The Evening critic., 1882-06-05
The Mission of Judaism.
Hebrew Leader, June ..


1t is impossible to interpret tho profound
historic interest which attaches to the jewish
name, except on the ground OF special and
grand destiny in the purposes of Almighty
Providence. Four thousand years ago the
Jews were a nation, and they constitute dis
tinctly recognized nation at this day, though
without a country and without political organ
ization. For two thousand years they have
been dispersed over all quarters of the globe,
and have many times been pursued with mer
ciless hostility. But they have not yet per-
ished, have not been swallowed up by sur
rounding populations, not been slowly fused
down and rendered indistinguishable from the
years OF existence and two thousand of per-
secution, they remain a distinct recognized
people, having preserved their language,
their laws, their worship, to this day. The
fact is perfectly alone in all history. Not an
other such example can be pointed out In the
entire annals Of the world.
The key to the Interpretation OF all the
peculiarities Of ancient Judaism lies here, as
we venture to Judge. An ignorant and bar
barous people were to be disciplined for
lofty and Godlike mission, OF the real nature
of which, its mystery and grandeur, they
were unaware. By means OF a stringent form
OF worship, which affected every hour OF the
day and every aspect Of their life, they were
brought in peculiar relation with the one true
God, and taught to believe that they were His
people. By succession Of never ending sacred
rites, every one Of which they had to observe
scrupulously, they were not or ly habituated
to the thought of God, but inspired with pro-
found awe Of Him, and educated In the
His unceasing observation, and the
perpetual reverence which He demanded.
From age to age heroic souls were born among
them TO govern, deliver, rebuke or punish
them, and to reform their institutions and
their manners. Gifted sages were raised up to
inspire them with exalted and pure concep-
tions OF Jehovah. Holy men of God, historians
and psalmists and prophets and seers uttered
their divine messages through the length and
breadth OF the land. To the Jews as to no other
people under Heaven, were committed the or
| acles of God. Without philosophy, without
| science, without literature, except OF a sacred
| kind, the writings Of their inspired men con-
tain for the world the largest amount any
where TO be found of what the world to this
day acknowledges to be the best and truest In
divine religion.
ingly as the century has advanced, enlight
ened research has been laboriously directed
| TO the Vedas and Pusanas and Shasters of In
| dfa, and to the Aresta and Zend-Aresta OF Per
sia. There are Divine passages in these an
| cient writingsl There are beautiful, and pure
| and true sayings! But impartial scholars vii
| not dispute that these are few and short, and
| are found in the midst OF a mass of what car
be called by no filter name than Pagan rub
| bish. Scarcely havewo been touched by some
sentence OF elevated and holy thought, thar
| we are dragged down to coarse, gross poly
| theism, to stupid, childish legendary tales, Of
these form the staple and substance OF tn,
sacred books. The Jewish Scriptures, on th'
| other hand, are not only more simple ant
| more clear, but their teachings persistent ant
uniform. With constant voice they proclaim
sometimes in simple terms, but often in Ian
| guage OF SURPRISING magnihcence and sut
| Unity, the eternity, the omnipresence, tn
omniscience, the spirituality, the holiness an
the wisdom, OF the one true Jehovah. An
above all, In passages without number, and 4
| forms the most tender and the most touching
they consistently proclaim the forgiving mere
OF the holy God.