New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-06

-. u.,,ors ,nore ~ medieval than modern
e,v ond 4, has already been the ruin Of SO
many brilliant historical gucsses S" W. eh"h'
Notwithstanding the force Oh W" oienO
materialsm, should have been wv cautious
10 err In the manner. INC ".'ic 10
maintain consistency in the rejection oi every
thing suggesting supersensual guidanoe' AGENCY
or jnterpositon u.s. Of course, quite 'n','"s'"ie'
norort,e,ess the object may be gained at too
great a cost. or,
The ferocty of the prophets revolts NJ hcnan
In their struggle with royalty nc o"serVes'
1T is generally royalty which is IN 'i'o r'eht.
Their counscls are always the most 'n'p'"c'pie
and the least practical No quarter ,or une
enemy: no alliance with the COIN pore'e"crs)'
the right Of war pushed TO its herccs' cohse-
ouencea To kill all without pity seemed 10 them
the ideal of warrior of Jahve 10 spare the
vanquished. to obey feeling OF hun'"niS' Is
the worst of crimes. In reading these mucous
histories one is often compelled TO say '"ppiiy
IT is not true These stories have been composed
at q later period by fanatics who have 'honght
20 honor their ancestors by 1mputlng THESE
atrocities to them Whether NJ. Renah hiinseit
believes that the histories are not true he iais
to say Yet the frenzy OF the jewish Piople.s
was to have fruits of an unexpected KIM lib
people is vowed TO fanaticism, tha' !" o""r
Int fauatic,sm IN i+s hands will not be purely
destructive ne in the case OF Islam. BY mira
c1e ~ which there is only one other example,
the Reformation Of the Sixteenth Century -'c"sn
fanaticism will eventually develop INTO tne inoS'
liberal of phenomeDa-the religion OF "o" ooii'-
mon to the whole human race Inc s'russie
NJ tho prophcts under Ahab and their triumph
under Jehu NJ. Rcnan Re CARDS as the most
decisive event In the history of Israel IL Is
the beginning Of the chain. which, in 900 years,
will find its last link in Jesus. JahVesm,
which, at Jerusalem, only cult became. IN
tie school of the northern prophets, rchgous
ferment OF the hi2hcet potency. Inc prophet
ism Of the North no cniy created hila'I 10
created Moses; it created sacred history; IL
created the first rudiments of the Thora; IL was
consequently the point of departure Tor Juda-
ism and for Christianity
The chapters which follow are occupied with
the conception and execution OF the sacred
books the Book Of the Covenant, and the Deca-
logue OF the latter NJ. Renan saws: In the
Decalogue, in fact is accomplished the return
of Israel to the pure cult, to that monothelsm
adumbrated in the beginning OF the patti
archal period and from which the people had gone
astray in adopting National God. Jahye and
Elohim are henceforth one. Jahve IS no longer
solely the God OF Israel. lie Is the God of
HEAVEN, Of the earth, Of the human race. He
loves good, and ordains it. He is the true God.
Thus Israel succeeded in deriving truth from a
negation." The Temple, too, had its part in the
great reformation. :" The Temple Of Jerusalem,
which seemed the greatest evil from the point
of view of pure Elohism, ended by aiding the
DEVELOPMENT OF the religious idea. The Decalogue
was probably written in the chambers which
surrounded the Temple. Many tmo in its
history Israel has come to love what it began
by hating, and has made that contribute TO
progress which seemed most opposed to it. Even
Jahve has bent under this genius OF IRON An
idol, false god, is become, under the constant
operation Of an intense volition. the only true
God,- who is served by just conduct and
honored by purity of heart. The ten words
of Jehave for all nations. and will be for all
ages, the Commandments Of Cod"
The concluding chapters Of the second volume
are concerned with the development of what
NJ Rcnan calls rophetism an examination OF
the sacred poetry of the period, and O sketch
of the secular history OF Judah and Israel down
to the capture of Samaria, from which Judah
escaped temporarily through u treason 10 her
brother of the North, which was not indeed
needed to demonstrate the hostility long existing
between the two Kingdoms NJ. Renan hkcns the
prophets to the modern press, in several interest
ing and suggestive passages They were, he
maintains, true journalists, though they neither
wrote ncr printed. He gives graphic picture
of the methods taken by them to bring their
opinions before the public. No artiicc was dis
dained that would attract general attention.
The greatest prophet was not too digniiied tC
practise such tricks and even bulooncrics a:
modern falli,s" and street-corner charatans
employ to collect crowd, and when the crowd
had assembled to laugh at his lcgerdemain or rude
| tests or risque anecdotes OF the fullest Favored
| Oriental type, the prophet would unburden him
self Of his message In its dcliverance, more
over, great care was taken to produce the strong
est effect Emphasis elocution, sorority, rhythm
all were attended to. Thus was public opinion
| both formed and guided, and power exercised
which in Samaria at least rulers after Jehu dare
| to try conclusions with The prophets however
were more than. journalists. They were Anar
chists. They declaimei perpctualy against the
rich against social inequalities, against com
merce and trade ana industry and nationa
progress of every kind. There can be no doubt
that their teachings answerable for mucf
of the insurrcctionary and insubordinate spirit
which subsequently wrought the complete ruiz
| and Standardization Of Israel.
The work of the prophets did not end here
in truth il had hardly begun when Samaria fell
for it's greatest effects were to be obtained be
yond the confines Of Judea. In the words o
NJ. Remain =" The cry for justice uttered b,
the old prophets will not be stiied. Greco
will found a secular society, free in the sens
used by the economists, without diminishing tn
sufferings OF the weak due 10 the pressure of tn
social enterprise Prophetism will emphasiz
the just protests OF the poor: it Will under
mine in Israel the army and the kingdom bu
it will establish the synagogues, the church,
those fraternitics which from the time OF Thee
dosius, were to become all powerful, and COVER
the world" And NJ. Renan closes a passas
with the possibly malicious remark During ii
middle ages the laundering voice OF the prophet
interpreted by st. Jerome, will frighten the RE
and powerful, and hinder in the interest OF n
poor or pretended poor, all industrial, sclentif
and National Development
Tia nrecont voluiua concludes with review