Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1846-01-31

Continued. J

O1U1y Ass
(Cbmtinaed.
The second point therefore, comes next
TO be considered. Why did God prohibit
the taking Of interest among the Jews?
This point is not material to be considered,
farther than this, that if the command can
erationally accounted for on other grounds,
such an account adds weight to the con-
clusion to which we came in the first point.
namely: that the taking Of interest was not
wrong Of its own nature. The Jews were
select people, considered as one family,
over whom God presided as Father; and
from God they received all their property,
their lands being parcelled out to each in
small portions. God did not seek to make
them wealthy nation, but a holy one. He
had the power to make them hold their
property in common, and in as much as He
was in their midst daily, and being the ow-
ner Of the manor, as it were, they being
his children, and under his own govern
ment, it would be natural that He should
prefer they should prosper as ,Chole. In
as much as God governed BY such prox-
Unity, and was owner Of the whole, no one
could, in fact, be said to own any thing,
SO that the taking Of interest by one Jew
from another, would be exacting interest
on Gods property which He administered
for the good Of the whole. Besides these
facts, it was necessary that this people
should have such peculiarities, as to Be
distinguished from all the world. Then
again, their commerce was Of no account
their money as circulating medium hard
ly known. relatively speaking, and each
one produced only about enough for him.
self. Why was circumcision orderedf
Why were the Jews ordered, when ser.
want would not leave on the year of iubi-
lee, to bore his ear with an aul against the
door post? Certainly, no one pretends tc
say, the neglect to do these things among
the Gentiles was sin. All are accounted
for, on the principle, that God, in his wis.
dom. deemed it proper for the preservation
of the Jews distinct from all other people,
that their manners and customs should be
different from all others. Consequently
these command should have no weight ir
considering usury laws. They never were
intended to 60 beyond the borders Of the
Holy Land, and If they had, they have dis.
appeared in the new light Of the Gospel
dispensation.
We say they have disappeared in the
light Of the new dispensation, for nothing
is more plain than this, that the Jewish
laws are not conaifed morally binding OF
US, any fafth( - they have been
re-enacted By the code Of morals adopted
in the New Testament. But that the com.
mands were not originally given because
the taking Of interest was wrong Of itself
appears fully from our previous consider.
atoms. And it may be safely laid down
that whenever usury has been hinted at in
the New Testament. it is alluded to in the
sense we generally understand it, that is
where more than fair compensation 70,
the use Of money has been received. Sc
also, whenever us,uy is spoken Of in the
Old Testament, aside from the immediate
commands Of God, it has been SO spoken ol
with reference to the special commands
which had been given. After the com.
mands had been given, to take interes,
would have been sin because transgres-
sion Of the law. Consequently whenever
the prophets spoke Of it, or whenever any
other sacred writer alluded to it, He would
as naturally reprobate the taking Of inter.
est as any other transgression Of the divine
law. But the taking Of interest not being
wrong previous to these commands, as
matter of course, it ceased to be wrong as
. SoOu 90 tuOoV SOAmouuS WCIC dOIOSdtCu Dy
the new dispensation. On the same prin-
ciple, it never was wrong except among
those to whom the commands were given
consequently it was always right prac.
tice in all the world besides among the Jews
All difficulties from this quarter being thu.
removed, we shall be at liberty to pursue
this subject in our next, unincumbercd BY
any sacred injuctions, and look at the ques.
ton simply as matter Of police regula.
tion.
/ Naval Forces for Oregon.
/ The Manchester Guardian states thai
Admiral Seymour is very soon to be upor
or near the coast of Oregon with one shiE
. Of 80, one Of 81, one Of Is, and one Of lf
guns. The same paper says that the Amer.
leans are rapidly reinforcing their squad.
ron in the Pacific. Down to recent pc
riod it consisted Of two first class frigates
of60 guns, two large corvettes and choon.
er. 1t has recently been reinforced by an.
other corvette, the Portsmouth, and two
mora 1arro fr;oatos the Rarifan and fhf