The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-06-20
The DoQaldsoqviI|e CPiie&'
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Written for the CHIEF.
VIEW or JEWISH HISTORY:
The Israelites, or ancient Jews, were
those distinguished people who we're favored
blythe immediate care of the Almighty and
cQndaeted by His especial guidance to
Judea, q place of residence promised to
their remot6 ancestors. In consequence OF
their obstinacy, idolatry and wickedtess,
and more particularly for the rejection of
their Messiah they we're subdued by the
Romans after sustaining siege in their
metropolis, Jerusalem, unparalleled in the
annals Of history fdf its distresses, calami
ties and slaughter. Jerusalem was reduced
to ruins, the Jewish government was to-
tally subverted and the surviving people
were dispersed over most parts of the
world. Their descendants still remain un-
mixed with the rest of mankind, and are
marked by theiroriginal features of national
REGULARITY; they adhere with the most zeal
Gus attachment to the religion of their
forefathers and cherish the hopes of restor-
alton to their former prosperity and coun-
try by means of glorious, triumphant
deliverer.
They pursue with the most watchful care
the sacred books of their ancient writer's.
And astonishing, very astonishing 1t is to
observe that in the prophetical parts of
these several books are contained all the
important events, before mentioned, of
their extraordinary history. Their particular
conduct and the vicissitudes of their national
affairs were predicted by their prophets,
and more especially by Moses, their great
law-giver, in the infancy of the world, at
the vast distance of thirty three centuries
from the present time The accomplish
fnent Of these predictions bears the fullest
aud Most striking evidence Of the truth and
inspiration of their prophets and illustrates
the dispensations of Providence to His
chosen people. "'rhese sacred books con-
tain likewise predictions the most exact of
the character, Office and actions of the
Messiah of the Jews, the great law-giver of
the Christians, the appointed Savior of the
WORLD"
Such interesting circumstances as these.
in addition to the peculiar nature of the
Jewish polity, considered as a divine insti-
tuition, the curious manners and customs
and the memorable actions of the descend
anis of Abraham, the most ancient people
of whom we have any authentic accounts,
combine to place these books first in order
of importance as in order of time. If we
consider the great antiquity, the subjects
and characters of the Writers of these books
and the place which they occupy in the or
der Of general history, particularly as they
stand connected with the Christian revela-
ton, they will be found to deserve our very
earnest attention.
THE ANTIQUITY OF THE SCRIPTURES.
No writings Of any other nation can be
brought in competition, in respect to an
tiquity, with those of the Jews. In proof of
this assertion it may be remarked that
Moses lived more than thousand years
before the age of Herodotus, who ia repu-
ted the father of Grecian history. As an
other proof of the priority of the Jews to
the Greeks, it appears by the confession OF
the Greek writer's that they received the
letters Of their alphabet from the Phoeni-
cians, and there are sufficient grounds for
believing that the Ph@nicians derived the
art Of writing from the Jews. The learned
and acute Porphyry, who was an equal
enemy to Jews and Christians and much
attached to the learning of Greece, candidly
acknowledged that Moses and the prophets
who Immediately succeeded him fourished
hearty a thousand pears before any of the
Greek philosophers.
The books which compose the canon OF
the jewish scriptures have the concurrence
Of all antiquity in favor Of their originality,
They were delivered 10 the Hebrews in their
own language, with every mark of genuine
ness, by the persons whose names they
bear, and those persons by recording
contemporary events constantly appealed to
we'll known proofs of their regard to truth.
The prophetieal books in particular contain
the evidences Of their inspiration, as well
as of the integrity and piety of the authors.
The external proofs are clear and strong,
as we'll as the internal, in consequence OF
which all these books have always been
preserved with the greatest care, and have
been held in the highest veneration.
It is no less curious than important to
remark. the traditions preserved in the
pagan world which confirm the truth of the
Pentateuch, or the five books written by
Moses. The Chaldeans preserved the his
tory of their Aisurus, who was the Noah OF
Moses. The Egyptians asserted that Mer-
curry had engraved his doctrine upon col
umns which had resisted the violence of the
deluge. The Chinese historians record that
Peyrun, a mortal beloved and perfected by
the gods, saved himself in vessel from the
general inundation. The Hindoos say thai
the waters of the ocean spread over the
surface of the earth, except one mountain
to the north: that one woman and seven
men saved themselves, on this mountain
with certain plants and animals. They add
In speaking of their God Vishnou, thai
at the deluge he transformed himself into
fish and conducted the vessel which pre-
served the relics Of the human race This
vessel is likewise a subject of tradition in
the northern parts of the world. (Suli
vans View of Nature)
That the sacrifice Of animals was neces
sary to appease the offended gods, was {
religious tenet very general and very an
cient. The account of the long lines of tn,
patriarchs is confirmed by writers of vari
GUS countries. Their primitive manners
and their mode of performing Sacrifices
and Offering prayers to their great Autho