the 
abundance  of  fruits,  of  beasts,  and 
sheep,”  &c.  Thus  much  thought 


I good  to  rehearse  out  of  Jona- 
than: yet  have  we  no  need, 
(praised  be  God)  to  vouch  any 
commentaries  of  the  Jews,  to  ma- 
nifest the  mysteries  of  the  holy 
Scripture,  namely,  since  there  can 
be  no  better  interpreter  of  the 
prophetical  Scriptures  than  time, 
and  approved  experience  of  the 
successes  thereof. 

The  testimony  that  I thought 
good  to  borrow  out  of  Hosea, 
most  worthy  to  be  noted  of  you 
that  are  Jews,  is  that  which  he 
setteth  down  in  the  first  chapter 
of  his  prophecy,  where  the  pro- 
phet, inveighing  against  Israel, 
useth  this  speech:  Call  his  name 
(saith  he)  not  my  people,  beccmse 
you  are  not  my  people,  therefore 
will  I not  be  yours,  &c.  Whereby 
you  may  plainly  perceive  the  say- 
ing of  St.  Paul  confirmed  by  the 
prophet,  to  wit : the  same  which 
lie  teacheth  concerning  the  natural 
branches,  which  he  said  were  hewn 
off  from  the  olive-tree.  And  now, 
ye  men  of  Israel,  where  is  that 
your  arrogant  vain-glorious  vaunt 
of  the  offspring  of  your  kindred? 
If  to  be  issued  of  the  race  of  Abra- 
ham be  prised  so  highly  in  the 
sight  of  God,  what  meaneth,  then, 
this  casting  away  of  the  Israelites, 
mentioned  by  the  prophet?  what 
signifieth  that  special  choice,  and 
calling  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
wild  olive-tree  to  be  planted  in 
their  place?  For  so  we  read  the 
promise  set  down  by  the  prophet: 
And  the  number  of  the  children  of 
Israel  (saith  he)  shall  be  as  the 
sand  of  the  sea,  which  cannot  be 
measured  and  told.  And  in  the 
place  inhere  it  was  said,  Ye  are  not 
my  people,  it  shall  be  said  unto 
them , You  are  the  sons  of  the  living 
God.  It  was  a singular  preroga- 
tive for  them,  not  being  Israelites 
born,  to  be  named  and  numbered 


BY  JOHN  FOX. 


207 


amongst  the  true  children  of  Is- 
rael. But  that  other  did  far  sur- 
mount, that  being  before  the  brood 
of  the  devil,  they  should  now  be 
called  the  sons  of  the  living  God. 
And  to  whom,  I beseech  you,  is 
this  unspeakable  benefit  promised  ? 
forsooth  neither  to  the  Israelites 
nor  to  the  Jews,  nor  to  them 
which  seemed  to  appertain  unto 
God,  but  to  them  which  were  alto- 
gether severed  and  estranged  from 
God : the  very  abject  and  idolatrous 
Gentiles,  barbarous  and  uncir- 
cumcised heathen,  whom  the  in- 
comprehensible mercy  of  God  will 
join  near  unto  himself,  and  will 
ingraft  them  into  the  root  of  his 
own  natural  olive-tree,  having 
first  cut  off  the  natural  branches, 
in  whose  stead  he  shall  gather  the 
Gentiles  together,  from  out  a wild 
olive-tree,  in  such  plentiful  abun- 
dance and  infinite  heaps,  as  will 
not  be  comprehended  within  the 
territory  of  Palestine  only,  hut 
like  unto  the  sands  of  the  sea,  will 
replenish  the  whole  world,  far  and 
wide,  from  the  rising  of  the  sun 
to  the  going  down  of  the  same. 

Ye  have  heard  the  mind  and 
purport  of  the  prophet,  which  if  ye 
suppose  to  be  as  yet  not  accom- 
plished for  your  behoof,  through 
the  Gospel  of  Messias,  our  Lord 
and  Saviour,  open  your  eyelids,  if 
you  be  not  blind,  and  behold  the 
innumerable  multitude  of  people 
and  tongues,  which  every  where 
throughout  the  world,  do  profess 
the  true  worshipping  of  God : 
number  them,  if  you  be  able  ; but 
if  the  quantity  be  so  infinite  as 
the  sand  of  the  sea,  exceeding  all 
reach  and  compass  of  number,  you 
may  easily  conjecture  thereby,  ye 
men  of  Israel,  into  what  straits 
your  wilful  ignorance  forceth  you, 
and  how  perilous  that  forward 
blindness  of  yours  is,  and  withal 


bethink  yourselves  in  time,  what 
were  best  for  you  to  embrace  from 
henceforth  : nay,  rather,  how  fool- 
ishly you  have  behaved  yourselves 
heretofore.  God  did  send  his  only- 
begotten  son  into  the  world,  the 
seed  of  a woman,  and  born  of  a 
virgin,  whose  parentage  and  kin- 
dred, from  whence  he  issued,  be- 
cause you  did  not  know,  and 
nevertheless  were  amazed  to  be- 
hold his  heavenly  power  in  doing 
miracles,  his  wonderful  clemency 
employed  to  the  cure  of  all  manner 
of  diseases,  and  casting  out  of 
devils ; yet  being  swallowed  up  of 
extreme  madness,  and  overwhelm- 
ed with  blind  rancour  and  cankered 
malice,  you  did  most  cruelly  de- 
spoil him  of  life,  and  spilt  his 
guiltless  blood,  without  all  cause 
of  offence.  For  why  may  I not 
justly  accuse  you,  as  partakers  of 
the  same  crime,  since  ye  do,  with 
whole  bent  affection  of  hateful  de- 
spite, pursue  the  imbrued  steps  of 
your  bloody  sires,  and  gladly  allow 
of  that  execrable  murder. 

And  therefore  thou  art  duly 
charged  with  the  guilt  of  innocent 
blood.  Thou  didst  receive  Caesar 
to  be  thy  king,  refusing  Christ: 
continue  his  bondslave  still.  Yet 
this  worketh  no  grace  in  thee,  nor 
allureth  thee  to  abandon  thy  dot- 
ing error:  for  thou  dost  as  yet 
breathe  out  villany  against  the 
King  of  the  Jews,  whose  name  we 
have  in  greatest  estimation.  But 
what  thinkest  thou  to  gain  by  kick- 
ing against  the  pricks?  Dost  thou 
not  perceive,  how  God  hath  made 
frustrate  all  thy  devices,  contrary 
to  thine  expectation  ? Dost  thou 
not  see,  how  thy  mischievous 
practices  recoil  back  upon  thine 
own  head?  Dost  thou  not  feel 
thy  downfall  into  the  pit  which 
thyself  hast  digged?  Thou  seest 
the  temple  so  razed  and  over- 


208 


A SERMON  PREACHED  AT  THE  BAPTISM  OF  A JEW, 


thrown  to  the  ground,  that  no 
stone  thereof  can  be  found:  thou 
dost  see  thy  religion  utterly  abo- 
lished, the  priesthood,  the  law, 
the  kingdom,  your  cities,  your 
nation,  your  race  and  kindred, 
wholly  extinguished : briefly,  thou 
canst  recount  no  one  thing  remain- 
ing, but  a few  wretched  wanderers 
and  contemptible  renegades,  true 
monuments  of  the  outrageous  in- 
solency,  and  miserable  calamity 
of  their  forlorn  forefathers:  yea, 
that  seely  small  portion  also,  en- 
during through  none  other  privi- 
lege, than  by  this  commendation 
of  Paul,  and  the  gentle  sufferance 
of  the  Christians.  And  being  thus 
continually  turmoiled  with  sundry 
miseries,  notwithstanding  God’s 
just  judgment  doth  daily  execute 
new  increases  of  his  severe  wrath 
against  you : yet  are  your  minds 
so  intoxicated  with  the  poison  of 
bewitched  ignorance,  that  these 
wonderful  scourges  can  ply  your 
hearts  to  no  better  grace,  persist- 
ing still  in  perverse  frowardness, 
as  that  these  pinching  plagues 
(the  horror  whereof  might  have 
prevailed  to  procure  amendment) 
seem  rather  to  stir  and  provoke 
you  to  further  cruelty.  For  albeit 
you  do  plainly  perceive,  and  can- 
not deny,  but  that  all  whatsoever 
your  own  prophets  have  foretold 
of  the  Messias,  is  absolutely  ac- 
complished in  the  person  of  Christ 
Jesus:  albeit  you  may  easily  learn 
out  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  by 
continual  experience  and  successes 
of  times,  that  there  is  none  other 
Christ,  but  even  the  same  whom 
the  whole  world  doth  worship  at 
this  present:  albeit  you  sensibly 
feel  that  you  are  become  a mock- 
ery, not  to  Almighty  God  only, 
but  accounted  also  no  better  than 
renegades  of  all  nations  of  the 
world:  yet  do  ye  curse  Christ  in 


your  synagogues  daily,  and  ex- 
pect yet  another  Messias  (I  know 
not  whom)  which  you  shall  never 
see,  but  in  that  terrible  and  dread- 
ful day  of  wrath,  at  what  time, 
maugre  your  teeth,  you  shall  be- 
hold him  whom  you  have  cruelly 
crucified.  What  monstrous  hard- 
ness of  heart  is  this,  ye  men 
and  Hebrews,  that  so  many  hea- 
venly oracles  of  so  many  of  your 
own  prophets,  so  many  manifest 
testimonies  of  sacred  Scriptures, 
so  many  horrible  punishments,  so 
many  unmerciful  plagues,  where- 
with your  nation  is,  and  hath  been, 
continually  tormented,  cannot  in- 
duce you  to  conceive  some  sparkle 
of  true  repentance  ? The  Romans 
did  ransack  you  with  such  outrage 
in  their  conquest,  that  they  spared 
neither  young  nor  old,  men,  wo- 
men, nor  infants  ; neither  left  one 
stone  standing  upon  another  of 
your  whole  city.  Finally,  your 
habitations  are  become  waste  and 
desolate,  ye  have  now  neither  city 
nor  temple,  kingdom  nor  priest- 
hood, people  nor  prophet,  and, 
which  of  all  other  is  most  lament- 
able, you  have  eyes  that  cannot 
see,  ears  that  cannot  hear,  hearts 
that  cannot  understand,  whereby 
you  may  repent,  and  be  con- 
verted to  your  liege  Lord  and  so- 
vereign King. 

But  go  ye  to : let  all  that  which 
is  past  be  imputed  either  to  your 
ignorance,  or  to  the  wrathful  ven- 
geance of  God  for  your  unbelief 
sake,  because  ye  knew  not  the 
time  of  your  visitation.  And  be- 
ing allured  and  stirred  up  to  better 
remembrance,  by  so  manifold  ex- 
amples, learn  now  at  the  length, 
by  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel, 
to  acknowledge  our  Christ  Jesu 
the  Lord  of  peace,  of  meekness, 
and  of  humility,  to  be  the  only 
Messias,  sent  from  God  the  Fa- 


BY  JOHN  FOX. 


20a 


ther  ; in  whose  name  all  nations 
of  the  earth  shall  be  saved,  and 
to  whom  all  knees  in  heaven  and 
earth  ought  to  bow  down,  and 
prostrate  themselves.  There  was 
sometimes  an  unsavoury  season  of 
darkened  ignorance,  when  as  our 
temples  also  were  polluted  with 
filthy  idolatry;  but  now,  since  all 
clouds  of  foggy  superstition  are 
for  the  more  part  scattered  and 
vanished  out  of  sight,  and  the 
clear  dawning  of  the  lightsome 
truth  of  Christ’s  Gospel  displayeth 
its  orient  beams,  tread  no  longer 
the  dirty  track  of  superstitious 
mismasses,  but  return  with  us, 
and  be  made  partakers  of  the 
lively  well-spring  of  sincere  and 
pure  doctrine.  The  same  Christ, 
whom  you  do  persecute,  must  be 
worshipped:  whose  doctrine  you 
do  practise  to  root  out,  even  he 
doth  offer  you  salvation  freely  and 
frankly.  The  same  whom  you 
contemptuously  entreated  as  a man, 
is  worshipped  in  all  the  world 
both  God  and  man,  howsoever  ye 
despised  him  (as  Joseph  was 
some  time  rejected  of  his  breth- 
ren), yet  reigneth  he  in  the  glory 
of  his  Father:  whom  you  mortal 
men  believed  to  die  the  natural 
death,  the  same  revived  again  im- 
mortal, and  shall  live  in  immor- 
tality for  ever.  Whom  your  fore- 
fathers embased  under  the  noisy 
rabble  of  the  people,  and  accounted 
for  an  abject,  and  outcast  of  men, 
even  to  his  majesty  do  all  the 
lofty  estates,  and  stately  powers  of 
heaven  and  earth  prostrate  and 
humble  themselves ; that  the  say- 
ing of  Isaiah  may  aptly  be  verified 
in  this  place,  The  kings  of  the 
earth  shall  stop  their  mouths  before 
him.  Whom  you  reproached  with 
the  most  shameful  death  of  the 
cross,  his  very  same  cross  is  turned 
VOL.  XIII. 


into  his  glory,  to  our  salvation,  to 
the  judgment  of  the  world,  to  the 
destruction  of  his  enemies,  and 
everlasting  consolation  of  them 
that  be  redeemed.  So  that  here 
again  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah  may 
seem  to  take  effect : And  everlast- 
ing joy  shall  be  upon  their  heads, 
and  sorrow  and  mourning  shall 
flee  away.  Finally,  whose  name 
your  forefathers  hoped  to  have 
been  razed  out  of  all  men’s  me- 
mory, the  very  same  name  hath 
God  magnified  above  all  the  glory 
of  angels  and  men : at  the  calling 
upon  whose  name,  the  dead  arise 
again,  maladies  are  cured,  devils 
do  tremble  and  quake  for  fear, 
unclean  spirits  are  tormented,  and 
flee  away ; yea,  the  whole  hier- 
archy of  angels  doth  bow  down  and 
worship.  Now  forasmuch  as  these 
things  are  so  manifest,  that  no 
man  can  be  ignorant  of  them,  I do 
wonder  much  what  reason  you  can 
allege,  to  colour  obstinate  contu- 
macy, who  being  taught  by  so 
many  examples,  can  content  your- 
selves nevertheless  to  lie  still 
musing  and  slumbering  in  vanish- 
ing shadows ; and,  neglecting  the 
very  natural  Son  of  God,  can 
grope  like  buzzards,  after  a sense- 
less imaginative  shape,  of  I know 
not  what  Messias : when  as  your 
true  Messias  is  already  come,  or 
besides  him  else  shall  never  any 
one  come ; unless  all  your  own 
prophets  were  liars,  who  have  de- 
scribed unto  you  none  other  Mes- 
sias, but  this  one  only  person. 

( To  be  continued.) 


E E 


210 


ON  THE  PROPHECY  OF  BALAAM. 


ON  THE  PROPHECY  OF  BALAAM. 

To  Ihe  Editors  of  the  Jewish  Expositor. 

Gentlemen, 

As  the  subject  of  prophecy, 
both  in  regard  to  events  past  and 
future,  is  at  the  present  period 
much  occupying  the  attention  of 
Christians,  and  as  the  restoration 
of  the  Jews  is  closely  connected 
with  it,  may  I be  permitted  to 
offer  a few  remarks  upon  the  topic? 
not  for  the  purpose  of  controversy, 
or  to  gratify  a vain  curiosity,  but 
rather  to  awaken  attention  to  what 
God  is  doing  in  the  world,  and  to 
shew  how  that  Jehovah  performeth 
nothing  that  he  hath  not  first  re- 
vealed to  his  servants  the  prophets. 

That  part  of  the  revelation  of 
the  Most  High  to  which  I would 
now  refer  is,  the  memorable  pro- 
phecy of  Balaam.  Respecting  his 
real  character  I need  advance  no- 
thing ; he  is  awfully  distinguished 
as  “ loving  the  wages  of  unrighte- 
ousness,” and  as  “seeking,”  though 
unsuccessfully,  “ enchantments  and 
divinations  against  Israel.”  This, 
however,  in  no  degree  invalidates 
the  truths  which  he  delivered;  it 
rather  adds  to  their  weight.  What 
he  uttered  is  not  the  blind  and 
partial  testimony  of  a friend, 
but  the  unwilling  evidence  of  an 
enemy;  whence  I consider  the 
predictions  of  Balaam  concerning 
Israel,  as  they  were  amongst  the 
first,  so  are  they  of  the  most  va- 
luable of  all  that  has  been  written 
of  that  wonderful  people.  As  he 
was  one  of  the  first  who  prophe- 
sied concerning  Israel,  he  must  be 
expected  to  take  but  an  indistinct 
view — to  draw  a very  faint  outline 
of  the  designs  of  God  towards 
Israel : yet  however  indistinct  that 
view  might  be,  and  however  faint 
that  outline  might  appear,  yet  it 


was  most  correct;  and  since  in 
subsequent  ages  those  views  have 
been  confirmed,  and  that  outline 
filled  up,  it  is  most  manifest,  that 
even  the  early  predictions  of  Ba- 
laam had  respect  to  God’s  dealings 
with  his  peculiar  people,  to  the 
time  of  their  restoration,  and  tra- 
cing their  course  onward,  till  the 
final  consummation  of  all  things. 

The  first  distinct  prophecy  of 
Balaam  occurs  in  Numbers  xxiii. 
9,  10,  “ For  from  the  top  of  the 
rocks  I see  him,  and  from  the  hills 
I behold  him : lo,  the  people  shall 
dwell  alone,  and  shall  not  be  reck- 
oned among  the  nations.  Who  can 
count  the  dust  of  Jacob,  and  the 
number  of  the  fourth  part  of  Is- 
rael.” 

Here  he  first  points  out  their 
separation,  and  the  perpetuity  of 
it,  a thing  utterly  without  prece- 
dent, and  its  continuance  the  most 
unlikely  event  in  the  world.  All 
other  families  had  been  amalga- 
mated in  one  mass,  and  a distinct 
nation  soon  becomes  absorbed  in 
the  people  amongst  whom  it  dwells ; 
but  acontrouling  and  superintend- 
ing Providence  had  from  the  time 
of  Abraham  kept  a broad  line  of 
demarcation  between  that  race  and 
the  surrounding  nations,  and  there 
was  a pledge  given,  that  it  should 
so  remain  to  the  end.  When  in 
the  life-time  of  Jacob  his  sons  and 
daughter  were  about  to  be  incor- 
porated with  the  Shechemites, — 
and  this  even  with  the  consent  of 
the  patriarch, — Simeon  and  Levi 
destroyed  the  plot  by  perpetrating 
a most  bloody  deed,  so  that  even 
their  father  said,  “ Cursed  be  their 
anger,  for  it  was  fierce ; and  their 
wrath,  for  it  was  cruel;”  as  if  ig- 
norant that,  with  whatever  per- 
sonal feelings,  they  yet  acted  under 
the  guidance  of  the  Most  High. 


ON  THE  PROPHECY  OP  BALAAM. 


211 


A fatal  end  was  threatened  to 
this  separation,  when  Israel  went 
down  into  Egypt.  What  was  so 
likely  as  that  this  family  would  be 
lost  amongst  thatnumerous  people  ? 
Joseph  their  brother  had  already 
intermarried  with  them!  Union 
with  the  family  would  not  have 
been  counted  a dishonourable  al- 
liance, since  the  principal  person 
of  it  was  “ governor  over  all  the 
land.”  But  the  apparently  trifling 
and  incidental  circumstance  of  the 
men  being  shepherds,  raised  an  in- 
surmountable obstacle  to  any  ex- 
tensive or  permanent  union.  It  is 
said,  “ Every  shepherd  is  an  abomi- 
nation to  the  Egyptians.  (See  Gen. 
xlvi.  34.)  Hence  they  must  needs 
have  the  land  of  Goshen  appointed 
to  them  as  their  own  city  to  dwell 
in,  and  this  for  the  strongest  poli- 
tical reasons,  and  to  prevent  those 
feuds  and  contentions  which  must 
otherwise  necessarily  for  ever  em- 
broil them. 

This  separation  moreover  was 
secured  by  the  object  of  Israel’s 
worship.  They  served  Jeiiovaii 
Eloim,  while  other  nations  wor- 
shipped idols.  God  made  a dis- 
tinct covenant  with  their  father 
Abraham,  in  which  they  were'  in- 
cluded, as  it  is  recorded  in  Gen. 
xii.  1 — 3,  “ Get  thee  out  of  thy 
country,  and  from  thy  kindred, 
and  from  thy  father’s  house,  to  a 
land  that  I will  shew  thee.  And 
I will  make  of  thee  a great  nation, 
and  I will  bless  thee  and  make 
thy  name  great ; and  thou  shalt  be 
a blessing,  and  in  thee  shall  all 
families  of  the  earth  be  blessed.” 

They  had  also  a distinct  mode  of 
worship,  very  different  from  all 
other  people.  In  the  remarkable 
vision  which  Abraham  had,  as  re- 
corded in  Gen.  xv.,  he  was  com- 
manded to  take  an  heifer,  a ram, 
a shc-goat,  a turtle-dove,  and  a 


young  pigeon,  and  to  divide  the 
beasts,  cutting  them  asunder,  that 
the  burning  lamp  might  pass 
through  between  the  separated 
parts  (ver.  17);  and  these  were 
used  as  instruments  in  confirma- 
tion of  the  covenant  which  God 
then  renewed  to  the  patriarch  and 
his  seed.  All  these  respective 
creatures  were  afterwards  ordained 
through  Moses,  as  sacrifices  to  be 
offered  up  in  the  religious  ser- 
vices of  the  people,  and  these  very 
creatures  wrere  the  objects  of  wor- 
ship amongst  other  nations,  and 
the  Egyptians  likewise;  hence  in 
Exodus  viii.  25,  26,  when  Pha- 
raoh said  to  Moses,  “ Go  ye,  sa- 
crifice to  God  in  the  land,  Moses 
said,  It  is  not  meet  so  to  do;  for 
we  shall  sacrifice  the  abomination 
of  the  Egyptians  to  the  Lord  our 
God : lo,  shall  we  sacrifice  the 
abomination  of  the  Egyptians  be- 
fore their  eyes,  and  will  they  not 
stone  us?” 

Their  habits  in  respect  of  food 
were  different  from  those  of  other 
people.  The  distinction  betwixt 
clean  and  unclean  animals  fit  for 
food  was  peculiar  to  them,  and 
likewise  between  the  different  parts 
of  the  same  animal.  And  this  is 
a feature  in  their  character,  not 
merely  recorded  in  history ; it  dis- 
tinguishes that  people  to  the  present 
hour,  so  that  Jews  and  Christians 
cannot  usually  eat  together.  And 
to  make  the  separation  perfect 
and  complete,  the  posterity  of 
Abraham  were  to  abide  in  the 
land  of  Canaan,  which  was  given 
to  Abraham  as  a possession  ; and 
though  by  reason  of  sin  they  have 
been  driven  from  it,  and  the  Holy 
Land  and  the  temple  are  trodden 
under  loot,  yet  they  have  never 
alienated  it.  The  present  posses- 
sion of  it  by  the  Turks  is  an 
acknowledged  usurpation,  from 


ON  THE  PROPHECY  OF  BALAAM. 


*?  I <? 

r*  1 /V 


which  they  expect  to  be  ejected  ; 
so  that  whether  we  look  at  the 
past,  the  present,  or  the  future, 
we  see  the  overwhelming  evidence 
of  the  truth  of  the  prophecy, 

“ The  people  shall  dwell  alone.” 

It  is  very  interesting  to  trace 
the  care  of  Divine  Providence  over 
this  singular  people  after  their 
settlement  in  Canaan. 

Though  it  may  not  appear  to  be 
very  remarkable,  that  the  Israel- 
ites should  remain  alone  on  their 
establishment  in  Canaan,  seeing 
that  they  were  prohibited  forming 
an  alliance  with  the  people  of  the 
land ; yet  their  being  carried  cap- 
tive to  Babylon,  threatened  to 
destroy  their  distinctive  character. 
To  a certain  extent,  moreover,  we 
find  that  the  Jews  did  marry 
strange  wives.  (See  Nehem.  xiii.) 
But  still  the  necessary  separation 
could  not  be  lost  sight  of.  When 
upon  enquiry  at  the  restoration 
under  the  second  temple,  it  was 
found  that  some  of  the  priests  had 
participated  in  this  thing,  they 
were,  as  polluted,  put  from  the 
priesthood.  (See  Ezra  ii.  62.)  Nor 
did  all  the  conquests  of  the  Ro- 
man arms,  and  the  convulsions  of 
the  mightiest  empires,  effect  any 
change.  The  Jews  were  sifted 
among  all  nations,  but  not  one 
grain  fell  to  the  earth.  Moreover, 
the  edicts  published  concerning 
them  are  on  record.  At  one  time 
“ Claudius  commanded  all  Jews 
to  depart  from  Rome;”  (Acts 
xviii.  2;)  and  up  to  the  present 
hour  they  are  a marked  people  in 
that  city,  being  obliged  to  wear  a 
badge  to  distinguish  them.  And 
surely  they  shall  so  continue, 
“ till  the  Spirit  be  poured  out 
from  on  high,”  when  they  shall 
acknowledge  Christ,  and  be  ga- 
thered together,  as  the  prophet  has 
it,  and  they  shall  appoint  themselves 


one  head,  and  they  shall  come 
out  of  the  land  ; for  great  shall  be 
the  day  of  Jezreel.  (Hosea  i.  11.) 

The  Jews  having  continued 
through  so  many  ages  ^ distinct 
and  separate  people,  has  always 
been  considered  a fact  corrobora- 
tive of  the  truth  of  the  Scriptures, 
as  most  confounding  to  the  infidel, 
and  as  that  which  will  serve  to 
overwhelm  every  gainsayer  with 
confusion  at  the  last  day.  This  first 
prediction  of  Balaam,  which  has 
received,  and  is  still  receiving, 
such  a full  and  perfect  accomplish- 
ment, whilst  it  serves  to  shew  the 
faithfulness  and  truth  of  God  in 
this  respect,  encourages  the  most 
attentive  perusal  of  other  parts  of 
this  prophecy,  and  warrants  the 
most  boundless  confidence  that  all 
which  Jehovah  has  said  he  will  do 
— that  every  thing  he  has  pro- 
mised, he  will  make  it  good. 

Nor  is  this  subject  uninteresting 
to  the  Christian  Church.  God 
has  a chosen  and  select  people 
upon  earth,  of  which  the  Jewish 
Church  is  but  the  type.  Where 
is  now  the  temporal  covenant 
which  God  made  with  Abraham? 
Where  the  external  privileges  of 
that  people?  Where  their  temple 
and  sacrifices,  and  their  future 
earthly  glory  ? The  one  is  gone, 
and  the  other,  bright  and  splendid 
as  it  may  be,  will  pass  away  ; for 
though  the  millennial  happiness 
shall  last  through  future  ages,  yet 
the  time  must  come,  when  “ Christ 
shall  deliver  up  the  kingdom  to 
the  Father.”  — “ When  the  Son 
also  himself  shall  be  subject  to 
him  that  put  all  things  under  him, 
and  God  shall  be  all  in  all.”  But 
types  and  figures  shall  be  lost  in 
one  eternal  reality — Jew  and  Gen- 
tile be  no  longer  separate,  and  all 
be  one  in  Christ  Jesus  for  ever. 

Timotheus. 


BIBLIOTHECA  SUSSEX1ANA. 


213 


BIBLIOTHECA  SUSSEXIANA. 

RABBINICAL  BIOGRAPHY. 

No.  1. — Rabbi  Abraham  Aben- 
Ezra. 

Rabbi  Abraham  Aben-Ezra 
was  an  elegant  writer,  and  held  in 
high  estimation  both  by  Jews  and 
Christians.  He  was  a native  of 
Spain,  born  at  Toledo,  in  the  year 
1099.  He  was  a man  of  most 
extensive  learning,  being  well 
skilled  in  grammar,  philosophy, 
astronomy,  and  medicine.  He  was 
intimately  acquainted  with  He- 
brew, Chaldee,  and  Arabic;  and 
published  many  works  in  these 
learned  languages.  His  style  has 
been  much  admired  for  its  ele- 
gance, conciseness,  and  perspi- 
cuity. By  his  countrymen  he  was 
called  “ The  Wise,”  and  Mai- 
monides,  who  was  contemporary 
with  Aben-Ezra,  held  him  in  such 
high  estimation,  that,  in  a letter 
of  instruction  addressed  to  his 
son,  he  commands  him  to  study 
the  writings  of  Aben-Ezra  con- 
tinually, and  to  study  no  others, 
he  regarding  them  as  the  most 
excellent,  useful,  elegant,  learned, 
and  abounding  with  sound  judg- 
ment. His  style  has  been  said  to 
approach  nearly  that  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  his  commentaries 
upon  the  several  books  of  the  Old 
Testament  are  remarkable  for  the 
learning  they  display,  and  the 
strict  manner  in  which  the  literal 
sense  has  been  adhered  to.  Besides 
his  commentaries,  and  other  theolo- 
gical works,  he  composed  many 
on  grammatical  and  astronomical 
subjects,  some  of  which  are  in 
print.  He  is  reputed  to  be  the 
inventor  of  the  division  of  the 
celestial  sphere  by  the  equator. 
He  travelled  in  most  parts  of  Eu- 
rope, and  associated  with  the  most 


learned  of  his  time.  His  works 
are  dated  at  various  places,  from 
which  we  may  partly  learn  the 
course  of  his  travels.  He  was  at 
Mantua  in  1145,  at  Rhodes  in 
1 1 5 G,  in  England  in  1159,  and  at 
Rome  in  1167.  He  is  supposed 
to  have  lived  seventy-five  years, 
but  the  precise  period  of  his  death 
is  unknown.  De  Rossi  gives  a list 
of  twenty-nine  works  written  by 
Aben-Ezra.* 


No.  2. — Rabbi  Levi  Ben  Gershon; 
or,  Gersonides  Levi. 

This  celebrated  rabbi  was  a na- 
tive of  Bagnolo,  a town  in  Pro- 
vence, and  born  in  1288.  He  died 
at  Perpignan  in  1370.  He  was  a 
physician,  and  very  learned  in  the 
sciences.  He  wrote  commentaries 
on  the  works  of  Aristotle,  and 
composed  several  astronomical 
treatises;  one  in  particular  on  the 
motions  of  the  celestial  bodies. 
His  exposition  of  the  Scriptures 
is  full  of  knowledge,  and  the  style 
is  very  elegant.  His  commentary 
on  the  Pentateuch  has  been  several 
times  printed. 


No.  3. — Rabbi  David  Kimchi. 

Rabbi  David  Kimchi,  the  son 
of  Joseph,  the  celebrated  rabbin, 
flourished  in  the  12th  and  13th 
centuries.  He  is  frequently  called 
Radak  by  the  Jews,  that  name 
being  formed  by  the  initials  of  his 
name.  David  Kimchi,  who  was 
born  at  Narbonne,  (at  that  time 
annexed  to  the  Crown  of  Castile,) 
was  perhaps  the  most  celebrated 
Spanish  rabbi  of  the  time  in  which 
he  lived,  and  his  works  are  very 
numerous.  The  Kimchi  family 
was  composed  of  learned  men. 


* Rossi  Dizionario  Storico  degli 
Autori  Ebrei. 


214 


BIBLIOTHECA  SUSSEXIANA. 


deeply  versed  in  Hebrew  and  bib- 
lical literature.  As  a grammarian 
and  Hebrew  interpreter,  Kirnchi 
has  been  universally  esteemed  and 
followed,  both  by  Jews  and  Chris- 
tians. He  is  said  to  have  been  a 
warm  admirer  of  the  Moreh  Ne- 
vochim  of  Moses  Maimonides ; 
and  be  was  appointed,  in  1232, 
arbiter  of  the  disputes  between 
the  Spanish  and  French  Syna- 
gogues, on  the  works  of  that  au- 
thor. His  commentary,  printed 
for  the  first  time  in  1485,  has 
been  printed  in  all  the  Rabbinical 
Bibles,  and  several  times  without 
the  text.  De  Rossi,*  well  versed 
in  Hebrew  literature,  has  enume- 
rated the  chief  of  the  works  of 
Kirnchi.  He  lived  to  a very  ad- 
vanced age,  but  neither  the  exact 
date  of  his  birth  nor  of  his  decease 
is  known. 

Sanctus  Pagninus  is  said  to  have 
borrowed  the  chief  part  of  his 
Hebrew  Lexicon  and  Grammar 
from  the  writings  of  Kirnchi. 


No-  4. — Moses  Maimonides. 

Moses  Maimonides,  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  Jewish  writers, 
was  the  son  of  Maimon,  a learned 
rabbi,  and  born  of  an  illustrious 
family  at  Cordova,  in  Spain,  in 
1139.  The  date  of  his  birth  is 
obtained  from  the  following  sub- 
scription by  Maimonides  himself, 
at  the  conclusion  of  his  Mishnic 
commentary,  in  the  edition  of  Na- 
ples, 1492: — “I,  Moses,  son  of 
R.  Maimon,  Judge,  son  of  R. 
Joseph,  the  Wise,  or  the  Doctor, 
son  of  R.  Isaac,  Judge,  son  of 
R.  Joseph,  Judge,  son  of  R.  Oba- 
dias,  Judge,  son  of  R.  Salomon, 
teacher  of  R.  Obadias  and  Judge, 


* Rossi  Dizionario  Storico  degli 
Autori  Ebrei,  p.  185. 


(may  the  memory  of  the  saints  be 
blessed !)  began  to  compose  the 
commentary  of  this  book  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three;  and  I finished  it 
in  Egypt,  when  thirty  years  old, 
the  seventy-ninth  year  of  the  Con- 
tracts.”* He  went  into  Egypt  at 
an  early  period  of  his  life,  and 
from  this  circumstance  is  fre- 
quently called  “ Moses  the  Egyp- 
tian.” The  Jews  are  unable  to  set 
bounds  to  the  veneration  in  which 
this  learned  man  is  held : he  is 
called,  “ The  Great  Eagle 
“ The  Eagle  of  the  Doctors;” 

“ The  Great  Luminary “ The 
Glory  of  the  East;”  “ The  Light 
of  the  West;”  and  they  add,  that 
“ From  Moses  unto  Moses,  there 
arose  none  like  until  Moses.”  This 
will  suffice  to  show  the  very  high 
opinion  entertained  of  this  cele- 
brated man  by  his  countrymen. 

It  appears  from  a decreej"  is- 
sued by  Abdelmumen  ben  Ali  Al- 
kumi,  King  of  Cordova,  that  all 
Jews  and  Christians  who  refused 
to  embrace  Mahomedanism  were 
expelled  the  country.  Maimonides 
affected  to  embrace  it,  and  ac- 
quiesced in  all  its  customs  and 
rites,  until  his  affairs  were  suffi- 
ciently arranged  to  admit  of  his 
departure  into  Egypt.  Upon  his 
arrival  at  Fostat,  he  again  pro- 
fessed the  Jewish  religion,  and 
opened  a school  of  philosophy, 
became  a physician,  and  supported 
himself  for  a time  by  the  produce 
of  the  sale  of  his  jewels.  When 
Alfadel  Abdel  Rachim  ben  Ali 
Albasan  became  ruler  of  Egypt, 
he  took  Maimonides  under  his 
protection,  and  appointed  him 
his  physician,  with  an  annual  sa- 
lary. In  this  character  he  appears 
to  have  been  very  conspicuous ; 


* Rossi  Dizionario,  ii.  21. 
t Casiri  Bibl.  Arab.  Hisp.  i.  293. 


BIBLIOTHECA  SUSSEXIANA. 


215 


for  in  a letter  from  Maimonides 
to  Tybbon,  who  had  by  letter 
consulted  him  upon  some  difficult 
points,  he  replies,  “ I am  so  per- 
petually engaged,  that  it  will  be 
impossible  for  you  to  reap  any 
advantage  from  me,  or  even  to  ob- 
tain a single  hour’s  private  conver- 
sation with  me  in  any  part  of  the 
four-and-twenty.  I live  in  Egypt, 
the  king  in  Alkaira ; which  places  us 
two  sabbath-days’ journey  asunder. 
My  common  attendance  upon  the 
King  is  once  every  morning : but 
when  his  Majesty,  his  concubines, 
or  any  of  the  Royal  Family,  are 
the  least  indisposed,  I am  not 
suffered  to  stir  a foot  from  them; 
so  that  my  whole  time,  you  see, 
is  almost  spent  at  court.  In  short, 

I go  to  Alkaira  every  morning 
early,  and  if  all  be  well  there, 
return  home  about  noon;  where,  . 
however,  I no  sooner  arrive,  than 
I find  my  house  surrounded  with 
many  different  sorts  of  people, 
Jew's  and  Gentiles,  rich  men  and 
poor,  magistrates  and  mechanics, 
friends  as  well  as  enemies,  who 
have  all  been  waiting  impatiently 
for  me.  As  I am  generally  half 
famished  upon  my  return  to  Al- 
kaira, I prevail  with  this  multi- 
tude, as  well  as  I can,  to  suffer 
me  to  regale  myself  with  some 
dinner  ; and  as  soon  as  I have  done, 
I attend  this  crowd  of  patients, 
with  whom,  what  with  examining 
into  their  particular  maladies,  and 
what  with  prescribing  for  them, 
I am  often  detained  till  it  is  night; 
and  I am  always  so  fatigued  at  last, 
that  I can  scarcely  speak,  or  even 
keep  myself  awake.  And  this  is 
my  constant  w ay  of  life,”  &c.  His 
knowledge  of  divinity  was  equal  to 
his  knowledge  of  medicine.  He 
was  learned  in  a great  number  of 
languages,  and  skilled  in  all  arts 
and  sciences.  He  was  particu- 


larly eminent  in  mathematics.  His 
works  are  very  numerous,  and 
although  written  originally  in 
Arabic,  Chaldee,  and  Greek,  are 
rarely  met  with  but  in  Hebrew  or 
Latin  translations.  His  commen- 
tary on  the  Mishna,  and  his  Mo- 
reh  Nevochim,  are  the  most  cele- 
brated of  his  works.  He  died  in 
the  year  1208,  having  completed 
his  seventieth  year.  His  death 
excited  general  grief,  and  he  was 
mourned  by  all  the  synagogues  of 
the  east  and  west.  Those  of 
Cairo,  Alexandria,  and  Jerusalem, 
ordered  a public  mourning  for 
three  days,  during  which  period 
a solemn  fast  w*as  observed.  The 
year  in  which  he  died  has  been 
called,  “ Lamentum  lamentabile.” 
He  was  buried  in  the  Holy  Land.* 


No.  5. — Menasseh  Ben  Israel, 
Menasseh  Ben  Israel,  a Portu- 
guese Jew,  and  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  writers  of  the  Jew- 
ish nation,  of  the  17th  century, 
was  born  in  the  year  1604.  He 
w'as  educated  in  Holland,  to  which 
country  his  father,  Joseph  Ben 
Israel,  had  fled  from  the  persecu- 
tions of  the  Portuguese  Inquisi- 
tion. Here  Menasseh,  under  the 
care  of  a rabbi  called  Isaac  Uriel, 
pursued  his  Hebrew  studies,  and 
made  such  distinguished  progress, 
that  upon  the  decease  of  his  pre- 
ceptor, he  was  appointed  his  suc- 
cessor, as  preacher  and  expounder 
of  the  Talmud  in  the  synagogue  of 
Amsterdam,  though  at  that  time 
only  eighteen  years  of  age.  He 
had.  been  accustomed  to  public 
speaking  from  the  age  of  fifteen, 
and  had  attained  such  reputation 
by  his  exhibitions,  that  he  held 
his  high  office  for  many  years 


* Rossi.  Chalmers. 


216 


LETTERS  JO  JEWISH  CHILDREN. 


with  distinguished  success.  He 
married  into  the  Abarbanel  family, 
of  which  he  was  exceedingly  proud; 
for  amongst  the  Jews  that  family 
was  esteemed,  as  being  descended 
from  the  royal  race  of  David.  Of 
this  connexion  he  even  boasts  in 
the  dedication  to  Ferdinand  III.  of 
his  work  on  the  Immortality  of 
the  Soul.  The  income  arising 
from  his  public  situation  not  being 
sufficient  to  support  himself  and 
his  family,  he  set  up  a printing- 
press  in  his  house,  and  there  exe- 
cuted many  works,  particularly 
three  editions  of  the  Bible.  It  is 
said  that.,  under  the  protectorate  of 
Cromwell,  he  came  over  to  Eng- 
land, in  order  to  solicit  leave  for 
the  settlement  of  the  Jews  in  this 
country,  and  actually  obtained 
greater  privileges  for  his  nation, 
than  they  had  ever  enjoyed  before 
in  this  country;  and,  in  1656  pub- 
lished an  “Apology  for  the  Jews,” 
in  the  English  language,  which 
may  be  seen  in  the  second  volume 
of  the  “ Phoenix.”  In  this  work 
may  be  found  a list  of  the  works 
of  Menasseh  Ben  Israel,  either 
published  or  ready  for  the  press. 
Mr.  Chalmers  states  his  death  to 
have  occurred  at  Amsterdam,  in 
1659;  but  De  Rossi  places  it  at 
Middleburg,  in  1657,  making  him 
fifty-three  years  old.  This  latter 
writer,  who  is  more  circumstantial 
on  the  life  of  Menasseh  Ben  Israel 
than  any  other  author,  informs  us, 
that  the  Jews  of  Amsterdam  were 
desirous  of  possessing  his  body, 
and  that  they  obtained,  and  buried 
it  with  honour,  and  at  the  public 
expense. 

He  had  an  extensive  intercourse 
with  learned  men,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  by  them.  He  was  a man 
of  extraordinary  erudition  and 
great  understanding,  a theologian, 
and  a philosopher.  He  had  a 


knowledge  of  many  languages; 
but  his  excessive  vanity  diminishes 
much  the  lustre  of  his  character. 
For  a copious  list  of  his  works 
I must  refer  the  reader  to  De 
Rossi,  where  they  will  be  found 
enumerated,  and  accompanied  by 
slight  notices  of  their  character, 
value,  &c.* 

LETTERS  TO  JEWISH  CHILDREN. 

No.  VII. 

February  3,  1827. 

My  dear  Boys, 

The  Egyptians  had  injured  and 
oppressed  Israel,  so  that  they  were 
deprived  of  all  that  they  possessed, 
except  their  cattle,  and  forced  to 
labour  for  their  cruel  tyrants. 
The  Lord  therefore  made  the 
Egyptians  give  them  their  wages 
at  last,  by  loading  them  with  the 
spoil  of  Egypt ; jewels  of  silver 
and  gold,  and  raiment.  So  they 
went  out  with  great  wealth,  and 
their  flocks  and  herds  with  them. 
“ There  was  not  one  feeble  person 
among  their  tribes.”  This  was  a 
a great  miracle,  in  a company  of 
about  six  hundred  thousand  men, 
with  women  and  children  not 
numbered.  The  oldest  people 
were  strong  for  their  age ; the 
little  babies  were  healthy.  Oh, 
when  did  the  Lord  do  thus  for  any 
other  nation ! They  went  out, 
but  where  should  they  go?  They 
had  always  lived  in  Egypt,  and 
even  Moses  and  Aaron,  their  lead- 
ers, had  no  place  provided  for 
them,  that  they  knew  of.  They 
were  numerous  enough  to  people 
a great  country,  but  how  could 
they  tell  where  that  country  was  ? 
Had  they  maps  to  look' at?  No; 


* Chalmers’  Biog.  Diet.  De  Rossi 
Dizionario  degli  Ebrei  Autork 


LETTERS  TO  JEWISH  CHILDREN. 


217 


but  they  looked  up,  and  saw  in 
the  bright  blue  sky  a dark  cloud, 
making  a tall  pillar : this  moved 
on  before,  and  where  it  moved 
they  followed.  The  Lord  was 
guiding  them ! the  Lord  was 
guarding  them  ! The  Lord,  even 
the  Mighty  God,  was  their  Com- 
mander— their  King  ! They  were 
like  a silly  flock  of  sheep  seeking 
better  pastures.  The  Lord  was 
their  Shepherd!  They  had  no 
warlike  weapons,  no  chariots  or 
armour ; they  could  not  protect 
themselves  if  assailed,  much  less 
their  wives,  their  children,  and 
their  herds.  The  Lord  was  their 
defence,  and  his  banner  over  them 
was  love ! 

Following  the  cloudy  pillar,  they 
journeyed  along — night  drew  near ; 
and  probably  their  hearts  began  to 
fail,  for  a dark  cloud  would  be  no 
guidance  in  the  night;  and  where 
should  they  go,  ignorant  of  the 
road,  and  afraid  to  loiter,  because 
the  Egyptians  might  follow?  If 
these  were  their  feelings,  when  at 
sunset  they  encamped  in  Etham, 
at  the  edge  of  the  wilderness, 
they  were  soon  relieved  from  fear : 
as  the  sky  darkened,  the  cloud 
became  bright — what  had  been  a 
dusky  pillar  in  the  sunshine,  be- 
came a pillar  of  fire  when  light 
was  needed.  The  watchman  of 
Israel  neither  slumbereth  nor 
sleepeth;  and  your  fathers  went 
to  rest  that  night,  my  boys,  as- 
sured that  the  eye  of  Jehovah  was 
open  and  awake,  to  guard  them 
from  all  evil.  O what  a glorious 
change,  from  the  harsh  bondage 
of  an  Egyptian  task-master,  to 
the  tender  care  of  Him,  who,  as  a 
father  pitieth  his  own  children,  had 
compassion  on  them  ! It  may  be 
your  lot,  in  following  the  path 
which  God  appoints  yon,  to  find, 
through  the  short  day  of  life,  dark- 

vol.  xm. 


ness  and  sorrow  the  companions  of 
your  way,  so  that  in  going  along 
where  you  know  your  duty  lies,  you 
may  seem  to  be  following  a black 
cloud ; because  you  may  find  the 
world  will  hate  and  persecute  you ; 
but  go  on,  when  the  night  of 
death  appears,  that  cloud  will  be- 
come a glorious  shining  light ; you 
will  see  that  if  you  were  sad  while 
the  world  w'as  gay,  then,  when 
the  world  is  afraid,  and  shrinks 
from  the  darkness  of  death,  yon 
will  be  able  to  lie  down,  rejoicing 
in  the  light  of  your  Saviour’s 
love. 

The  Lord  bade  the  Israelites 
encamp  again  close  by  the  side  of 
the  sea,  and  just  near  the  great 
temple  of  Baal,  or  the  Sun,  whom 
the  Egyptians  worshipped  instead 
of  the  God  who  made  it.  He 
brought  his  people  to  defy  these 
idol  gods,  and  the  whole  nation 
who  trusted  in  them.  Pharaoh 
pursued  with  all  his  host;  and 
they  encamped  at  a little  distance. 
Now  were  the  Israelites  terrified 
indeed  ; they  saw  a mighty  army, 
the  whole  power  of  a great  nation, 
commanded  by  its  king,  coming 
after  them  with  horses,  and  cha- 
riots, and  all  that  could  alarm 
them,  coming  to  slay,  or  to  carry 
them  away  again  captives,  as  it 
pleased  them.  Thus,  though  the 
fiery  pillar  was  yet  before  their 
eyes,  the  people  began  to  mur- 
mur against  the  Lord,  and  to  up- 
braid Moses  for  bringing  them  out 
of  Egypt:  but  their  unbelief  did 
not  hinder  God’s  mercy,  “ He 
wrought  for  his  name’s  sake,”  and 
had  compassion  on  them  still.  The 
pillar  removed  to  the  back  of  the 
camp,  and  stood  between  Israel 
and  the  Egyptians ; to  the  former 
it  gave  light  all  night,  but  to  their 
enemies  it  was  dark,  so  dark  that 
they  dared  not  move  forward. 

F F 


218 


LETTERS  TO  JEWISH  CHILDREN. 


But  the  Lord  commanded  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  to  go  on : they  must 
go  through  the  sea,  for  that  was 
before  them,  while  the  Egyptians 
were  behind.  The  waters  of  the 
sea  parted  in  two,  and  your  fa- 
thers went  down  into  the  depths  of 
its  channels.  What  a scene!  there 
they  were,  a party  of  shepherds 
and  herdsmen,  and  poor  brick- 
makers,  with  their  wives  and  little 
ones ; and  they  had  the  Lord,  the 
Maker  of  heaven  and  earth,  for 
their  leader  — his  sign  was  in 
the  heavens,  a great  column  of 
fire  above  them,  giving  perfect 
light  to  this  great  company 
of  people — on  their  right  hand 
and  on  their  left  were  the  billows 
of  the  great  deep,  which,  instead 
of  drowning  them,  made  a w’all  on 
each  side — beneath  them  were  the 
rocks  and  sands  that  form  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  over  which 
they  safely  walked — behind  them 
was  the  terrible  army  of  Pharaoh, 
prepared  to  destroy  them  entirely, 
and  quite  able  to  do  so,  but  not 
allowed  to  come  near  them — co- 
vered with  black  darkness,  while 
all  wras  clear  as  day  with  Israel. 
And  near  this  was  the  great  Tem- 
ple of  the  Sun,  which,  though 
honoured  as  a god,  could  not  give 
one  little  ray  of  light,  to  help  its 
worshippers  out  of  their  perplexity. 
You  may  think,  and  think  again 
upon  this  ; you  can  fancy  nothing 
so  grand  and  awful.  The  Lord 
was  going  to  fight  for  Israel — • 
he  turned  night  into  day,  and  the 
sea  into  dry  land  for  Israel — 
he  prepared  to  destroy  nearly  a 
whole  nation  because  they  per- 
secuted Israel!  Boys,  are  you 
ashamed  to  be  called  Jews? 

It  was  not  enough  that  Israel 
should  be  thus  delivered;  God 
would  shew  them  yet  again,  how 
exceeding  terrible  he  is  in  his 


wrath ; he  would  destroy  before 
their  eyes  the  host  of  the  Egyp- 
tians who  had  wished  to  destroy 
them.  So  he  permitted  these  mad 
enemies  to  follow  Israel  into  the 
channel  of  the  sea,  which  they  did, 
I suppose,  without  knowing  it,  be- 
cause of  the  darkness  that  was 
over  them.  When  Pharaoh  and 
his  army  had  all  entered,  and  were 
going  through  the  sea,  then  the 
Lord  looked  upon  them  from  the 
cloudy  pillar.  O how  terrible  it 
is  for  the  Lord  to  look  in  wrath 
upon  his  guilty  creatures!  That 
look  troubled  the  Egyptians,  and 
they  turned  to  flee,  but  in  vain ; 
their  wickedness  was  now  to  be 
■punished.  The  waters  came  down 
upon  them  with  a dreadful  noise 
— think  how  very  high  they  must 
have  been  heaped  on  each  side  to 
leave  the  channel  dry;  and  then 
think  how  they  came  rushing 
down,  burying  in  one  moment  the 
horse  and  his  rider,  the  chariot 
and  its  driver,  the  mighty  man  in 
his  armour,  the  prophets  of  false 
gods  in  their  white  garments,  the 
proud  king  in  his  royal  robes! 
Down,  down  they  all  went  beneath 
the  foaming  waves ; and  those 
who  rose  and  floated  on  the  waters 
were  dead!  their  bodies  were 
tossed  helpless  upon  the  sea — 
their  souls  were  before  the  God 
whom  they  had  so  long  insulted. 
It  was  a fearful  sight,  but  w'e  shall 
see  with  our  own  eyes  one  far 
more  awful.  Yes,  for  “ wre  must 
all  stand  before  the  judgment-seat 
of  Christ,”  and  there  will  be  Pha- 
raoh and  his  host,  bound  ready  to 
cast  into  everlasting  flames,  while 
Moses,  and  Aaron,  and  all  the 
true  Israel  of  God,  are  shining  in 
white  garments  with  crowns  of 
gold,  in  the  presence  and  love  of 
their  God — their  Jehovah-Jesus. 
All  the  world  then  must  be  in  one 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. LETTERS  FROM  MR.  J.  C.  MORITZ. 


21-1) 


of  these  two  parties  ; and  where, 
dear  boys,  shall  rve  be?  Can  we 
say  to  the  Judge,  “ Thou  art  my 
Saviour,  my  Ransom,  my  Friend  ?” 
Can  we  shew  that  we  belonged  to 
Him,  and  that  our  hearts  were 
changed  by  His  Spirit,  and  that 
we  glorified  Him  on  earth  in  our 
bodies  and  our  spirits,  which  are 
H is?  If  not,  to  whom  shall  we 
go?  No  place  will  remain  for  us, 
but  the  place  of  torment.  And  as 
the  waters  came  down  in  a mo- 
ment upon  Pharaoh  and  his  host, 
overwhelming  them  in  unexpected 
destruction,  so  may  death  seize 
upon  you  or  me,  and  call  us  away 
to  judgment  without  giving  us 
time  to  cry  for  mercy.  May  the  Lord 
look  upon  us,  not  as  he  looked 


upon  the  hosts  of  the  Egyptians, 
to  trouble  and  destroy  ; but,  “ in 
mercy  may  he  look”  on  us,  as  ac- 
cepted in  the  Beloved.  Of  Him, 
while  considering  how  he  delivered 
Israel,  we  may  joyfully  say,  <£  This 
God  is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever. 
He  will  be  our  guide  even  unto 
death.”  And  while  we  see  all  our 
spiritual  foes,  with  Satan  himself, 
cast  into  the  bottomless  pit,  we 
shall  take  up  the  song  of  Moses, 
“ Sing  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  hath 
triumphed  gloriously ; the  horse 
and  his  rider  hath  he  cast  into  the 
sea.” 

My  dear  Hebrew  boys,  God 
bless  you. 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

Charlotte  Elizabeth. 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  LONDON  SOCIETY. 


DENMARK. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  LETTERS  OF 
MR.  J.  C.  MORITZ. 

Our  last  extracts  from  the  cor- 
respondence of  Mr.  Moritz  left 
him  at  Copenhagen.  The  present 
communication  is  dated  from  the 
same  place,  Nov.  21,  1827. 

I shall  now  give  you  a brief  account 
of  what  has  happened  since  my  last 
letter. 

Having  adverted  to  some  pri- 
vate influence  which  controls  the 
affairs  of  the  Danish  Cabinet,  he 
remarks  that — 

Danger  might  result,  if  permission 
were  given  for  the  Gospel  to  be 
preached  to  the  Jewish  subjects. 

Fie  then  proceeds  to  say, — 

I visited  several  Christians  who,  as 
I was  told,  possessed  influence,  and 
would  be  of  service  to  me.  The 
Royal  Confessioner  I saw,  who  re- 
ceived me  politely.  I spoke  to  hint 
about  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  and 


the  object  of  my  coming  to  Copen- 
hagen. The  former  subject  was  quite 
new  to  him,  and  he  was  surprised  to 
learn  that  such  exertions  were  making 
in  our  days,  when  the  Jews  every 
where  had  the  liberty  of  visiting  our 
churches,  and  of  sending  their  chil- 
dren, if  they  were  so  disposed,  to 
Christian  schools.  When  I pointed 
out  to  him  that  the  Jews  needed  evan- 
gelising, and  that  our  exertions  ac- 
corded with  the  revealed  will  of  God, 
and  with  the  means  adopted  towards 
the  Gentile  nations,  he  replied,  “ But 
this  is  not  needed  in  our  country, 
where  the  Jews,  by  education,  and 
by  associating  with  the  Christians,  are 
already  brought  so  far,  that  in  twenty 
years’  time  they  will  all  go  over  to 
Christianity.”  With  these  impressions 
he  declined  in  any  way  to  aid  me. 

He  then  gives  the  following  ac- 
count of  a Jewish  confirmation  : — 

Saturday,  Nov.  3. — The  Director  of 
the  affairs  of  the  modern  Jews  here, 
brought  me  a ticket  of  invitation  to  be 
present  to-morrow  at  the  confirmation 
of  a number  of  Jewish  youth  of  both 
sexes,  by  which  he  supposed  I should 


220 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. LEXTERS  PROM  MR.  J.  C.  MORITZ. 


be  convinced  that  they  did  not  need 
any  of  our  schools  or  missionary  exer- 
tions. This  invitation  I accepted. 
On  Sunday  morning  I went  to  the 
hall  where  the  confirmation  was  to 
take  place.  I found  the  room  quite 
filled.  There  were  present,  among 
others,  some  of  the  gentlemen  from 
the  Government,  and  of  the  clergy, 
to  witness  the  ceremony,  and  the  prin- 
ciples in  which  the  children  had  been 
educated.  There  were  about  twenty 
boys  and  twenty  girls,  who  were  to 
receive  the  rite  of  confirmation.  The 
service  commenced  by  singing  from 
the  chorus  of  Ps.  xc.  Then  the  ap- 
pointed catechist  ascended  the  pulpit, 
and  harangued  his  Jewish  auditory, 
upon  the  privileges  they  enjoyed,  and 
exhorted  them  not  to  confine  their  love 
to  their  own  people,  for  in  the  pre- 
sent enlightened  days  all  differences 
had  ceased.  He  observed  that  now 
the  Jews  were  not  the  only  wise  peo- 
ple, as  in  the  days  of  Moses,  and  that 
therefore  they  ought  to  live  quietly 
with  those  who  had  acquired  wisdom 
and  learning.  When  this  address  was 
finished,  he  descended  from  the  pul- 
pit, took  his  place  before  tire  altar, 
with  his  back  to  the  people,  and  the 
chorus  began  to  sing  a paraphrased 
Hebrew  doxology,  called  \ in 
Danish  verse.  The  last  strophe  but 
one  expresses  the  hope  of  a coming 
Messiah  for  the  redemption  of  Israel. 

nrmo  p'n  nbter 
vww  yp  ‘ono  nna1? 

which  was  left  out  iu  the  Danish  pa- 
raphrase. I enquired  of  the  Jews  who 
stood  near  me,  why  this  passage  was 
omitted;  at  the  same  time  reciting  the 
Hebrew.  At  first  they  affected  not  to 
understand  me,  but  when  I explained 
the  passage  to  them,  they  said  they 
did  not  want  a Messiah,  and  turned 
their  backs  upon  me. 

Mr.  M.  then  details  the  pro- 
ceedings of  those  who  took  the 
lead  in  the  service,  gives  an  ac- 
count of  a sermon  delivered  on  the 
occasion,  the  sum  of  which  was, 
that  our  own  reason,  and  con- 


science enlightened  by  reason,  can 
alone  teach  us  the  right  way : to 
all  which  the  people  paid  but  little 
attention  : and  he  remarks, — 

If  the  Lord  does  not  bring  about  a 
change  here,  these  poor  Jews  will  all 
become  heathens,  worshippers  of  men, 
and  of  nature.  This,  then,  is  the 
boasted  plan  by  which  professing 
Christians,  equally  blind  with  them- 
selves, suppose  the  Jews  will  he 
brought  to  embrace  Christianity  be- 
fore the  lapse  of  twenty  years. 

Mr.  M.  quotes  some  appalling 
instances  of  infidelity;  which  sys- 
tem is  embraced  by  some  of 
those  who  profess  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  and  concludes, — 

Woe,  woe  to  those  who  are  named 
Christians,  through  whom  the  name 
of  our  God  is  daily  blasphemed  among 
the  Jews  ! Surely  they  have  the  greater 
sin,  and  will  have  the  greater  condem- 
nation. 

The  Jews,  it  appears,  resort  to 
various  expedients,  in  order  to 
prevent  the  children  of  the  poor 
from  receiving  Christian  instruc- 
tion. 

Another  Jew  told  me,  in  reference 
to  our  school  plan,  that  since  my  last 
visit  to  this  place,  the  Jewish  elders 
had  formed  the  resolution,  not  only  of 
instructing  the  child  ren  of  the  poor  gratis 
in  their  free-schools,  and  of  clothing 
them  as  they  had  hitherto  done,  but  also 
of  providing  their  parents  with  cloth- 
ing, house-rent,  and  fuel  for  the  winter. 
This  measure  has  been  resorted  to,  to 
keep  the  children  from  my  school,  in 
case  I should  obtain  permission  from 
the  king  to  establish  a mission  and 
school,  which  they  feared  would  be 
granted,  as  they  expect  the  English 
Government  will  interest  themselves 
about  it.  This  method  would  cer- 
tainly defeat  our  plan,  if  there  were  not 
one  in  heaven  who  laughs  at  the  coun- 
sel of  the  wicked. 

Some  untoward  circumstances 
seem  to  indicate  that  little  is 
likely  to  be  done  at  this  station; 
therefore  the  hope  may  be  die- 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. — COMMUNICATION  FROM  REV.  PROFESSOR  THOLUCK.  221 


risked,  that  the  Lord  is  calling  his 
servants  to  another  part  of  his 
vineyard,  where  the  seed  will  pro- 
duce a larger  increase.  Having 
been  induced  to  apply  for  autho- 
rity to  establish  a mission,  schools, 
&c.,  and  being  encouraged  to  hope 
that  the  request  would  be  acceded 
to,  he  says, — 

With  praises  in  my  heart  to  the 
Lord,  for  opening  a prospect  of  use- 
fulness to  me,  I went  home.  A few 
days  after  I called  on  Mr.  S.,  and 
mentioning  my  name,  he  said,  “ You 
are  the  person  respecting  whom  Mr. 
W.  has  spoken  to  me.  What  is  your 
wish  ?”  1 then  stated  the  object  of  the 
Society,  and  the  cause  of  my  coming 
here.  In  reference  to  my  request,  he 
said,  “ This  cannot  be  allowed ; it  is 
against  the  laws  of  Denmark.”  I re- 
replied,  “ I have  always  understood- 
that  the  Danish  Government  is  fa- 
vourable to  missions,  and  why  should 
any  objection  be  made  to  a mission 
among  the  Jews?”  He  replied,  “ We 
have  churches  here  to  which  the  Jews 
may  go.”  I said,  “ Churches  are 
found  in  other  countries,  yet  the  Go- 
vernments find  it  useful  to  allow  such 
missions.  I have  been  myself  em- 
ployed eight  years  by  the  late  Em- 
peror of  Russia  in  this  work,  and  the 
King  of  Prussia  is  a very  warm  friend 
of  the  cause.”  He  then  asked  me  if 
I had  petitioned  the  king,  and  what 
was  the  result?  I said,  I had,  and 
was  refused  ; having  heard  that,  he 
declined  doing  any  thing  in  the  mat- 
ter. From  this  the  Committee  will  see 
that  my  mission  is  at  an  end  here;  I 
would  therefore  intreat  that  another 
station  may  be  appointed  for  me. 

Mr.  Moritz  again  writes  from 
Copenhagen,  under  a still  later 
date,  Jan.  5,  1828. 

Having  related  some  circum- 
stances which  bad  transpired  since 
his  last,  he  gives  the  following 
account  of  a young  Jewish  mer- 
chant, as  told  to  him  by  a Christian 
friend  with  whom  he  was  in  com- 
munication : — 


A young  married  Jewish  merchant 
has  given  me  his  entire  confidence 
regarding  the  state  of  his  soul.  He 
has  no  peace  of  mind  as  a Jew.  He 
reads  his  Jewish  prayers,  but  after- 
wards he  supplicates  God,  that  if  the 
Christian  doctrine  be  the  true  one, 
the  Spirit  of  God  may  convince  him 
of  it.  One  evening  1 had  a long 
conversation  with  him,  which  afforded 
me  much  joy.  When  I met  him  again, 
he  said  he  began  to  feel  some  joy. 
May  he  who  is  mighty  to  save,  draw 
and  receive  this  young  Israelite — this 
lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel? 

He  then  speaks  thus  of  others  : 

L.  I.  wishes  that  his  son  may  be- 
come a Christian.  He  is  now  study- 
ing divinity.  One  of  II. ’s  sons  who, 
with  his  five  brothers  has  been  bap- 
tised, is  a very  promising  boy.  He  is 
intended  for  the  Ministry- 

As  an  encouragement  to  pro- 
ceed in  his  labours,  he  mentions, — 

I have  been  busily  employed  in 
writing  for  the  press.  I have  trans- 
lated my  Polish-Jewish  Tract  HUSO 
with  alterations  and  additions  suited 
to  the  Jews  here,  which  Dr.  R.  in- 
serted in  hisTheological  Monthly  Jour- 
nal for  December,  and  blessed  be  God, 
some  fruit  has  already  appeared  from  it. 
A young  Jewish  student  called  S„ 
who  is  a strict  Talmudist  and  bigot,  at- 
tached to  the  traditions  of  the  fathers, 
came  last  night  to  Dr.  R..  wishing  to 
know  when  he  might  see  me,  for  the 
purpose  of  having  some  conversation 
on  the  subject. 

Thus  a spirit  of  inquiry  is  stir- 
red up,  and  it  is  trusted  that  the 
labours  of  the  Society’s  agents 
will  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord ! 

PRUSSIA. 

COMMUNICATION  FROM  REV.  PRO- 
FESSOR THOLUCK. 

Letters  have  been  some  time  in 
our  possession  from  the  Rev.  Pro- 
fessor Tholuck,  dated  successively, 


222  PROCEEDINGS,  &C. COMMUNICATION  FROM  REV.  PROFESSOR  TIIOLUCK. 


Berlin,  Dec.  29,  1827,  and  Halle, 
Jan.  14  and  20,  1828.  A few 
extracts  are  subjoined  : — 

Gratifying  Account  of  the  Jewish  Society 
at  Berlin. 

I address  you  once  more  from  Ber- 
lin, where  1 have  again  spent  some 
time.  As  to  the  state  of  the  Jewish 
Society  here,  I am  happy  to  say,  it 
has  scarcely  ever  been  so  promising  as 
it  is  now.  The  new  Vice-President, 
whom  I mentioned  to  you  in  my 
former  communications,  Mr.  Von 
Gerlach,  counsellor  of  the  high-court 
of  justice,  is  full  of  zeal  and  interest; 
and  his  brother,  an  amiable  young 
nobleman,  who  has  devoted  himself 
to  the  study  of  Divinity,  contributes 
greatly  to  the  zeal  of  the  Committee, 
by  proposing  to  them  regularly  an 
abstract  of  the  most  recent  details  of 
the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  among 
the  Jews.  About  a year  ago,  seldom 
more  than  a third  of  the  number  of  the 
Committee  were  present  at  the  Meet- 
ings; now  all  attend,  with  one  or 
two  exceptions.  In  consequence 
of  this  newly-awakened  zeal,  the 
Committee  intends  to  enter  into  a di- 
rect correspondence  with  your’s,  in 
hope  that  this  will  keep  the  interest 
alive.  They  think  of  reading  your  let- 
ters publicly  in  their  Meetings.  It 
will,  therefore,  be  well,  that  they  should 
be  written  copiously  and  explicitly. 

Gracious  Permission  given  by  the  King 
of  Prussia. 

The  letter  you  receive  from  our 
Committee  will  inform  you  of  the 
permission,  which  our  gracious  King 
has  given,  to  appoint  a regular  minis- 
ter for  the  proselytes  in  our  town. 
This  being  one  of  the  most  promising 
events  in  the  exertions  of  our  day 
in  behalf  of  the  Jews,  I hope  that 
your  Committee  will  pay  attention  to 
it,  and  afford  its  assistance.  I deli- 
vered an  address  to  a party  of  pro- 
selytes last  night.  They  continue 
to  assemble  every  Sabbath  evening 
for  prayer  and  reading  the  Scrip- 
tures : the  number  is  usually  from  five 
to  fifteen.  They  say  that  they  have 
lately  found  their  zeal  increasing. 
They  collect  also  small  contributions 


for  the  Jewish  Society.  Mr.  L , 

who  has  been  often  mentioned  to  you 
as  a very  distinguished  and  worthy 
proselyte,  continues  to  open  his  house 
every  Monday  evening  to  other  prose- 
lytes, for  conversation  on  religious 
topics. 

Extracts  from  the  Journals  of  the 
Prussian  Missionary,  Mr.  Mantles. 

Our  Missionaries  have  been  lately 
active  in  the  eastern  part  of  Prussian 
Poland,  in  Bomst,  Birnbaum,  Bent- 
schen,  &c.  Mr.  llamdes  writes,  in 
September : — 

“ I preached  to-day  on  John  i.  6, 
before  a large  audience,  in  an  evan- 
gelical church  at . Oncomingout, 

I found  a considerable  number  ofCnris- 
tians  desiring  tracts.  In  the  afternoon 
brother  Ball  preached  : in  the  mean- 
time many  German  and  Polish  chil- 
dren assembled,  desiring  tracts.  I 
distributed  a number  among  them, 
after  having  examined  them.  Only 
two  Jews  camq  to-day.  One  of  them 
had  borrowed  a New  Testament  on 
Sunday  evening,  and  read  in  it  the 
whole  niiht : he  came  again  to-day, 
to  beg  that  it  might  be  lent  to  him 
some  time  longer.  A Jew  called  from 

, with  whom  I had  spoken  at 

two  years  ago.  Upon  entering, 

he  asked  me,  “ Do  you  know  me  ? 
You  have  spoken  with  me  a long  time 
ago,  and  I am  thankful  for  that  con- 
versation even  now'.  I have  shewed 
your  tract  to  our  Rabbi,  and  wish  to 
get  a New  Testament,  in  order  to 
learn  how  the  ignorant  may  become 
wise.”  I endeavoured  to  shew  it  to 
him  from  the  book  of  Sohar,  and  from 
the  New  Testament.  He  listened 
attentively,  and  at  last  exclaimed, 
“ Oh  that  all  Israel  might  know  the' 
Messiah,  and  be  purified  through  his 
blood  !”  In  the  evening  two  Jewish 
students  called,  with  whom  I con- 
versed on  the  fall  and  restoration  of 
Israel.  A number  of  people  came  for 
tracts  : some,  particularly  two  women, 
were  deeply  affected  at  the  words 
which  I spoke,  while  distributing.  In 
the  mean  time  a Jewish  youth  came, 
and  asked,  with  apparent  anxiety, 
whether  it  was  possible  for  him  to 
become  a good  Christian.  He  had 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. COMMUNICATION  FROM  REV.  PROFESSOR  THOEUCIi.  223 


read  several  tracts,  which  had  dis- 
turbed his  mind.  After  dinner,  two 
Jews  called,  who  had  attended  brother 
Ball’s  sermon  on  the  conversion  of  the 
heathen,  and  wanted  to  hear  more 
upon  this  subject.  I conducted  them 
to  Ball,  who  conversed  wdth  them  a 
good  while  before  he  was  aware  of 
their  being  Jews.  Tn  the  evening  I 
again  held  a devotional  meeting : a 
poor  soap-maker  of  this  place  sup- 
plies the  candles  gratis  for  these 
meetings.  Sometimes  many  Jews  at- 
tend. There  came  some  Jewish 
youths,  and  asked  me  to  interpret  for 
them  some  passages  from  the  book 
of  Sohar.  The  Lord  supported  me 
powerfully.  Both  my  hearers  and 
myself  parted  in  great  emotion.  In 
the  afternoon,  Jewish  children  were 
in  my  room,  whom  I catechized  on 
Psalm  ii.  and  Isaiah  liii. 

“ The  new  month  we  began  with 
taking  the  Lord’s  supper.  Rev.  — ad- 
dressed us  upon  the  words,  “ Lovest 
thou  me  ?”  A Roman  Catholic 
journeyman  begged  me  to  give  him  a 
pious  book,  as  he  called  it;  it  was  the 
New  Testament  probably  he  wanted. 
I gave  it  to  him;  he  was  seen  reading 
the  book  in  the  street,  and  kissing  it. 
We  called  upon  a teacher  of  the  Tal- 
mud ; the  man,  however,  was  full  of 
pride,  so  that  his  only  desire  was  to 
make  us  dispute  with  him  before  his 
friends,  in  order  to  shew  his  learning, 
which  we  declined,  as  also  an  invi- 
tation from  him  to  visit  him  a second 
time.  We  came  to  another  Jewish 
teacher,  whom  we  found  lowly  and 
well-disposed.  He  was  in  great  dis- 
tress, he  felt  that  he  was  unequal  to  his 
employment.  A third  one,  at  whose 
house  we  called,  we  found  intelligent, 
pious, and  liberal ; he  entered  upon  close 
dogmatical  reasonings.  Preparing  for 
our  departure,  we  had  the  satisfaction 
to  see  some  of  the  above-mentioned 
Jewish  individuals  come  to  take  leave 
of  us.  I delivered  the  last  discourse 
before  a very  large  audience,  on  Luke 
xvi.  2.,  addressing  them  about  that 
awful  day,  when  we  shall  give  account 
of  every  minute  of  a life,  which  we  are 
but  too  inclined  to  trifle  away.  I can- 
not say  that  I preached  with  plea- 
sure ; I felt  spiritual  death  reigning  in 


the  assembly.  Labouring  under  this 
distressing  feeling,  I poured  out  my 
heart  in  earnest  supplications  to  the 
Most  High,  which  were  not  without 
effect'upon  some  of  the  audience.  The 
hearts  of  some  were  opened. 

“ We  arrived  in  — , where  the  minister 
received  us  with  Christian  affection. 
Having  conducted  us  into  his  church, 
we  renewed  here,  before  the  altar  of 
God,  our  vow  to  preach  the  Gospel 
faithfully,  and  parted  with  the  mutual 
feeling  of  the  value  of  Christian  com- 
munion. In , we  paid  a visit 

to  the  rabbi ; he  is  an  old,  mild,  and 
humble  man,  who  seemed  to  like  our 
conversation,  and  invited  us  to  attend 
his  sermon,  which  he  was  going  to 
deliver.  The  servant  of  the  synagogue 
called  to  us,  and  conducted  us  to  the 
elevated  part  of  the  synagogue.  The 
rabbi  first  expatiated  on  the  necessity 
of  eating  sweet  bread  at  Easter, 
which  he  proved  by  Talmudical  rea- 
soning. Then  he  described  the  vex- 
ations Israel  was  exposed  to  in  Egypt, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  their  peaceable 
state  in  Prussia ; in  return  for  which 
he  prayed  that  the  Prussian  king 
might  be  spared  to  live  more  than  a 
hundred  years.  Upon  this  he  deli- 
vered an  exhortation  from  the  prophets, 
on  the  leaven  of  sin.  After  having 
read  the  portion  from  the  law,  the 
friendly  old  man  stretched  out  his  hand 
to  us,  asking  whether  we  approved  of 
his  discourse.  On  coming  out  of  the 
synagogue,  a large  number  of  Jews 
assembled  round  us;  we  divided  them, 
and  each  of  us  spoke  to  his  class;  I 
did  not  experience  any  opposition.  In 
this  place  we  met  with  one  of  the 
best  educated  Jewish  private  teachers. 
The  children  behaved  extremely  well, 
and  read  fluently.  I proposed  to  them 
the  doctrine  of  the  Messiah,  which 
they  received  quietly. 

“ At we  found  the  rabbi  busy 

rubbing  horse-radish  for  the  festival  of 
Easter.  I seized  the  opportunity  to 
speak  to  him  about  the  nature  of  the 
Lord’s  Supper.  He  gave  very  politeand 
kind  answers,  and  made  a present  to 
me  of  one  of  his  cakes.  But  suddenly 
a Talmud  scholar  rushed  in,  exclaim- 
ing, “ What,  Rabbi ! is  it  possible  for 
you  to  converse  upon  the  holy  Passah 


224  PROCEEDINGS,  &C. COMMUNICATION  FROM  REV.  PROFESSOR  THOLUCK. 


evening  with  such  a person  ?”  The  pupil 
of  this  violent  man,  formerly  my  great 
antagonist,  but  now  become  friendly, 
had  listened  till  then  to  my  conver- 
sation with  the  rabbi.  His  master, 
however,  drove  him  away,  continuing 
to  pour  contempt  upon  me.  For  a 
while,  the  rabbi  did  not  care  about  the 
passionate  behaviour  of  the  Talmud- 
ist, but  when  the  rabbi’s  wife  began 
to  join  him  in  scolding  and  abus- 
ing her  husband  and  myself,  lie 
became  afraid  of  a disturbance,  and 
begged  us  to  retire,  although  taking  a 
hearty  leave.  Some  Jews  and  Jewish 
boys  called  upon  me  at  my  room  : I 
addressed  them  upon  the  power  of 
salvation,  which  is  to  be  found  in 
Jesus.  A boy  recited  some  sentences 
about  this  subject,  which  I had  uttered 
in  a former  sermon,  a proof  how 
deeply  some  seed  may  fall  here  and 
there,  into  the  memory  at  least.  When 
these  left,  two  elderly  Jews  called. 
One  broke  off  the  conversation  with  a 
sigh,  and  saying,  ‘ What  am  I to  do 
now?  if  I do  not  betake  myself  to 
Christianity  you  will  condemn  me ; if 
I do,  my  family  will.’  ” 

The  following  account  of  an 
aged  Jew  will  be  read  with  in- 
terest— 

“ We  visited  an  old  Jew,  whom  a 
Christian  friend  had  described  as  being 
a devout  Israelite,  waiting  for  the  sal- 
vation of  Jerusalem.  We  met  him  on 
the  floor  of  the  house.  When  he  ob- 
served us  from  afar,  he  was  seized 
with  apprehension,  and  endeavoured 
to  get  rid  of  us,  by  saying,  “ I am  an 
old  man,  who  has  lived  quietly  as  yet 
in  his  faith,  and  has  purposed  to  avoid 
all  religious  controversy.”  I replied, 
“ You  apprehend,  my  dear  Sir,  that 
we  wish  to  turn  you  away  from  your 
religion,  and  to  lead  you  directly  to 
baptism.  To  baptize  is  the  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  Our  design  is  only 
to  converse  with  you  about  the  comfort 
of  Israel,  we  come  with  words  of 
peace.”  Upon  this,  the  old  man 
ushered  us  into  his  room,  on  the  walls 
of  which  our  eye  met  with  a sentence 
which  devout  Jews  are  accustomed  to 
write  on  the  walls  of  their  houses,  in 


order  to  keep  their  tribulations  con- 
stantly in  mind,  Pin^  “IDT,  Re- 
member the  desolation  ! As  we  fixed 
our  eye  upon  it,  the  old  man  said,  with 
a trembling  voice,  ‘ I like  to  think  of 
God’s  judgments;  this  idea  prevents 
a light -temper.’  The  means  by 
which  he  expected  to  be  justified  were 
good  works  and  repentance.  He  pro- 
posed a curious  parable,  in 

order  to  shew  how  the  good  works  of 
the  oppressor  were  good  for  the  op- 
pressed. 

“ A young  Jewish  Darshener, 
(preacher,)  a poor  man,  was  received 
into  the  house  of  a rich  man,  who  gave 
him  a dinner  every  sabbath,  but  abused 
him  repeatedly  with  harsh  words  for  his 
poverty.  The  poor  good  man  re- 
ceived his  presents,  and  went  away 
sadly  humbled.  After  some  time  he 
died,  and  the  rich  man  likewise.  The 
angel  of  death  conducted  him  before 
the  tribunal  of  the  Most  High,  w'here 
all  his  good  works  were  read  before 
him ; among  them  it  was  mentioned, 
that  he  had  sometimes  fed  the  poor, 
that  he  had  made  a present  of  some 
candles  to  the  synagogue,  &c.  The 
good  man  is  surprised  ; ‘ How,’  says 
he,  ‘ can  I have  done  that  ? I have 
scarcely  had  food  for  myself,  how  can 
I have  fed  the  poor?  Surely,  in  heaven 
people  are  as  equally  apt  to  make  mis- 
takes in  writing,  as  they  are  on  earth.’ 
He  was  satisfied  with  the  idea  that 
he  had  been  rewarded  beyond  his 
claims.”  According  to  Jewish  tra- 
dition, the  pious,  ere  they  are  admitted 
to  heaven,  must  go  down  bo  hell,  to 
behold  the  punishment  of  the  wicked, 
in  order  to  persuade  themselves  that 
they  have  acted  prudently  in  following 
the  path  of  righteousness.  Conse- 
quently the  good  teacher  was  also  con- 
ducted to  hell.  There  he  meets  with 
the  rich  man  who  formerly  exposed 
him  to  disgrace.  This  wicked  man 
suffers  under  dreadful  torments,  he 
murmurs  dreadfully  against  the  deal- 
ings of  God.  “ What  an  unjust  God,” 
he  exclaims,”  to  punish  me  not  only 
for  sins  I have  really  committed,  but 
also  for  such  I have  never  thought  of? 
They  commit  mistakes  in  heaven,  mis- 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. LETTERS  FROM  MR.  R.  SMITH. 


225 


takes  upon  mistakes.  They  say  I have 
yielded  to  evil  thoughts  during  a ser- 
mon, and  I have  never  delivered  one.” 
The  young  good  fellow  began  to  see 
what  was  the  matter,  and  asked  him, 
“ Have  you  ever  made  a present  of 
candles  to  the  synagogue?”  .• ‘ Yes;” 
replied  the  other,  “ and  as  to  this, 
they  do  not  take  it  into  account  at  all.” 
Now  the  poor  fellow  saw  clearly  what 
had  happened,  he  saw  that  the  rich 
one  bore  his  guilt,  and  that  he  had 
received  the  benefit  of  the  other’s  me- 
rits. Anecdotes  like  this  show  how 
deeply  self-righteousness  is  rooted  in 
the  heart  of  the  Jew.  We  took  the 
opportunity  to  show  him  in  what 
manner  the  Messiah  has  worked  out 
our  righteousness. 

GERMANY. 

LETTER  FROM  MR.  RICHARD  SMITH. 

In  our  last  we  inserted  some 
communications  from  Mr.  Richard 
Smith.  The  next  letter  from  him 
is  dated  from  Breslau,  Nov.  14, 
1827.  It  contains,  like  the  former, 
much  in  relation  both  to  Christians 
and  Jews,  over  which  the  enlight- 
ened disciple  of  the  Saviour  may 
justly  weep. 

As  since  my  last  letter  my  way  has 
lain  chiefly  through  Roman  Catholic 
countries,  our  friends,  I trust,  do  ex- 
cuse me,  if  I pass  over  many  things 
in  silence  which  might  be  interesting 
to  them,  were  it  prudent  and  safe  to 
relate  them.  To  those  among  them 
who  have  the  honour  of  the  name  of 
our  Lord  sincerely  at  heart,  and  the 
real  benefit  of  their  fellow-creatures, 

I am  certain  no  apology  is  necessary; 
and  to  those  who  have  not,  but  would 
prefer  at  all  events  something  to  amuse 
them,  I would  intreat  them  to  consider 
the  vast  difference  between  the  land  of 
freedom  in  spiritual  matters  in  which 
they  live,  and  the  tyranny  exercised 
over  the  consciences  of  men  in  most 
Roman  Catholic  countries.  To  com- 
ply with  the  wishes  of  the  latter, 
would  be  to  strike  immediately  at  the 
poot  of  that  tree,  whose  leaves  are  de- 

VOL.  XIII. 


signed  for  the  healing  of  the  nations, 
and  would  expose  many  excellent  in- 
dividuals, both  Protestants  and  Ca- 
tholics, to  the  most  imminent  danger. 
What  would  Britons  think  if  they 
heard  a minister  thundering  from  the 
pulpit,  that  every  individual  ought  to 
make  it  a sacred  duty  to  burn  every 
Bible,  every  library,  and  to  drive  every 
bookseller  out  of  the  land!  Yet  all 
this,  and  much  more,  I know  to  be  a 
fact;  they  are  the  words  of  a Jesuit 
on  a recent  public  occasion,  whose 
sermon,  as  a distinguished  clergyman 
in  the  town  told  me  who  heard  it, 
shocked  every  man  of  common  sense. 

The  good  effects  produced  by  the 
circulation  of  the  Scriptures  in  a quiet 
way,  I have  lately  had  abundant  op- 
portunity of • witnessing,  and  I am 
more  than  ever  concerned  for  their  cir- 
culation to  a much  greater  extent,  be- 
ing more  than  ever  convinced  that  the 
Bible  is  the  only  book  that  can  give 
comfort  and  peace  to  the  heart  of  fallen 
man — the  only  book  that  can  supply 
him  with  the  balm  he  needs. 

How  many  great  and  learned  men, 
who  have  waded  through  all  the 
depths  of  human  science,  have  I heard 
confess,  that  they  could  find  no  resting 
place  to  set  a foot  upon,  till  they  came 
to  the  Scriptures. 

Cracow. — That  an  immense  number 
of  Jews  reside  here,  you  are  already 
aware.  We  endeavoured  to  inform 
ourselves  of  the  state  of  their  schools, 
and  found  them  wretched  enough. 
They  were  not  very  willing  that  we 
should  see  them ; and  on  one  occasion 
when  we  entered  one  of  them,  where 
we  found  several  teachers  teaching  a 
number  of  poor  little  ragged  dirty  chil- 
dren the  Talmud,  in  a room  which 
smelt  so  offensive  we  could  scarcely 
enter  it,  they  appeared  displeased ; 
but  by  far  the  greater  part  of  these 
unfortunate  little  ones  grow  up  with- 
out any  instruction  at  all : particularly 
is  this  the  case  with  the  girls.  A venera- 
ble old  Israelite,  whom  I on  one  occa- 
sion found  at  prayer  alone  in  the  syna- 
gogue as  I was  accidentally  passing, 
with  whom  I entered  into  conversa- 
tion upon  this  subject,  lamented  the 
want  of  instruction  for.  their  youth 
much,  particularly  religious  instruc- 

G G 


226 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. — LETTERS  FROM  MR.  R.  SMITH. 


tion,  saying,  that  the  latter  was  totally 
neglected  among  them.  Others  with 
whom  I have  often  spoken  have  said, 
that  if  the  children  learn  to  read  their 
prayers,  it  is  all  that  is  necessary  for 
them;  they  need  not  be  able  to  un- 
derstand them,  the  latter  being  no 
command  of  God;  that  when  they 
learn  more,  they  frequently  afterwards 
fall  from  Judaism. 

We  called  upon  the  Protestant  minis- 
ter, to  consult  him  on  the  propriety  of 
endeavouring  to  establish  a day-school 
among  them,  in  which  the  children 
might  learn  something  rational  and 
useful,  without  any  compulsion  for 
them  to  embrace  Christianity. 

This  gentleman  highly  approved  of 
the  plan  suggested,  entered  into  it  with 
great  warmth  and  energy,  advised  us 
immediately  to  draw  up  a plan,  and 
petition  Government  for  permission, 
saying,  that  he  himself  would  lay  it 
before  the  senate,  and  would  do  every 
thing  in  his  power  to  further  it,  and  to 
give  it  countenance.  We  did  so;  the 
result  will  follow. 

• We  found  here  a synagogue,  be- 
longing to  a sect  of  Jews  called  Cha- 
sidim— of  all  others,  as  far  as  my  in- 
formation goes,  the  most  singular  and 
enthusiastic.  Yet  they  are  greatly  in- 
creasing, especially  in  Russia,  Gala- 
tia, arid  Hungary.  I shall  presently 
give  you  some  account  of  their  origin, 
dogmas,  &c.  as  I believe  they  are  little 
known  in  England. 

When  we  entered  the  synagogue,  it 
was  not  the  time  of  public  worship, 
but  we  found  several  Jews  sitting 
around — some  reading,  some  smok- 
ing, and  others  both.  It  appears,  that 
except  in  extreme  cases,  they  never 
use  the  common  synagogues  of  the 
Jews ; but  whenever  their  number  is 
sufficient,  they  have  small  ones  to 
themselves,  called  by  them  Klansels. 
These  Klansels  serve  them  not  only 
for  publie  worship,  but  as  a sort  of 
lounge  when  the  business  of  the  day 
is  over,  or  whenever  they  have  an  idle 
hour.  Here  they  read,  smoke,  con- 
verse upon  subjects  temporal  and  spi- 
ritual, eat,  drink,  &c.  &c.  As  we  en- 
tered the  Klansel,  they  all  rose  with 
the  exception  of  one,  who  remained 
sitting,  reading  the  Sohar  aloud ; they 


came  forward,  gave  us  the  hand, and  sa- 
luted us  with  their  usual  salutation  in 
Hebrew  of — “ Peace  be  unto  you.”  It 
appears  that  they  had  taken  us  for 
German  Jews,  and  probably,  of  their 
own  sect ; for  the  German  Jews  shave 
and  dress  as  we  do,  which  in  the  eye 
of  a Polish  Jew  is  a great  sin,  and  the 
cause  of  much  hatred.  When  they 
found  that  we  were  not  Jews,  they 
drew  up,  and  became  very  reserved. 
In  vain  we  tried  to  gain  any  correct 
information  from  them ; to  no  ques- 
tion would  they  give  a direct  an- 
swer. This  is  more  or  less  the  case 
with  all  continental  Jews  ; they  are 
always  apprehensive  on  seeing  a stran- 
ger, that  he  is  an  agent  commissioned 
by  Government  to  examine  into  some 
abuse,  or  to  lay  some  new  yoke  upon 
them.  In  the  evening  I went  again, 
but  all  was  noise  and  confusion,  so 
that  I could  do  nothing. 

In  Lemberg  I attended  the  whole 
of  their  service,  which  evidently  was 
not  quite  to  their  satisfaction.  They 
seem  to  admit  strangers  with  reluct- 
ance, but  I had  determined  to  see  it 
out.  It  was  the  feast  of  expiation, 
called  by  them  Alas! 

what  a scene  to  bear  the  name  of  di- 
vine vvorship ! During  the  prayers 
they  affect  to  be  totally  indifferent  to 
every  thing  passing  around  them,  and 
to  be  entirely  absorbed  in  God.  They 
chant  a great  part  of  them,  and  in  a 
tone  of  voice  so  ludicrous,  that  the 
voices  bear  but  little  resemblance  to 
any  thing  human — all  is  noise  and 
confusion. 

The  most  essential  virtue  in  prayer 
is  to  cry  aloud,  like  the  prophets  of 
Baal ; to  strike  the  hand  with  violence 
upon  the  walls,  upon  the  forehead, 
the  face,  and  breast ; to  clap  the 
hands,  move  the  body  as  convulsively 
as  possible;  to  hop,  jump,  and  dance 
to  their  truly  ludicrous  squalling 
voices,  which  could  scarcely  fail  to 
draw  a smile  from  the  gravest  philoso- 
pher that  ever  lived.  Alas!  when 
man  departs  from  the  plain  text  of 
scripture,  into  what  infatuation  is  he 
capable  of  running  ! I had  read  much 
of  this  sect,  and  heard  more;  but  the 
half  was  not  told  me. 

Their  great  man  or  chief  resides  in 


227 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C.- 

Russia,  not  far  from  BerditchefF,  is 
called  Israel,  after  Bescht,  the  founder 
of  this  sect,  and  is  said  to  be  his 
grandson ; but  this  is  not  true. 

He  lives  in  the  style  of  an  eastern 
prince,  and  travels  with  great  pomp 
when  he  visits  his  diocese.  In  every 
town  his  escort  increases,  being  joined 
by  the  youth  of  the  most  considerable 
families  among  the  Jews.  These  serve 
as  his  body  guard,  and  entertain  the 
Hocking  multitude,  who  stream  from 
all  quarters  to  see  the  holy  man,  with 
an  account  of  his  miracles,  sanctity, 
& c.  &c.  He  is  said  to  be  very  illiterate, 
but  very  dictatorial,  and  the  people 
implicitly  obey  him,  without  knowing 
or  enquiring  why. 


MEDITERRANEAN. 

The  following  communication  is 
from  a friend  on  this  station,  and 
bears  date  Sept.  27,  1827.  It  con- 
tains the  Journal  of  his  proceed- 
ings during  the  previous  month. 

Aug.  28. — Called  on  the  Jew  H.,  to 
whom  I had  spoken  respecting  the 
printing  of  Tracts  in  Spagniolo-He- 
braico,  and  asked  him  to  procure  the 
translation  of  one  of  the  Cards,  No.  5, 
containing  Acts  xiii.  16 — 41,  into  that 
language.  He  promises  to  speak  to 
a Jew  to-morrow,  and  if  possible,  to 
have  it  finished  on  Friday ; but  he 
cannot  engage  to  get  it  executed  gratis. 
I promised  therefore  a reasonable  re- 
compense. If  it  be  practicable,  as  I 
hope  it  may,  to  fulfil  the  wishes  of  the 
Committee  on  this  point,  it  may  be  a 
means  of  good  to  the  Jews  who  shall 
be  employed  in  the  translating  and 
printing. 

The  subsequent  dialogue  serves 
to  shew  the  prejudice  under  which 
the  Jews  labour,  and  how  nothing 
but  the  light  of  the  Sun  of  Righte- 
ousness can  dissipate  a darkness 
so  gross  as  that  which  continues  to 
envelope  them.  Surely,  Christians 
should  pray  that  the  Lord  may 


■MEDITERRANEAN. 

hasten  the  time,  when  “ Israel 
shall  return  and  seek  the  Lord 
their  God,  and  David  their  king, 
and  fear  the  Lord  and  his  goodness 
in  the  latter  days.” 

The  ignorance  of  the  Jews  is  great, 
and  their  indifference  to  religion  truly 
lamentable.  Unhappily  they  consider 
themselves  safe,  because  they  are  the 
children  of  Abraham  ; and  this  notion, 
together  with  the  levity  of  mind  com- 
mon to  natives  of  this  country,  and 
increased  by  the  habits  and  practices 
of  Society,  renders  them  the  less 
likely  to  inquire  “ What  shall  we  do 
to  be  saved  ?’’  I think  a tract  upon 
the  importance  of  immediate  consi- 
deration of  eternity,  and  of  serious 
preparation  for  it,  might  be  useful  to 
awaken  them  from  their  lethargy.  It 
is  of  little  use  to  argue.  In  general 
the  heart  continues  unmoved;  and  what 
can  be  done  until  some  real  feeling  is 
excited  on  the  awful  subject  ? These 
thoughts  have  occurred  to  me  in  con- 
sequence of  the  following  conversa- 
tion, which  I had  to-day  with  J.  He 
had  returned  the  Spanish  translation 
mentioned  Aug.  6,  corrected,  and  I 
had  called  in  the  interim  to  thank 
him,  but  found  he  had  been  thrown 
from  his  horse.  I now  went  to  en- 
quire after  him,  and  found  him  reco- 
vered from  the  effect  of  the  accident^ 
He  received  me  very  civilly;  and  I 
commenced  by  asking  his  opinion  upon 
a verse  in  Zechariah,  chap,  i.,  which  I 
am  at  present  translating  in  private 
from  the  Hebrew.  It  was  a question 
upon  the  grammatical  construction  of 
the  passage;  and  he  answered  it 
satisfactorily.  He  then  told  me  that 
A.  had  desired  him  to  state  the  pre- 
sent opinion  of  the  Jews  upon  Isaiah 
lii.  and  liii. 

I.  And  what  are  those  opinions  ? 

J.  That  the  prophecy  speaks  of  the 
Jewish  people,  and  not  of  Messiah. 

I.  But  how  can  this  be  correct, 
when  there  are  many  parts  of  it  which 
cannot,  with  any  propriety,  apply  to 
the  nation  of  Israel.  For  instance, 
ver.  11 — “ By  his  knowledge  shall  my 
righteous  servant  justify  many.” 

J.  I cannot  account  for  every  par- 


228 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. 


■MEDITERRANEAN. 


licular  expression  ; but  our  opinion  is, 
that  the  whole  speaks  of  our  nation, 
which  has  been  now  suffering  nearly 
2000  years.  This  is  the  interpretation 
of  the  Synagogue,  and  we  must  abide 
by  it. 

I.  But  does  it  not  become  you  to 
consider,  whether  the  chapter  itself 
will  bear  this  sense,  and  when  so  many 
parts  of  it  are  so  inexplicable  on  this 
principle,  surely  you  ought  not  to  let 
the  authority  of  the  synagogue  induce 
you  to  believe  what  cannot  be  con- 
sistent with  the  Word  of  God.  Con- 
sider ver.  6 — “ The  Lord  hath  laid  on 
him  the  iniquity  of  us  all.”  How  can 
this  be  true  of  the  Jewish  nation  ? Are 
you  thus  burdened  with  the  sins  of  all 
other  nations  ? Will  you  admit  this  ? 
And  if  so,  surely  we  Gentiles  owe 
you  infinite  obligation. 

J.  I do  not  know  that  we  are;  but 
we  have  endured  a great  deal  for  these 
many  years,  and  our  opinion  of  the 
chapter  is  what  I have  said. 

I.  That  opinion  is  contrary  not 
only  to  the  belief  of  Christians,  but 
also  to  the  sentiments  of  your  ancient 
writers,  and  the  Chaldee  paraphrasts. 
I fear  it  has  been  adopted  with  a view 
to  your  idea  respecting  the  Messiah, 
whom  you  expect  to  be  a conqueror, 
and  a prosperous  king,  and  not  a suf- 
ferer, as  this  chapter  declares  he  should 
be. 

J.  Yes;  Messiah  shall  be  prosper- 
ous, and  chap.  lii.  13.  says,  “ Ecco  il 
mio  servitore  prosperera.” 

I.  The  belief  of  Protestants  is,  that 

Messiah  cometh  twice : the  first 

time  to  suffer;  the  second  to  reign. 
According  to  this  belief,  we  can  easily 
reconcile  all  the  Prophets.  Some 
speak  of  Messiah  as  a sufferer,  and 
these  we  refer  to  his  first  coming,  when 
he  endured  our  iniquities,  and  was 
crucified  for  our  redemption.  Others 
speak  of  his  triumphs ; and  these  we 
refer  to  his  second  coming,  when  he 
shall  fulfil,  but  in  a far  more  glorious 
manner,  all  your  expectation. 

J.  He  will  establish  the  kingdom,  and 
we  shall  be  gathered  to  our  own  land, 
and  the  sacrifices  will  be  renewed. 

I.  I believe  in  common  with  many 
English  Christians,  that  the  kingdom 


shall  be  restored  to  Israel,  and  that 
your  nation  will  be  re-established  in 
the  Holy  Land : but  as  to  the  sacri- 
fices, they  were  at  first  appointed  to 
represent  the  atonement  to  be  made  by 
Messiah ; and  as  their  object  was  ac- 
complished when  he  died  for  our  sins, 
there  is  no  reason  to  expect  their  re- 
newal. 

J.  We  do  not  think  that  Messiah  is 
to  effect  redemption.  If  we  observe 
the  law  of  Moses,  we  shall  be  happy 
in  the  future  state  ; and  if  the  Gentiles 
keep  the  seven  precepts  of  Noah,  they 
will  also  be  happy  : and  so  there  is  no 
occasion  for  the  redemption  of  which 
you  speak,  and  which  Christians  be- 
lieve Jesus  has  effected. 

J.  But  if  you  do  not  keep  the  law 
of  Moses,  and  the  Gentiles  do  not 
keep  the  seven  precepts  of  Noah,  what 
then  will  become  of  us  ? And  who 
can  say  that  he  is  free  from  sin  ? What 
hope  can  we  have,  therefore,  upon  this 
ground,  of  future  happiness  ? 

J.  God  is  of  great  mercy  as  well  as 
power,  and  we  believe  he  will  not 
cast  away  the  children  of  Abraham. 

I.  God  is  indeed  merciful ; but  he 
is  also  just,  and  there  is  no  hope  for 
us,  except  through  the  atonement  of 
the  Messiah.  We  ought  not  to  rest 
upon  human  opinion  in  a matter  of 
such  vast  importance,  but  upon  the 
word  of  God  himself. 

J.  Your  religion  requires  you  to 
make  proselytes,  but  ours  does  not. 
We  think  all  Jews  safe,  and  that  all  the 
Gentiles  who  follow  the  light  of  na- 
ture, and  do  the  precepts  of  Noah, 
will  be  safe  also.  Do  Protestants 
think,  that  no  one  can  be  saved  with- 
out being  baptized  ? 

I.  They  consider  baptism  to  be  an 
ordinance  of  Christ,  and  as  such  to  be 
administered ; but  if  through  unavoid- 
able circumstances,  any  one  is  hin- 
dered from  being  baptized,  and  does 
not  wilfully  neglect  that  ordinance,  we 
believe  that  he  may  be  saved  notwith- 
standing. 

J.  I mean  not  so  much  infants 
as  adults — the  Indians,  for  instance. 

1.  Respecting  such  as  have  not 
heard  of  Christ,  or  heard  the  word  of 
God,  we  know  little.  There  is  a text 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. JOURNAL  OF  REV.  W.  B.  LEWIS. 


229 


in  St.  Paul,  which  may  bear  on  the 
subject — Romans  ii.  13 — 15.  I quoted 
it. 

J.  That  is  good,  and  according  to 
our  opinion. 

I.  You  must  remember,  however, 
that  if  the  Gentiles  do  the  law  of  nature, 
some  hope  may  be  indulged ; but  if 
they  fail  in  one  single  instance,  then  they 
become  sinners,  and  as  sinners  must 
perish,  unless  they  are  saved  by  Mes- 
siah. And  so  it  must  be  with  us  all. 
And  are  we  not  prone  to  sin  continu- 
ally ? Can  you  or  I say,  that  we  have 
kept  the  law  ? What  day  of  our  lives 
do  we  riot  break  it  ? There  is  no  hope 
but  in  a suffering  Messiah. 

J.  A.  says,  there  is  a book  lately 
printed  in  England,  to  prove  that  our 
interpretation  of  Isaiah  liii.  is  wrong; 
but  I cannot  read  English. 

I.  We  have  abundant  proofs,  that 
your  opinion  is  not  right.  I do  not 
know  of  any  new  work  on  this  sub- 
ject. If  you  read  the  chapter  atten- 
tively, and  try  to  understand  it  in  its 
proper  and  simple  meaning,  you  will 
see  how  contrary  is  your  interpretation, 
to  all  that  Isaiah  says. 

Here  some  other  Jews  came  in,  and 
I thought  it  most  advisable  not  to  say 
more.  I therefore  thanked  him  for 
his  opinion  upon  the  grammatical  con- 
struction, and  said  I should  probably 
avail  myself  of  his  advice  in  these 
matters  from  time  to  time.  He  ex- 
pressed his  willingness  to  give  it  at  all 
times,  and  with  mutual  expressions  of 
kindness  we  parted. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF 
THE  REV.  W.  B.  LEWIS. 

Copious  Journals  of  the  Rev. 
W.  B.  Lewis’s  proceedings  have 
been  received  under  date,  Ancona, 
Sept.  22d,  Oct.  15th,  and  27th, 
1827,  and  Jan.  9,  1828.  The  fol- 
lowing extracts  deserve  attention. 

Jewish  Ceremonies  at  the  Commence- 
ment of  a New  Year. 

Ancona,  Sept.  22. — This  being  the 
1st  of  the  month  Tishri,  is,  according 
to  the  Jewish  calculation,  the  first  day 


of  the  year,  called 
The  Jews  are  thus  of  opinion,  that  we 
have,  entered  on  the  5538th  year  of  the 
world.  They  believe  that  as  the  world 
was  on  this  day  created,  so  on  this 
day  God  will  also  judge  the  world  and 
the  actions  of  men,  to  reward  or  pun- 
ish them,  as  they  may  deserve.  There- 
fore in  the  celebration  of  this  feast,  it 
is  the  custom  to  blow  a ram’s  horn  at 
intervals  during  the  service  of  the  sy- 
nagogue, in  order,  as  some  of  them 
say,  that  they  may  be  reminded  of  that 
solemn  period,  when  the  dead  will  be 
brought  to  life,  and  the  Evil  One  be 
confounded  at  the  noise  of  the  last 
trump,  when  attempting  to  accuse  the 
Israelites.  This  is  the  sabbath,  the 
memorial  of  blowing  of  trumpets,  the 
holy  convocation,  appointed  to  be 
observed  according  to  Lev.  xxiii.  24. 
and  Num.  xxix.  1.  And  tfye  reason 
they  assign  for  the  use  of  the  ram’s 
horn  in  preference  to  any  other  is, 
that  this  serves  with  their  prayers  to 
present  them  before  God,  in  remem- 
brance of  the  offering  of  Isaac,  in 
whose  stead  a ram  was  sacrificed,  be- 
ing pointed  out  to  Abraham  at  the 
moment  he  was  about  to  slay  his  son ; 
God  signifying  by  this  his  good  plea- 
sure at  the  patriarch’s  ready  obedience, 
and  act  of  faith.  Thus  the  Jews  like- 
wise believe  that  the  merit  of  Isaac 
comes  before  God  on  this  day  through 
their  prayers,  and  on  their  behalf. 
The  feast  of  the  new  year  continues 
two  days,  and  is  the  first  of  the  ten 
penitential  days  which  terminate  with 
the  Day  of  Expiation,  as  it  is  called. 
At  this  time  they  are  supposed  to  ab- 
stain from  all  sorts  of  worldly  labour, 
and  to  rise  before  dawn  of  day,  to  con- 
fess their  sins, and  repeat  their  prayers. 
Although  not  commanded  to  do  so, 
the  stricter  Jews  fast  for  the  most  part 
during  the  ten  penitential  days. 

"Day  of  Expiation. 

Oct.  1. — This  is  the  great  fast  or 
Day  of  Expiation,  called  and 

it  is  written  in  Leviticus  xvi.  29.  30, 
“ This  shall  be  a statute  for  ever  unto 
you,  In  the  seventh  month, on  the  tenth 
of  the  month,  ye  shall  afflict  your 
souls,  and  do  no  work  at  all.  For  on 
that  day  shall  the  priest  make  an 


230 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. — JOURNAL  OF  REV.  W.  B.  LEWIS. 


atonement  for  ever,  to  cleanse  you, 
that  ye  may  be  clean  from  all  your 
sins  before  the  Lord.”  The  Jews 
therefore  believe,  that  on  this  day  all 
their  sins  are  expiated,  if  they  confess 
their  misdeeds  in  detail,  and  to  a 
greater  number  (according  to  the  pre- 
scribed form)  than  they  are  conscious 
of  having  committed.  And  also  if 
they  fast  and  afflict  themselves,  in 
order  to  be  thus  purified  and  prepared 
for  the  mercy  of  God.  Accordingly 
most  of  the  Jews  of  this  place  fasted, 
in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  word,  the 
whole  of  the  day,  until  the  stars  ap- 
peared in  the  evening,  and  they  com- 
menced yesterday  before  the  setting  of 
the  sun.  Besides  abstaining  from  food 
and  drink  of  every  kind,  many  of  them 
also  feel  bound  to  do  whatever  they  think 
may  tend  to  afflict  the  body  and  spirit ; 
so  that  they  spend  the  whole  day, 
as  well  as  the  greater  part  of  the  pre- 
ceding night,  in  the  synagogue,  in  con- 
fessing their  sins,  and  reciting  a mul- 
titude of  prayers.  They  were  like- 
wise supposed  to  be  employed  in  call- 
ing to  mind  at  intervals  the  various 
sacred  duties  which  the  high  priest 
performed  in  the  temple,  on  the  Day  of 
Expiation. 

Feast  of  Tabernacles. 

Oct.  C. — To-day  commenced  the 
Feast  of  Tabernacles,  which  continues 
for  seven  days.  As  many  of  the  Jews 
as  have  the  means,  eject  bowers  for  the 
occasion,  which  they  here  call  Casolle, 
on  the  small  terraces  attached  to  their 
houses,  and  they  have  them  richly 
furnished  with  various  sorts  of  fruit 
and  green  branches,  tastefully  ar- 
ranged and  ornamented  with  gold-leaf, 
&c.  In  most  of  them  are  to  be 
seen  some  appropriate  lines  in  He- 
brew hanging  on  the  walls  round 
about,  and  likewise  the  shield  of  Da- 
vid, of  triangular  form,  in  the  midst  of 
the  fruit.  Every  bower  is  provided 
with  a table  and  chairs,  and  here  they 
eat  their  meals  during  the  Feast,  ex- 
cepting when  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather  will  not  permit;  but  they 
have  left  off  the  practice  of  sleeping 
under  them,  which  was  formerly  the 
custom,  as  would  appear  from  the 
rabbies.  It  is  mentioned  in  llashi  on 


Lev.  xxiii.  43,  that  the  tabernacles  in 
which  the  Israelites  made  their^abode 
during  their  sojourning  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  of  which  this  Feast  is  in- 
tended as  a memorial,  were  so  many 
clouds  which  covered  and  defended 
them  from  the  air  and  dampness  of  the 
night,  as  well  as  from  the  burning  rays 
of  the  sun  by  day. 

Modern  System  of  Education  among 
the  Jews. 

We  sat  for  a long  time  in  the  Casolle, 
or  bower,  and  conversed  on  the  bad 
method  generally  practised  by  the 
Jews  in  the  education  of  their  chil- 
dren, who  are  for  the  most  part  taught 
the  Hebrew  language,  without  being 
made  to  understand  the  simple  mean- 
ing of  the  words ; so  that  many 
amongst  them,  and  particularly  the  fe- 
males, are  brought  up  in  the  habit  of 
repeating  prayers  which  are  wholly 
unintelligible  to  them.  Mrs.  A.  said, 
she  remembered  that  when  she  was  a 
child,  she  used  to  cry  in  the  midst  of 
some  particular  prayer,  not  knowing 
why  she  did  so,  but  in  imitation  of  her 
mother.  She  now  sees  the  absurdity 
of  such  a method  of  education,  which 
she  deplores,  and  which  indeed  is  a 
source,  as  she  declares,  of  much  un- 
easiness to  her,  in  consideration  of  her 
little  boy.  She  says,  the  prejudices  of 
the  old  people  are  such,  that  it  would 
be  a most  difficult  matter  to  make  any 
alteration  in  the  system,  even  if  the 
opportunity  for  doing  it  offered  in  this 
place.  It  is,  therefore,  her  and  her 
husband’s  wish  to  leave  Ancona,  and 
to  have  their  child  educated  else- 
where. I recommended  the  advan- 
tages of  a child’s  receiving  its  first  in- 
structions from  its  mother,  and  we 
were  both  of  opinion,  that  children 
oftentimes  learn  principles  and  prac- 
tices of  the  worst  description  at  pub- 
lic schools.  In  the  evening  I went  to 
the  synagogue  of  the  Levantine  Jews. 
The  procession  and  exhibition  of  the 
Law  (as  they  termed  it)  took  place. 

Procession  of  the  Books  of  the  Law. 

Oct.  13. — At  one  o’clock  I went  to 
the  I talian  synagogue,  and  witnessed  the 
procession  and  ceremony  of  the  books 
of  the  Law,  which  took  place  last  night, 
at  the  other  synagogue ; and  this  evening 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. JOURNAL  OF  itE  V.  W.  B.  LEWIS. 


2S1 


I accompanied  Mrs.  L.  to  both  syna- 
gogues, which  were  very  brilliantly 
illuminated.  To-morrow  being  the 
Feast  of  the  Simka  Tom,  or  Rejoicing 
of  the  Law  (as  it  is  termed),  the  Bride- 
grooms appointed  for  the  occasion 
were  conducted  through  the  syna- 
gogue, and  thence  to  their  homes, 
holding  large  wax  candles,  and  in  the 
midst  of  singing  and  great  joy.  The 
number  of  Sephers  exposed  to  view, 
was  seven  in  each  synagogue.  They 
are  placed  in  a row  near  the  ark,  and 
are  to  remain  in  this  position  until 
to-morrow  night,  wrapped  up  in  vel- 
vet and  silk  coverings,  richly  embroi- 
dered with  gold  and  silver,  &c.  I 
asked  why  they  used  the  number 
seven.  Signor  P.  said,  this  was  the 
number  always  the  most  esteemed  by 
the  Jewish  nation:  that  the  days  of 
the  week  are  seven  ; the  branches  of 
the  candlestick  of  the  Temple  were 
seven ; and  the  words  “ the  voice  of 
the  Lord,”  are  used  seven  times  in  the 
xxixth  Psalm.  That  Psalm  was  sung 
on  this  account,  as  the  procession 
moved  round  the  synagogue,  carrying 
the  seven  books  of  the  Law  in  triumph. 
Would  that  I could  have  looked  upon 
these  services  as  divine  1 But  it  was 
quite  the  contrary;  and  the  crowd  was 
very  great.  This  is  the  only  evening 
Jewish  females  are  permitted  to  enter 
the  body  of  the  synagogue,  and  this 
only  after  the  service  had  been  con- 
cluded. We  met  Mr.  A.,  who  invited 
us  to  his  house,  and  we  there  met  with 
several  other  Jews. 

Sunday,  Oct.  14. — We  had  our  Eng- 
lish service  aboard  theT merchant- 

man ; a privilege  we  have  enjoyed  for 
several  Sundays.  This  morning  a Nor- 
wegian captain  was  present,  who  un- 
derstands the  language;  and  generally 
we  have  had  some  strangers  to  attend 
besides  the  crew.  The  Jews  held  their 
Feast  of  the  min  already 

commenced  by  the  processions  of  yes- 
terday, &c.  and  Rabbi  P.  delivered  an 
exhortation  on  the  subject  in  the  Ita- 
lian synagogue.  I was  not  present, 
being  engaged  at  the  ship,  &c.  This 
day  is  to  commemorate  the  reading  of 
the  Pentateuch,  as  divided  into  regu- 
lar portions  for  the  year,  which  they 
finish  at  this  time,  re-commencing  with 


the  first  division ; and  they  therefore 
demonstrate'  their  joy,  and  offer  up 
their  thanks  to  God  for  giving  and  pre- 
serving to  them  the  Law.  When  will 
they  thus  rejoice  for  the  Gospel? — The 
two  persons  who  have  the  privilege  of 
finishing  and  re-commencing  the  Se- 
pher  on  the  occasion,  are  called  the 
Bridegrooms  of  the  Law;  and  during 
the  Festa  they  pay  them  much  respect5. 
The  office  in  consequence  is  considered 
very  honourable,  and  is  obtained  by 
the  highest  bidder,  which  sometimes 
is  very  expensive,  particularly  to  the 
person  who  commences  the  reading  of 
the  Sepher.  This  day  also  commemo- 
rates the  great  rejoicings  which  took 
place  on  the  evening  of  yesterday  in 
the  Temple,  as  is  said,  on  account 
of  the  drawing  of  the  waters  which 
serve  for  the  libations  at  the  altar,  as 
commanded  in  the  law.  Although 
such  a commemoration  is  not  directly 
ordered  in  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  the 
rabbies,  nevertheless,  instituted  this 
anniversary  on  the  authority  of  three 
last  words  to  be  found  in  Num.  xxix. 
19.  31.  33,  which  are  put  in  the  plural 
number  without  any  apparent  reason  ; 
but  the  letters  which  form  the  plural 
of  these  words  when  united,  give  the 
word  QiQ  (waters),  which  they  would 
draw  from  the  passage  in  question. 
See  Rashi  on  Num.  xxix. 

Mr.  Lewis’s  Journals  also  con- 
tain the  substance  of  numerous 
conversations  held  with  Jews  of 
all  classes.  There  is,  however,  so 
much  uniformity  in  the  objections 
and  replies,  when  Jew  and  Chris- 
tian meet  in  discussion,  that  we 
merely  select  the  following,  as  one 
of  the  most  interesting  of  those 
conversations. 

Oct.  19.— A young  man  named 
S.  C.  came  in,  and  we  had  a long  con- 
versation with  him.  He  first  read  in 
the  book  of  Genesis,  and  afterwards  a 
Psalm  which  refers  to  the  Messiah. 
He  argued,  that  as  universal  peace 
and  happiness  have  not  yet  taken 
place,  the  Messiah,  in  consequence, 
cannot  yet  have  appeared  in  the  world. 
We  said,  that  peace  is  made  between 


232 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. JOURNAL  OF  REV.  W.  B.  LEWIS. 


God  and  the  conscience,  wherever  the 
Messiah  is  truly  known  and  believed 
in.  He  replied,  that  the  English  all 
believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  yet  the 
English  go  to  war.  We  answered, 
that  all  the  English  are  not  true  Chris- 
tians, and  that  there  are  many  among 
us  who  are  quite  against  war.  He 
afterwards  denied  the  authority  of  the 
New  Testament.  We  said,  that  we  have 
the  same  authority,  the  same  proofs  for 
the  New  as  we  have  for  the  Old  Tes- 
tament ; and  we  asked  him  to  give  us 
some  proof  why  he  considered  Moses 
as  sent  from  God.  He  could  not  tell, 
but  said  he  knew  it  was  the  case.  I 
shewed  him  Ezekiel  xxxvi.  where  God 
promises  to  bestow  a new  heart,  &c. 
and  I asked  him  what  he  thought  this 
passage  meant.  He  answered,  that 
whatever  is  the  meaning  of  it,  God 
himself  promises  to  fulfil  the  pro- 
phecy, and  that,  therefore,  we  had 
nothing  to  do  with  it.  We  said,  one 
thing  he  had  to  do  with,  it  was  to  ask 
God  by  prayer,  to  fulfil  the  promise 
with  regard  to  himself;  he  contended 
that  this  was  not  required  of  us.  We 
pointed  to  the  37th  verse,  “ Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God,  I will  yet  for  this  be 
inquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel  to 
do  it  for  them.”  He  contended  that 
r\>2b  does  not  signify  by,  but  for, 
the  house  (of  Israel),  and  that  the 
mere  signification  of  the  passage  is 
this,  viz.  that  God  would  be  entreated 
for  the  house  of  Israel  by  the  Messiah, 
to  increase  them  with  men  like  a flock. 
We  next  pointed  out  to  him  Zech. 
xii.  10.,  as  w’ell  as  other  passages,  and 
spoke  to  him  of  Christ.  He  said  he 
was  in  possession  of  the  true  account  of 
Jesus  Christ,  taken  from  the  Talmud, 
which  he  himself  wrote  out.  I prevailed 
on  him  to  promise  me  a copy  on  cer- 
tain conditions,  as  he  stated  he  should 
be  liable  to  be  cast  into  the  fire,  were  it 
known  to  the  holy  office  of  the  In- 
quisition that  he  possessed  such  a 
book.  We  concluded  the  evening,  by 
particularly  exhorting  him  to  read  the 
New  Testament,  and  I offered  to  lend 
him  a copy  in  Hebrew.  He  took  it, 
saying,  that  he  would  read  it  merely 
for  the  sake  of  information,  and  for  no 
other  reason. 


The  followingspecimen  of  a Jew- 
ish rabbi’s  sermon  may  not  prove 
unacceptable. 

Saturday,  Oct.  20. — l went  this 
morning  to  the  Italian  synagogue  to 
hear  Rabbi  P.’s  discourse,  on  the  re- 
joicing for  the  law,  which  he  gave  me 
notice  of,  a few  days  ago.  The  text 
was  from  Genesis  ii.  9. ; and  he  en- 
deavoured to  point  out  from  this,  and 
to  exhibit  the  law  of  Moses  a^the 
paradise  which  is  now  upon  earth — 
containing,  as  it  were,  the  tree  of  life, 
which  figuratively  is  in  the  midst  of 
the  garden.  This  he  would  shew  by  a 
play  upon  words,  and  he  considered 
jj,  (garden)  numerically  taken,  as 
signifying  the  number  of  the  portions 
into  which  the  Pentateuch  is  divided, 
namely  fifty-three.  He  concluded  by 
a kind  of  prayer  or  benediction,  in 
favour  of  those  who  represented  the 
bridegrooms  of  the  law  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  feast  Simka  Torah.  Very 
few  of  the  congregation  remained  for 
the  sermon.  I should  mention,  that 
after  the  reading  of  the  law,  taken 
from  the  beginning  of  Genesis,  and  the 
Af-Torab,  8cc.  those  Jews,  residing  at 
Ancona,  who  are  of  the  family  of 
Cohen,  approached  the  ark,  within  the 
iron-railing,  and  one  of  them  standing 
quite  close  to  the  Sanctum  Sanctorum, 
as  it  may  be  denominated,  uttered  the 
usual  benediction  in  an  audible  voice, 
his  head  and  face  being  covered  all 
over  during  the  time,  and  the  shut- 
ters of  the  windows  near  the  ark 
closed,  to  prevent  any  of  the  congre- 
gation unwarily  looking  out  at  this 
solemn  moment ; whilst  those  who  are 
fathers,  held  their  hands  over  the 
heads  of  their  sons  who  were  present, 
until  the  benediction  was  at  an  end. 

We  subjoin  a specimen  of  the 
miracles  (or  fables)  recorded  in 
the  Mishna. 

Oct.  26. — Signor  A.  comes  every 
morning,  and  we  have  regularly  some 
discussion  on  the  grand  subject,  or  on 
one  indirectly  leading  to  it.  To-day 
he  brought  me  an  account  of  the  ten 
miracles,  as  taken  from  the  Mishna,  and 
which  are  said  to  have  continued  un- 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. JOURNAL  OF  MR.  J.  NICOLAYSON. 


interrupted  at  Jerusalem  as  long  as 
the  temple  was  in  existence.  He 
wrote  them  down  for  me  in  Italian, 
and  I have  translated  them  as  follows  : 
viz.  “ A woman’s  miscarriage  was 
never  known  to  have  been  caused  by 
the  smell  from  the  sacrifices.  2d,  The 
flesh  of  the  sacrifices  never  became 
putrid.  3d,  A fly  was  never  seen  in 
the  shambles  attached  to  the  temple. 
4th,  No  accident  ever  happened  to 
render  the  high  priest  unclean  on  the 
great  Day  of  Expiation.  5th,  The 
rain  never  extinguished  the  fire  pre- 
pared for  the  sacrifices.  6th,  The 
wind  never  broke  or  dispersed  the 
column  of  smoke  which  ascended  per- 
pendicularly from  the  sacrifices.  7th, 
No  accident  or  inconvenience  ever  oc- 
curred with  regard  to  the  Homer,  the 
two  wave-loaves  of  fresh  leaven  or  the 
shew-bread.  8th,  The  whole  con- 
course assembled  at  the  time  of  the 
great  feasts,  were  enabled,  though 
crowded  together,  to  stand  erect  and 
to  bow  when  necessary  at  prayer,  with 
full  room.  9th,  No  serpent  or  scorpion 
ever  did  harm  in  Jerusalem;  and  10th, 
No  one  ever  said,  l am  in  want  of 
accommodations  (or,  I feel  confined) 
by  dwelling  in  Jerusalem.”  These 
are  the  miracles  or  fables  of  the  rab- 
bies,  as  given  in  the  Mishna.  I said 
to  Signor  A.  if  the  Jews  can  believe 
that  these  or  other  such  things  took 
place  at  Jerusalem,  why  can  they 
not  believe  the  miracles  performed 
by  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  declarations 
respecting  him,  as  stated  in  the  New 
Testament  ? He  answered,  that  the 
Jews  do  not  deny  that  Jesus  Christ 
wrought  miracles,  but  they  deny  what 
is  otherwise  said  of  him. 


PALESTINE. 

JOURNAL  OF  MR.  J.  NICOLAYSON. 

Continued  from  page  74. 

We  have  been  interrupted  by  the 
press  of  other  matter,  from  pro- 
ceeding with  the  Journal  of  Mr. 
Nicolayson.  We  therefore  remind 
our  readers,  that  in  our  numbers 
for  January  and  February  of  the 

VOL.  XIII. 


present  year,  we  began  the  nar- 
rative of  Mr.  N.’s  proceedings, 
during  a visit  which  he  made  to 
Sidon  in  August  182G,  in  company 
with  Joseph  (Youseph)  LafToufi 
a young  Catholic  priest  from  that 
place,  who,  having  been  led  to  en- 
quire into  the  contents  and  the  doc- 
trines of  the  NewTestament,  paid  a 
visit  to  Beyrout,  for  the  purpose  of 
gaining  information  from  the  Mis- 
sionaries. The  American  Mis- 
sionaries and  Mr.  Nicolayson  af- 
forded him  jointly  their  best  in- 
struction, during  the  week  that  lie 
remained  at  Beyrout,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  which  Mr.  N.,  (as  al- 
ready mentioned)  returned  with 
him  to  Sidon  for  a short  time, 
partly  with  a view  to  some  Jewish 
families  which  he  had  been  led  to 
expect  to  find  there.  We  pre- 
sent a few  closing  extracts  from 
this  part  of  the  Journal : — 

Sunday,  August  3,  1826.  — Mr. 
Abbot,  the  consul,  having  gone  up 
into  the  mountains  for  his  health  with 
his  family,  we  had  service  in  our  own 
house.  Several  Arabs  were  present : 
Brother  Bird  translated  into  Arabic. 
Towards  the  close,  the  Jew  Moses  came 
in,  and  with  him  two  Jews  from  Da- 
mascus, who  had  called  here  last  Sun- 
day, when  I was  absent.  I had  an 
interesting  conversation  with  one  of 
them,  whose  character  seemed  to  come 
nearer  to  that  which  our  Lord  gave  of 
Nathanael,  than  any  I had  yet  met 
with  in  this  country.  He  conversed 
with  great  seriousness  and  propriety, 
and  the  objections  he  made,  appeared 
proofs  of  his  candour.  Our  conver- 
sation begau  with  the  liiid  of  Isaiah, 
and  we  discussed  the  most  important 
points  concerning  the  Messiahship  of 
Jesus,  He  had  read  the  New  Tes- 
tament which  he  had  received  from 
Mr.  Wolff.  He  admitted  the  reality 
of  the  miracles  of  Christ,  but  alluded 
to  the  story  in  the  Talmud,  of  his 
having  done  them  by  means  of  the 
Holy  name  stolen  out  of  the  temple. 
I said  to  him,  “ My  dear  friend,  do 
H H 


234 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C.  — JOURNAL  OF  MR.  J.  NICOLAYSON. 


not  speak  of  this  absurd  story,  for,  I 
am  sure,  you  do  not  believe  it  your- 
self, and  your  candour  will  not  permit 
you  to  insist  upon  it.”  He  smiled,  and 
assented.  At  last  1 endeavoured  to 
set  before  him  the  nature  and  aim  of 
the  Gospel,  showing  him  that,  as  in 
the  Old  Testament  sin  was  expiated 
by  sacrifices,  so  in  the  New,  expiation 
and  forgiveness  of  sin  is  only  by  the 
sacrifice  of  Christ,  according  to  the 
liiid  of  Isaiah.  I then  proceeded  to 
show  him  the  typical  nature  of  the- 
sacrifices,  and  their  fulfilment  in  Christ, 
and  told  him  that  the  pre-eminent 
glory  of  the  Gospel  is,  that  it  provides 
a full  and  free  pardon  of  sin  to  every 
believer  in  Jesus,  and  that  in  con- 
formity to  what  the  Lord  said  by  Je- 
remiah, the  holy  precepts  of  the  moral 
law  and  of  the  Gospel  are,  by  the 
divine  Spirit,  so  written  on  the  hearts 
of  believers,  that  they  are  effectually 
observed  and  obeyed ; and  thus  they 
are,  by  divine  grace,  sanctified  and 
delivered  from  the  power  and  domi- 
nion of  sin,  by  which  means  life  and 
immortality,  which  were  forfeited  by 
Adam,  are  brought  to  light  by  Christ. 

In  all  this  he  never  interrupted  or 
made  any  impertinent  objections,  and 
I really  trusted  he  was  not  far  from  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  He  asked  for  an 
Arabic  psalter  for  his  son,  who  is  learn- 
ing to  read  Arabic,  and  an  Arabic 
Bible  for  himself,  as  he  reads  the  lan- 
guage, which  is  rather  unusual  among 
the  Jews.  The  other  Jew  fell  asleep, 
being  quite  worn  out  by  fasting,  which 
he  began  yesterday  before  sun-set,  and 
means  to  continue  till  after  sun-set 
this  evening.  In  this  fast,  which  is 
in  commemoration  of  the  destruction 
both  of  the  first  and  second  temple, 
they  neither  eat  nor  drink. 

August  14. — The  Jew  from  Da- 
mascus called  again  to-day,  and  I had 
another  interesting  conversation  with 
him ; but  it  was  not  of  the  same  en- 
couraging description  as  before ; he 
objected  to  my  explanation  of  several 
passages  of  Scripture,  which  he  ad- 
mitted yesterday:  and  it  seemed  he 
had  been  reading  Rashi  and  other  Tal- 
mudical  commentators  on  the  passages, 
and  thus  exemplified  the  charge  brought 


against  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  of 
old,  that  “ they  made  the  word  of 
God  of  none  effect  through  their  tra- 
ditions.” He  particularly  objected  to 
what  I said  of  the  liiid  of  Isaiah, 
which  he  endeavoured  to  apply  to  the 
nations.  When  he  found  this  would 
not  do,  he  said  he  should  rest  satisfied 
with  the  interpretation  of  Rashi,  who 
refers  it  to  the  temple.  All  my  remon- 
strances against  the  folly  of  this  inter- 
pretation were  without  effect,  and  in- 
stead of  the  candour  he  showed  yes- 
terday, he  evinced  a determination  not 
to  be  convinced.  He  invited  me,  how- 
ever, to  come  to  him,  if  I visited  Da- 
mascus, and  promised  to  introduce 
me  to  all  the  rabbies  and  wise  men  of 
that  place. 

The  preceding  extracts  shew 
that  the  visit  of  Mr.  Nicolayson  to 
Sidon  was  not  left  without  a bless- 
ing ; and  we  now  proceed  to  men- 
tion, that  on  his  return  to  Beyrout, 
Mr.  N.  found  the  Rev.  Donald 
Macpherson,  a Missionary  in  the 
Wesleyan  connexion,  stationed  at 
Alexandria,  who  came  from  thence 
for  the  purpose  of  gaining  a per- 
sonal knowledge  of  the  country, 
and  of  his  brother  Missionaries, 
during  the  season  of  the  plague  at 
Alexandria.  They  had  much  con- 
versation together  upon  the  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  future  plans 
of  the  mission  ; and  it  was  agreed 
that  Mr.  Nicolayson  and  Mr.  Mac- 
pherson should  proceed  .together, 
on  a tour  to  different  places  in  the 
vicinity.  Their  departure  from 
Beyrout  was  delayed,  however,  a 
few  days  longer  than  they  had 
wished,  in  consequence  of  the  in- 
disposition of  Mr.  Nicolayson,  but 
they  were  enabled,  at  length,  at 
the  equinox  to  set  out  together. 

September  22.  — Before  daylight 
this  morning  Mr.  Macpherson  and  I 
arose,  and  having  joined  in  prayer  and 
praise,  mounted  our  asses,  leaving  our 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. JOURNAL  OP  MR.  J.  NICOLAYSON. 


2 35 


dear  Missionary  brethren  and  sisters. 
Brother  Macpherson  wished  to  see  the 
consul  Mr.  Abbot,  who  resided  in 
Dair-el-Kamar,  and  we  took  our  di- 
rection towards  the  mountains  of  Le- 
banon, the  foot  of  which  we  reached 
in  about  two  hours.  We  had  hardly 
made  an  hour’s  ascent  into  the  fresh 
and  bracing  air  of  the  mountain,  when 
I found  my  bodily  strength  much  re- 
cruited, and  I was  quite  another  man. 
Although  fatigued  by  our  slow  and 
tedious  riding  for  eleven  hours,  either 
ascending  some  of  the  steepest  and 
most  rugged  mountains  of  Lebanon,  or 
descending  with  greater  fatigue  into 
the  deepest  vallies  that  intersect  them, 
yet,  when  we  reached  the  beautiful 
residence  of  the  consul,  I felt  all  my 
natural  vigour  return,  and  the  effects 
of  my  fever  gone.  Praise  be  to  Him 
who  is  the  author  and  preserver  of 
life,  of  health,  and  of  all  comforts  ! 

Lord's  day.  Sept.  24. — We  had 
divine  worship  in  the  consul’s  fa- 
mily, but  there  being  few  who  under- 
stood English,  our  congregation  was 
small.  Brother  Macpherson  preached 
on  the  nature  and  end  of  the  sufferings 
of  Christ. 

Sept.  25. — Set  out  for  Sidon  this 
morning  in  company  with  Mr.  Chas- 
saud,  the  consul  of  Sour,  whom  we  had 
found  in  Dair-el-Kamar.  Our  road 
was  almost  a constant  descent,  over  a 
range  of  mountains  which  extend  dow  n 
to  the  sea-shore. 

Sept.  26. — Spent  this  day  at  Sidon, 
and  saw  most  of  the  individuals,  with 
whom  I had  had  serious  conversations 
when  I was  here  last,  but  I did  not  find 
them  much  advanced  either  in  know- 
ledge, or  the  practice  of  those  truths 
to  which  their  minds  seemed  to  be 
then  opeuing.  The  Jews  of  this  place, 
who  are  but  few,  I have  found  ex- 
ceedingly prejudiced  and  obstinate. 

Sept.  27. — Preached  at  Sour  in  the 
afternoon.  No  Jew  is  permitted  to 
pass  the  night  within  the  walls  of  this 
city.  Yet  reasons  induced  us  to  stay 
here  all  the  week,  and  of  course  the 
first  day  of  the  week  following. 
This  place  being  celebrated  for  its  for- 
mer grandeur,  and  its  frequent  men- 
tion both  in  the  history  and  pro- 
phecies of  holy  writ,  we  took  a boat  to 


see  whether  we  could  not  discover 
some  remains  of  its  ancient  glory; 
but  all  valuable  relics  seem  to  have 
been  taken  away  to  adorn  other 
places  of  modern  structure,  which 
indeed  is  generally  the  case  with  the 
ruins  of  those  towns  that  lie  on  the 
sea-shore.  Hardly  any  thing  but  the 
natural  shape  of  the  peninsula  now 
marks  its  identity  with  the  Tyre  of 
Scripture,  but  this  bears  most  evident 
marks  of  its  having  once  been  an 
island.  Most  completely  have  the 
words  of  prophecy  been  accomplished 
in  the  downfall  of  this  great  city.  A 
number  of  various  columns  still  re- 
main ; and  going  out  upon  a rock, 
which  when  the  sea  rises  is  separated 
from  the  peninsula,  we  found  regular 
excavations,  which  clearly  mark  the 
foundations  of  buildings.  The  most 
interesting  piece  of  antiquity  to  be 
seen  in  this  place  at  present,  is  the 
ruined  Greek  church,  which,  however, 
does  not  carry  us  back  farther  than  the 
time  of  Queen  Helena. 

Sept.  28.  — Mr.  Chassaud  pro- 
posing to  us  to  go  with  him  out  to  see 
the  ancient  aqueducts : we  mounted 
our  horses,  and  in  less  than  an  hour 
reached  the  upper  end  of  them.  One 
is  now  repairing  by  order  of  the 
Pasha,  who  by  this  means,  intends 
to  turn  the  greater  part  of  the  plain 
into  gardens,  watering  them  from  Ras- 
el-Ayin,  the  head  of  the  fountain. 
After  riding  along  the  aqueduct  for 
more  than  half  an  hour,  we  reached 
this  great  spring,  which  sends  out  an 
astonishing  quantity  of  water. 

Sept.  29. — Visited  the  chief  of  the 
Greek-Catholic  priests,  and  had  some 
conversation  with  him  ; and  I left  with 
him  a specimen  of  our  Arabic  School- 
books. He  spoke  of  Dr.  Dalton’s  ex- 
ertions for  establishing  a school  for 
girls  here,  he  seemed  not  sorry  he  had 
not  succeeded.  There  are  but  three  Ca- 
tholic priests  here.  One  of  them  being 
absent,  and  the  other  being  the  teacher 
of  the  school,  we  went  to  call  upon 
him  there.  Here  we  found  about  thirty 
boys,  talking  and  playing,  with  their 
books  in  their  hands,  their  master,  the 
priest,  being  asleep.  Our  servant, 
who  knows  him,  woke  him  up,  telling 
him,  there  were  two  Englishmen  come 


236 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. JOURNAL  OF  MR.  J.  NICOLAYSON. 


to  see  the  school,  and  to  converse 
with  him.  He  received  us  with  the 
usual  ceremonies  and  salutations,  but 
being  deaf,  we  found  it  difficult  to 
converse  with  him,  particularly  as  the 
boys  were  noisy.  Our  servant  sat 
down  on  the  ground  with  him,  and 
made  him  understand,  that  if  he  would 
accept  them,  we  _would  furnish  his 
school  with  books  better  adapted  for 
beginners  than  those  he  had.  He  de- 
sired to  see  the  books,  and  attempted  to 
make  some  objections  to  them  ; but  our 
servant,  who,  though  of  the  same  com- 
munion with  the  priest,  has  seen  some- 
thing of  the  light  of  the  Gospel,  soon  met 
his  objections, and  then  continued  to  talk 
to  the  priest  upon  the  value  of  the 
Gospel,  and  the  importance  of  reading 
it,  and  teaching  it  to  the  children  com- 
mitted to  his  charge.  At  length  the 
priest  agreed  that  the  books,  which 
were  extracts  from  our  Saviour’s  dis- 
courses, were  good,  but  said,  that  he 
could  not  let  the  boys  read  them,  ex- 
cept by  t'ne  order  or  permission  of  the 
Superior.  I offered  one  to  him  to 
keep,  and  show  the  Superior,  that  he 
might  examine  it,  and  if  he  found  it 
orthodox,  give  permission  to  introduce 
it  into  the  school;  this  he  accepted. 
We  w'ent  next  to  see  their  church, 
which  we  found  much  more  spleudid 
than  we  had  expected.  There  is  but 
one  Greek  priest  here,  and  he  is  ab- 
sent at  present.  When  we  returned 
from  this  visit  to  the  Catholic  priests, 
we  learned  from  Mr.  Chassaud,  that 
the  only  Maronite  priest  in  the  place 
had  called  upon  him  during  our  ab- 
sence. The  consul  represents  him  as 
a very  civil  man,  considerably  above 
the  rest  both  in  talents  and  morals, 
which  with  the  others  stand  very  low. 
Though  we  should  probaby  have  seen 
his  character  in  another  light  had  we 
had  opportunity  of  discussion  with 
him  on  religious  subjects,  for,  among 
all  the  various  denominations  of  Chris- 
tians in  this  country,  none  are  so 
violently  opposed  to  the  Scriptures  as 
the  Maronites,  (unless,  indeed,  the 
Latins  exceed  them)  yet  we  could 
not  but  regret  that  we  lost  the  oppor- 
tunity of  meeting  one,  who  possibly 
might  be  an  exception  to  the  general 
rule. 


Lord's -Day,  Oct.  1. — We  were 
to  have  had  divine  service  to-day 
in  English,  and  I had  chosen  a sul>- 
ject  for  the  occasion ; but  when  I 
came  down  to  breakfast,  Mr.  Chassaud 
told  me  that  his  Dragoman  and  a few 
others  had  asked  him  whether  there 
would  not  be  preaching,  and  that 
being  told  there  would,  but  in  Eng- 
lish, they  had  requested  it  might 
be  in  Arabic  that  they  might  attend. 
Hearing  this,  we  resolved  to  have  it  in 
Arabic,  and  they  were  much  pleased, 
and  went  to  inform  their  friends.  Not 
being  sufficiently  versed  in  the  Arabic, 
to  preach  in  that  language  on  the  sub- 
ject I had  chosen,  we  took  the  third 
chapter  of  St.  John's  Gospel,  and 
agreed  that  both  of  us  should  make 
our  remarks,-  as  they  might  occur  in 
reading  it  over  with  our  hearers.  Eight 
or  ten  natives  collected;  and  com- 
mencing with  prayer,  we  spent  an 
hour  in  expounding  the  great  and  fun- 
da'mental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  as 
taught  by  our  Lord  himself  in  this 
chapter.  May  his  blessing  rest  upon 
this  preaching  of  the  Gospel  on  the 
site  of  ancient  Tyre  ! 

Oct.  2. — Hearing  that  our  muleteers, 
not  knowing  the  proper  road  to  Safet, 
were  going  to  take  us  nearly  a day’s 
journey  fuither  round,  we  procured  a 
guide  before  we  sat  out.  Our  road 
was  a constant,  but  gentle  ascent.  We 
passed  some  narrow  defiles  between 
the  rocky  mountains  of  Anti-Lebanon, 
where  there  was  not  a breath  of  air ; 
and  the  sun  resting  all  the  day  on  the 
naked  rocks  on  both  sides,  the  heat 
was  so  powerful,  that  we  sometimes 
felt  nearly  suffocating.  Towards  even- 
ing, we  reached  a village  called  Bint- 
el-Chebail,  (the  daughter  of  the  moun- 
tains) and  found  a comfortable  room 
in  the  Sheikh’s  house. 

Oct.  3. — We  mounted  our  mules 
before  sun-rise,  with  our  faces  towards 
Safet.  After  riding  four  hours  over 
rugged  mountains,  woody  valleys,  and 
a barren  plain  on  the  mountain  top, 
that  city,  which  being  set  on  a hill 
cannot  be  hid,  came  into  sight,  ap- 
parently very  near  to  us,  but  we  found 
many  a tedious  hill  and  dale  inter- 
vening before  we  reached  the  foot  of 
that  chief  of  hills,  which  is  not  of  an 


PROCEEDINGS,  &C. JOURNAL  OF  MR.  J.  NICOLAYSON. 


237 


easy  ascent.  Having  got  into  the 
quarter  of  the  Spanish  Jews,  we  could 
not  find  the  German  Jew  here  who 
has  English  protection,  and  to  whom 
we  had  a letter  from  Mr.  Abbot ; his 
English  name  being  unknown  to  them. 
The  owner  of  the  house,  however, 
before  which  we  stopped  to  enquire, 
kindly  invited  us  in,  and  offered  us  a 
room.  This  being  very  small  and  un- 
comfortable, we  thought  we  had  better 
first  look  about  for  some  better  ac- 
commodation. In  the  mean  time, 
another  Spanish  Jew,  seemingly  of 
some  importance,  came  in,  and  after 
much  boasting,  told  us,  that  he  was 
the  only  man  who  could  procure  us 
proper  accommodations.  Although  his 
manners  and  loquacity  were  unplea- 
sant, we  gladly  accepted  his  services. 

Oct.  4. — In  the  forenoon  we  set 
out  to  visit  some  of  the  rabbies  and 
synagogues.  Rabbi  Amram’s  house 
being  near  our  lodgings,  we  went  to  call 
on  him  first;  but  on  approaching  the 
house,  we  heard  weepings,  lamenta- 
tions, and  howlings  from  within,  which, 
on  inquiry,  we  were  told,  were  oc- 
casioned by  the  loss  of  his  infant 
daughter,  who  had  just  expired;  and 
we  thought  it  better  to  postpone  our 
visit.  We  therefore  enquired  after  the 
house  of  our  friend  Yakooti,to  request 
him  to  introduce  us  to  some  of  the  chief 
rabbies.  He  took  us  to  the  house  of 
Rabbi  Gershon,  a Polish  Jew,  who  re- 
ceived us  with  kindness.  My  speaking 
German  is  a sufficient  introduction  to 
any  German  Jew,  in  this  country,  and 
always  furnishes  me  with  an  opportunity 
of  commencing  conversation  with  him. 
Brother  Macpherson  found  several  Po- 
lish Jews  able  to  speak  Russian,  and 
thus  we  both  became  agreeable  visitors. 
They  wereall  very  inquisitive  after  news, 
and  we,  not  desiring  at  present  to  enter 
into  discussion,  contented  ourselves 
with  answering  by  general  remarks, 
and  by  enquiries  concerning  their 
numbers,  and  their  condition  in  this 
place.  Their  calculations,  however, 
differ  so  widely,  that  it  is  not  possible 
to  know  the  truth.  Things  are  very 
dear,  on  account  of  the  locusts  this 
year  eating  up  every  thing  g'-een,  and 
the  cattle  are  dying.  We  visited  some 
of  the  synagogues,  and  were  every 
where  asked  for  news : all  seem  pleased 


and  surprised  to  hear  us  speak  German 
and  Russian.  Rabbi  Israel,  in  whose 
house  Mr.  Jowett  and  Mr.  Fisk  lodged 
during  their  visit  to  Safet,  we  did  not 
meet.  His  wife  told  us,  that  his  cus- 
tom is,  when  great  solemnities  are 
near,  to  shut  himself  up,  and  see  no- 
body without  urgent  occasion.  The 
great  day  of  the  atonement  being  at 
hand,  prevented  his  seeing  us.  He  is 
supposed  to  have  been  engaged  in 
fasting,  prayer,  and  ablutions.  His 
wife  said,  however,  that  if  we  particu- 
larly wished  to  see  him,  she  would  call 
him.  I said  we  hoped  to  see  him 
another  time.  After  our  return  to  our 
lodgings  a number  of  persons  called, 
some  wanting  one  thing,  some  ano- 
ther. I was  able  to  supply  some  of 
them. 

As  I was  walking  through  the  street, 
I met  a young  German  Jew,  called 
Naphtali,  who  bought  the  Scrip- 
tures of  me  at  Beyrout  more  than 
once,  and  who  afterwards  repeatedly 
called  on  me  to  ask  if  I had  received 
any  new  supply.  So  anxious  was  he 
when  last  he  was  with  me,  that  he 
begged  me  to  sell  him  the  Hebrew 
Scriptures  I expected  before  their  ar- 
rival, lest  some  one  else  should  get 
them.  This  I refused,  but  promised 
to  let  him  know  as  soon  as  they  ar- 
rived. His  first  question,  when  he 
saw  me  to-day  was,  whether  I had  re- 
ceived any  Bibles,  aud  I was  able  to 
reply  in  the  affirmative,  having  found 
two  boxes  of  Hebrew  Bibles  in  Sour, 
deposited  in  the  Consulate  there  by 
Dr.  Dalton.  We  soon  agreed  on  the 
price,  and  he  took  all  I had,  sixty-four 
in  number,  and  would  have  been  glad 
of  more. 

Oc tuber  5. — The  Secretary  of  the 
Governor,  who  is  almost  the  only 
Christian  in  the  place,  and  to  whom 
I had  had  a letter  of  introduction, 
called  according  to  promise  to  take  us 
up  into  the  Castle.  Having  men- 
tioned to  the  Governor  that  two  Eng- 
lishmen had  arrived,  the  Governor 
said  he  should  like  to  see  us,  and  had 
therefore  ordered  the  Secretary  to  in- 
vite us  to  take  coffee  and  a pipe,  and 
see  the  Castle,  and  view  the  country 
from  the  top  of  it.  We  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  went  with  him  up  the 
Castle-hill,  which  is  considerably  above 


23  8 


PROCEEDINGS,  & C. JOURNAL  OF  MR.  J.  N1COLAYSON. 


the  city.  At  the  gate  of  the  Castle 
we  found  the  Governor  sitting,  judging 
the  people  who  were  standing  round 
him,  much  in  the  same  way,’  I ima- 
gine, that  Moses  did.  After  the  usual 
salutations,  he  directed  the  Secretary 
to  take  us  up  into  the  Castle,  and  we 
expected  to  have  had  a further  interview 
with  the  Governor,  but  we  were  dis- 
appointed. The  Secretary  afterwards 
conducted  us  to  the  top  of  the  tower, 
and  we  had  a most  beautiful  view  of 
the  country,  extending  even  to  the 
mountains  of  Judah.  The  lake  of 
Genesareth  lay  open  to  our  view,  and 
apparently  at  our  feet,  and  we  fondly 
recollected, and  rehearsed  the  history  of 
many  scenes,  in  which  our  Saviour  and 
his  Apostles  were  engaged  in  this  in- 
teresting spot.  At  the  southern  ex- 
tremity of  the  lake,  the  Jordan  issues 
out,  and  winding  along  the  narrow 
valley,  is  at  times  sheltered  from  the 
view  by  the  rocky  hills  which  bound 
it,  till  it  is  lost  behind  the  more  distant 
ones.  All  the  hills  of  Galilee,  the 
mountains  of  Ephraim,  and  the  heights 
of  Judah  seemed  to  spread  along  under 
us,  and  served  to  remind  us  of  many 
events  recorded  in  Scripture.  Among 
these,  Mount  Tabor  rears  its  head 
above  the  rest,  and  seems  to  prefer  its 
claim  to  the  title,  “ holy  mountain,” 
as  having  been  honoured  with  the 
display  of  the  Redeemer’s  glory  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh.  This  being 
our  last  day  of  remaining  here,  I 
endeavoured  to  look  out  for  a house, 
with  a view  to  a future  residence  in 
this  place,  and  mentioned  the  subject 
to  Yakooti.  He,  with  his  usual  boast- 
ing, told  me  that  he  was  the  only 
person  that  could  procure  me  a house. 
“No  Jew  (said  he)  will  or  can  let  his 
house  to  you  without  my  concurrence. 
We  have  an  agreement  with  the  Go- 
vernment, that  neither  Turk  nor  Chris- 
tian shall  be  permitted  to  live  in  our 
quarter,  except  by  our  consent.  But 
do  not  be  the  least  concerned,  for  I 
will  procure  and  secure  you  a good 
house  upon  advantageous  terms.”  I 
proposed  to  him  to  see  the  house 
Mr.  Lewis  occupied  for  a short  time. 
This,  according  to  his  description, 
was  very  uncomfortable,  and  he  pro- 
posed another,  which  he  said  was 
much  better,  but,  he  added,  he  knew 


one  still  better,  namely,  the  house  we 
were  lodging  in.  He  proceeded  to 
point  out  the  conveniences,  and  they 
were,  indeed,  so  obvious,  that  I en- 
gaged it  at  a very  moderate  rent,  for 
six  months,  and  thus  I have  succeeded 
in  accomplishing  what  I consider  a 
very  important  object. 

October  6. — The  apparent  distance 
of  Tiberias  from  hence,  when  viewed 
from  the  Castle,  is  a journey  of  three 
or  four  hours,  but  we  found  it  to  be  a 
tedious  ride  of  six  hours.  The  greater 
part  of  the  road  is  a constant  descent 
over  rocky  mountains,  and  narrow, 
sometimes  fruitful  vallies.  The  last 
two  hours  it  runs  beside  the  lake,  first 
over  a fine  plain,  covered,  at  present, 
with  Indian  corn,  which  has  escaped 
the  locusts,  and  then  on  the  side  of 
the  mountains  which  bound  to  the 
lake.  Never  did  I feel  the  heat  so 
oppressive  as  in  this  place;  nor  does 
the  lake  make  it  cooler,  for  the  water, 
though  fresh,  is  luke-warm,  and  even 
that  of  a little  streamlet  which  comes 
down  from  the  mountain  is  hardly 
better. 

October  7. — The  celebrity  of  the 
Jordan  in  Scripture,  and  the  later 
fame  of  the  hot  baths  of  Tiberias,  in- 
duced us  to  visit  the  place  where 
the  river  issues  from  the  lake.  The 
waters  were  very  shallow,  and  we 
passed  over  dry-shod,  walking  on  the 
stones  of  a ruined  bridge.  The  deep- 
est place  we  could  find  hardly  afforded 
us  water  to  bathe  in.  The  dryness  of 
the  season,  no  rain  having  fallen  for 
more  than  five  months,  and  the  snows 
of  Lebanon  having  already  ceased  to 
send  down  their  streams,  will  account 
for  this.  Besides,  the  river  gradually 
increases  in  its  course  towards  the 
Dead  Sea  ; so  that  one  can  easily  con- 
ceive of  it  to  be  a very  considerable 
stream  near  Jericho  in  the  rainy  sea- 
son, though  here,  and  in  this  season, 
it  hardly  deserves  the  name  of  a river. 
The  length  of  the  ruined  bridge  at  this 
place,  sufficiently  attests  its  ancient 
size;  and,  probably,  during  the  raiuy 
season,  and  the  melting  of  the  snows 
of  Lebanon,  in  the  summer  months,  it 
does  not  now  fall  much  short  of  its 
former  grandeur.  Visits  to  these 
places,  which  are  frequently  men- 
tioned in  Scripture  history,  are  very 


DOMESTIC. TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY. 


239 


interesting,  and  tend  to  impress  the 
mind  with  the  facts  of  Scripture  his- 
tory, and  the  description  there  given 
of  past  events,  or  prophetical  future 
times. 

While  sitting  in  the  shade  of  the 
ruined  bridge,  we  were  surrounded  by 
Bedouin  Arabs,  (the  true  sons  of  the 
desert,)  whom  we  had  an  opportunity 
of  conversing  with.  On  our  return 
from  this  interesting  spot,  we  visited 
the  hot-bath,  but,  having  ordered  the 
water,  which  had  cooled  by  standing 
some  hours,  to  be  let  out  and  fresh  let 
in,  we  found  it  so  hot  that  we  could 
not  venture  into  it. 

Oct.  8. — This  afternoon  we  spent 
among  the  Jews,  and  visited  their  syna- 
gogues, the  college,  and  the  second 
rabbi.  We  were  kindly  received,  and 
conversed  with  them  in  their  native' 
languages,  German  and  Russian.  The 
chief  synagogue  is  a pretty  large  mas- 
sive building,  near  the  lake.  The  col- 
lege, of  ancient  celebrity,  is  furnished 
with  a good  collection  of  Hebrew  and 
Rabbinical  folios,  and  it  adjoins  the 
chief  synagogue  ; the  precincts  are  oc- 
cupied by  several  schools  for  boys. 
The  state  and  character  of  the  Jews 
here  are  much  the  same  as  at  Safet, 
answering  to  St.  Paul’s  description, 
“Going  about  to  establish  their  own 
righteousness,  they  have  not  submitted 
to  the  righteousness  of  God,”  even 
“ Christ,  who  is  the  end  of  the  law  for 
righteousness,  to  every  one  that  believ- 
eih.”  We  visited  the  Greek  Catholic 
church  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  said 
to  be  built  on  the  spot  where  our  Sa- 
viour appeared  to  Peter  and  his  fellow- 
disciples  after  his  resurrection,  on  the 
memorable  occasion  of  the  miraculous 
draught  of  fishes ; but  we  did  not  come 
in  contact  with  the  priests.  One  of 
them,  indeed,  called  at  our  lodgings, 
but  we  being  at  dinner,  he  went  away, 
and  we  had  no  opportunity  of  con- 
versing. 

(To  be  continued.) 

DOMESTIC. 

TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY. 

The  Anniversary  Sermon  of  the 
London  Society  was  preached  at 


St.  Paul’s,  Covent  Garden,  on 
Thursday  evening,  May  8th,  by 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Thomason,  M.A. 
Minister  of  Trinity  Church,  Chel- 
tenham, and  late  of  Calcutta.  The 
subject  was  taken  from  Isaiah 
xxx.  18:  “ Therefore  will  the 
Lord  wait  that  he  may  be  gracious 
unto  you,  and  therefore  will  he  be 
exalted,  that  he  may  have  mercy 
upon  you  ; for  the  Lord  is  a God 
of  judgment:  blessed  are  all  they 
that  wait  for  him.” — The  collection 
amounted  to  £54>.  19s.  9d. 

The  Annual  Meeting  was  held 
at  the  Freemasons’  Hall,  on  Friday 
morning,  May  9.  The  Chair  was 
taken  at  twelve  o’clock,  by  Sir 
Thomas  Baring,  Bart.  M.P.,  Pre- 
sident, who  called  upon  the  Rev. 
C.  S.  Hawtrey,  Honorary  Secre- 
tary, to  open  the  Meeting  with 
prayer  for  the  Divine  blessing. 
The  Rev.  Basil  Woodd  addressed 
the  children  of  the  Society’s 
Schools,  who  then  sang  “ Hosanna 
to  the  Son  of  David,”  and  were 
dismissed.  An  abstract  of  the 
Report  was  read  by  the  Rev. 
J.  B.  Cartwright ; and  a statement 
of  the  accounts  was  laid  before  the 
Meeting  by  Sir  Robt.  Harry  Inglis, 
Bart.  M.P.,  the  Treasurer. 

The  following  Resolutions  were 
then  passed  unanimously. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Hon.  and 
Right  Rev.  Lord  Bishop  of  Lich- 
field and  Coventry;  seconded  by 
Right  Hon.  Lord  Bexley, 

I.  That  the  Report,  of  which  an 
Abstract  has  now  been  read,  be 
adopted  and  printed ; and  that  this 
Meeting  desire  to  acknowledge,  with 
thankfulness,  the  continued  evidence 
of  the  Divine  Favour,  which  has  been 
afforded  to  this  Society  during  the 
past  year. 

On  the  Motion  of  W.  Wilberforce, 
Esq.;  seconded  by  the  Hon.  and 
Rev.  G.  T.  Noel, 

II.  That  this  Meetiug  rejoice  to 
hear  that  the  Scriptures  circulated  by 


240 


DOMESTIC. NOTICE  OF  LECTURE  TO  JEWS. 


this  Society  in  Hebrew  and  Jewish 
have  been  extensively  read  by  the 
Jews, — confidently  believing  that  this 
will  be,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  an 
effectual  means  of  withdrawing  their 
attention  from  the  vain  traditions,  by 
which  they  have  hitherto  made  the 
Word  of  God  of  none  effect. 

On  the  M otion  of  the  Rev.  C . Simeon ; 
seconded  by  the  Rev.  H.  M'Neile, 

III.  That  this  Meeting  observe, 
with  gratitude  to  God,  that  there  i3 
great  encouragement  for  the  establish- 
ment of  additional  Schools  for  Jewish 
children  at  several  of  the  Missionary 
stations — that  there  is  a general  de- 
mand for  increased  Missionary  exer- 
tion— and  that  the  attention  and  en- 
quiries of  the  Jewish  nation  are 
powerfully  excited  on  the  subject  of 
Christianity — and  feel,  that  it  is  an 
imperious  duty  to  avail  themselves  of 
these  providential  openings,  to  the 
utmost  of  their  power. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Right  Hon. 
Sir  G.  H.  Rose ; seconded  by  the 
Rev.  D.  Wilson, 

IV.  That  this  Meeting  desire  to 
offer  their  cordial  thanks  to  those 
Clergymen  who  have  assisted  in 
visiting  the  Auxiliary  Societies  during 
the  past  year,  and  earnestly  hope  that 
the  Society  will  receive  increasing  aid  in 
this  important  department  of  their 
labours. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Rev.  E.  Biek- 
ersteth ; seconded  by  the  Rev. 
W.  Allen, 

V.  That  the  thanks  of  this  Meeting 
be  given  to  the  Patrons,  Vice-Patrons, 
President,  Vice-Presidents,  Treasurer, 
Secretaries,  Physician,  Surgeon,  and 
Committee  of  this  Society; — that  the 
Officers  be  requested  to  continue  their 
services; — that  the  Rev.  C.  Simeon, 
the  Rev.  Basil  Woodd,  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Marsh,  and  the  Rev.  David  Ruell,  be 
appointed  Honorary  Life  Governors 
of  this  Society,  having  rendered  it 
most  essential  services  ; — that  the 
thanks  of  this  Meeting  be  also  given 
to  the  Rev.  Thos.  Thomason,  for  his 
Sermon  preached  last  night  at  the 
Parish  Church  of  St.  Paul,  Covent 


Garden,  and  that  he  be  requested  to 
allow  it  to  be  printed  with  the  Report  ; 
and  that  the  following  gentlemen  be 
the  Committee  for  the  year  ensuing, 
with  power  to  fill  up  their  number  : — 
Lieut.-Col.  Latter 
Capt.  Geo.  Gambier,  R.N. 

Wm.  Lardner,  Esq.  M.D. 
Messrs.  James  Barry 
John  Bay  ford 
J.  S.  Brooks 
H.  C.  Christian 
Wm.  Harding 
Thos.  Hartley 
Chas.  Holehouse 
G.  T.  King 
William  Leach 
John  Mortlock 
Francis  Paynter 
John  Cole  Symes 
James  Taylor 
Henry  V.  Tebbs 
Edward  Wyndham. 

On  the  Motion  of  the  Hon.  and 
Rev.  B.  Noel;  seconded  by  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  Stewart, 

VI.  That  the  thanks  of  this  Meeting 
be  given  to  Sir  Thos.  Baring,  Bart., 
for  his  able  conduct  in  the  Chair. 

The  Meeting  concluded  with 
singing  “ Praise  God  from  whom,” 
See. 

The  collection  at  the  doors 
amounted  to  £87.  15s. 

The  amount  of  the  contributions 
received  for  the  year  ending 
March  31,  1828,  was  £12,727. 
7s.  3d. 

NOTICE. 

The  Lecture  to  the  Jews  will  be 
preached  at  the  Episcopal  Jews’  Cha- 
pel, Cambridge  Heath,  on  Sunday 
evening,  June  1. 

Subject. 

The  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  a 
Proof  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
is  the  Promised  Messiah. — 
Joel  ii.  28,  29. 

*»*  Jews  and  Jewesses  are  earnestly 
invited  to  attend,  and  seats  will  be  pro- 
vided for  them. 


LITERARY  NOTICES. 

Lately  published, 

The  Words  of  Scripture  concerning  the  Glorious  Advent  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the 
Restoration  of  Israel. 

The  second  volume  of  the  Missionary  Journal  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Wolff,  Missionary  to  the  Jews. 
The  List  of  Contributions  to  the  London  Society  is  deferred  till  next  month. 


for 


ixsr  ^ 


for  use  in  Library  v-pJ 


00314  8188