The New York herald., 1845-10-18
Professor Wines sixth Lecture on the He
brew Common wealth, at Clinton Hall.

Professor Wines Sixth Lecture the He
brew Common wealth, at Clinton Hall.
Professor WINES commenced his lecture by say
ing, it had been shown in the preceding that the
laws OF Moses were, both in substance and form,
eminenty democratic-that even after the substltu-
ton of the monarchy for the republic, the Kings
were, for long time, rather popular magistrates,
than arbitrary and despotic sovereigns. The OBJ
ect of the present and succeeding lectures was to
show the great principles of civil and criminal ju-
risprudence embodied in the constitution of the
great lawglver. The Mosaic code is by far the
most ancient body OF laws that has survived the ra-
wages OF time, and 1t Is the earliest written code Of
| winch we have any certain information. Yet il
was delivered In a state of high perfection. The
precepts OF the decalogue alone contain sublime
than all the prone writings OF antiouy could
afford. This could not be If Moses had written simply
as man without the inspiration of the Supreme Being
Law is the measure of rght-t gives every a rule
of action Every just law is dictated by and be-
nevoenceits object the greatest good Of the great
est number" SdLus popuii suptema ler. God himself
therefore, descended Mount Sinai and gave the law
to Moses, which contains every essential principle
human duty 1t had an immediate reference te the He
brew people; but not to them alone. On the contrary
it affected and designed to affect the whole human
law contemplated man about forming q community,
and laid down rules not merely fit for individual
as Indispensable prerequisites ofa social state
TheProfessor here passed some observations relative
to the constitution OF courts and the forms Of Judicial
procedure in among the Jews. Each city had its
municipal authorities Of which court for the trial
of civil and criminal constituted essential part
The number of Judges, however. was not fixed. jose
phus mentions seven, without distinguishing between
the large and small towns Care taken that every
should enjoy the benefit Of regular nisration
Justice without going far to seek it. and without great
most final; in those of great magnitude appeal
lay to the National Court al Jerusalem But little is said
about the mode OF judicial procedure Society in its
nfancy-the people bound together by almost in
dissoluble attachments which had been strengthened
such state of society to have prescribed legal forms
would have been nothing less than teach the people
both the vices and devices" Of which they hap
PLY ignorant He enjoins most poinedy that the judg
ment shall be given without fear favor The place
holding the Courts among the sraelites was the city
gate The parties themselves appeared to conduct and
generally managed, their own causes In where
life was involved two Witnesses besides the and
nformer necessary to conviction and it made
obligatory the witnesses themselves to bear the
hand in the punishment of the crmina-the intention
lite DEATH In ordinary trials one witness was su
hcient The witnesses were examined separately, II
An oath IN ali uc
been said and many scrupes have obtained under thu
Christian dspensaon in reference to oaths The grea
apostle Of fthelGenes however has laid dow the maxim
that oath is the test OF truth The scruples appear
have originated in consequence Of misconstruction
at all" have been thought by some to forbid all udicia
eathsby Others to relate to their frequent and habua
had entered into all judicial trials The Pharees had
taught that oath was binding unless the Of the
| supreme Being was mentioned. Thus man might
by the king by jerusalem by the hair of his
head etc. and break his oath without committing PERU
ry. twas against corrupt gloss Of this kind that
Saviour directed this part Of his DISCOURSE He meant to
impress upon all men to avoid this species of chcanery
and be true to their simple yea and nay. Thathe die
fact that he testified himself under oath trial. to hi
messiahship and divinity. The Professor dwelt OIL
this subject at some length, and mentione
the Of Boaz in the book of Ruth, wher
there were lawyers, jurors advocates HI
then spoke of the original law relative property
Moses legslated for people who had their property 4
gain by the swordhs object was the equal distribution
of the conquered territory among his followers which
actual sale of land among the Hebrews. This wise
law poverty and served to attach
to his native soil The object of the jubilee put
endto all debts and strife The Sabbatcal year also
established when ordained that the land should
main faow for the succeeding year. This for both
moral and agricultural interests The original law was
that only the could succeed to the estates of the
father this however, vas slightly altered on the peti
ton Of the daughters, who were allowed to succeed
where there provided that she did not
ry out OF the tribe to which she belonged The influence
OF the pararchal governments is seen in the obedience
the children The duty of sons ceased and that
Of the daughters only by marriage Fathers chose wives
for their The professor here alluded to the
excellent maxims contained in the laws of Moses par
culary those relative to the stranger the widow
atheress The law which made the wages of the laborer
payable before the going down of the forbddng
keep the Of his debtor when found astay
&c all prove Moses man OF large and magnanimous
spirit No ancient modern code is considerate
the rights and feelings of human nature breahes
pure spirit for the children of poverty and sorrow
| Professor Vines next lecture will be delivered on
Monday evening" and will treat of the Jewish laws rela
tive TO usury debt, &c. and the laws respecting