On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
Mr . Thrush lias very properly introduced iuto these Letters to the Jews , a statement of the evidences on which the divine authority of Christianity rests ; and separated as they are from all extraneous and contradictory matters , we cannot but suppose that if the author can obtain for his book a pernsal by
intelligent Jews , it must produce a favourable impression . We ourselves are able to say , that we know of one instance of an Israelite , occupying an important official station in his own nation , who has been induced , at our desire , to peruse the work , and who has risen from it with a feeling of satisfaction , and with an expression of thanks .
The order in which our author has arranged his proofs is the following : — - The internal Evidence of Christianity—The character of Jesus an evidence of the . truth of his mission—The completion of various prophecies of the Old Testament , an evidence that Jesus was the Messiah—The completion of various prophecies of the New Testament , an evidence that Jesus was the Messiah .
In the two following letters ( the sixth and seventh ) , our author proposes an objection , which consists in the non-fulfilment of certain prophecies , which relate to the cessation of war , and the universal cultivation of the spirit of peace . Our author meets the objection , by an expression of his opinion , ( p . 64 , )
that " thinking men of all religious creeds , appear to be getting sick of the miseries of war ; and the religion of Christiauity which , in early ages , triumphed over the obstacles opposed to it by Pagan institutions , begins again to correct the false notions of military glory that have so long prevailed and excited ao baneful an influence over the
minds of men in all nations , and in all ranks of society ; " by the admission that Christians themselves have apostatized , ( p . 76 , ) and " that even the pure spiritual worship of Jehovah has been greatly impeded by those who profess themselves to be its only advocates . " The last letter contains the author ' s thoughts in proof of the position , that the Jews are destined to be the sole
finally successful preachers of the religion of the Messiah . We are inclined to rest the probability rather on the reason of the thing , than on the application , possibly somewhat doubtful , of Scripture prophecy . We do not by any means venture to say , that it may not derive evidence even from that source . That the members of our Establish-
Untitled Article
ment are not likely to be the iristrnmenta , is forcibly maintained in the following paragraph : ' Of all the efforts made by ecclesiastical establishments to convert Jews and Gentiles , none seem so hopeless as those of the Church of England . That a church with a clergy more learned ; with funds greater than any , perhaps greater than all the national churches of Europe ;
with bequests from pious men in former ages to an uuknown amount ; with forced contributions from all who dissent from its doctrines , whether be . lievers or unbelievers , thus desecrating its temples ; with an army ( though not under its command ) ready to crush or overawe its adversaries , in one part of the empire ;* with schools richly endowed under its direct controul ; with two universities more learned and rich
than any in the world , forming an integral part of its constitution , and exercising an immense influence over the minds of youth ; that a church placed in such highly favourable circumstances , and not able to advance , or even hold its ground at home , should indulge the expectation of extending its empire in distant countries , seems difficult to
account for ou common principles of action . Of all missionary speculations , that of the church seems to promise the least success . "—P . 83 . We take our leave of this interesting publication , from the perusal of which we have derived various pleasures , by expressing our sincere desire that the political , the moral * and the religious
condition of the Jews , may receive from the frieuds of liberty and truth that attention which they deserve . Their political condition especially , is the subject , too long by far neglected , which ought now to concentrate universal regard . Let all parties , however differiqg in the interpretation of the Bible , agree in the en * deavour to repay to this ancient , injured ) and interesting people , some of the
benefits which the civilized world has most certainly derived from them . Let us be no , longer contented to see our elder brethreu , the seed of the Patriarchs , the children of the prophets , the redeemed from Egypt , the possessors q { long-lost but essential truth , degraded by odiou * statutes , destitute of the inalienable rights of citizens in a British land , anil deprived of all reasonable chance of reformation j but let our superior ligb * >
* We rejoice uufeignedly that this cannot now be said . Rev .
Untitled Article
570 Critical Notices .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1829, page 570, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2575/page/50/
-