New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-10-14

PROFESSOR WISEs's LEcTUREs.-The fourth lee
ture OF this course on the Jerish Institutions was
given last evening at Clinton Hall The natural
order OF discussion, the lecturer said, would be to
proceed now to an analysis of the Constitution. But
it would be first necessary to inquire whether, be
sides the common ends OF government, there were
any special purposes to be answered by the Mosaic
code If so, the organization Of the government
would be affected by them. There was unsvodably
superadded purpose-the overthrow and suppression OF
idolafry. Poytheisrn had now reached It's hight and
spread its deadly shadow over the earth. II was hor
nd system,-a mos, prolific source OF immortality. lu
deities themselves were stained with crimes that
sent mortal to the penlentary. There was scarcely
member of the Oympan Senate that would be admitted
into decent society among men. Could II be expected
that the virtue Of the devoee would exceed that OF the
divinity.
Gods partial, chsngefll, passionate, unjust,
Whose Attributes We're rage, revenge, and lust
could be the authors Of the contrary virtues In their
worshipers Their example would always prove more
powerful than their precepts with deprayed human ma
ture.
II was the purpose of the true God among his chosen
people. to put stop to these direfu evils But what
means adequte the end Ia free state thought
and opinion must not be ieteI ID The crimes resulting
from ldolay indeed such no freedom Of thought
or opinion could Justify. But how could the root OF the
evil be reached How punished. without inrn ging the
great principle Of civil freedom that mere opinions
be visited with the pains and penalties OF the civil
law,
The answer 10 this question would lead 10 an exami-
nation OF the singular feature of the Mossc code
the Theocrscy. What the Theocracyi Many per-
supposed ito be constitution Of government. diff
ierns fundamentally from all others The word ever
This was q mistake. monarchy. srstocrscy. or a
democracy would admit the theocrsc principle. Many
nay, most Of the ancient governments claimed 10 be
theocrac. The laws supposed 10 be suggested BY
some deity their affairs regulated by and
500 hsayers and prodgies and porents were fami-
liar as civil edicts.
The Jewish theocrscy. viewed 10 Us adtH design,
organization TO prevent and punish idolaty God
assumed the ute and alton Of King Of the Hebrew
State, tina; idolstry might become crime against the
Common wealth might become IN fact ciasa ldesae
jesta;s and SO be justly punishable capital offence
al Governments agreeing in this that is the
greatest OF civil crmes Thus the treating Of idolafry
and every thing akin IL capital offence in the Jew
ish state freed from the reproach OF violating the
nights Of conscience and freedom of opinion and the
naicton Of the highest penalty known TO the could
no longer even 70 the eye OF prejudice and rregon be
regarded in the light Of nqasitorsl tyranny The lee
turer also explained most satisfactorily the for
apparently trivial laws. which ndels in their L.
norance wont to ri;cule unworthy Of God-such
as TaoE sAdk round us Of Thy kedd-whch
manner OF cutting the hair heather custom and
supposed essential TO securing Divine blessings.
Next lecture at Clinton Hall, Wednesday evening