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We commence, in this number, the publication of a series of letters
on the New Testament, which have been existing in MS form for more than
seventy years. They came, before the commencement of the American
Revolution, into the possession of the late Solomon Simson, of New York,
who had them copied carefully, before he returned them. We have made
diligent inquiry of the surviving members of the Simson family; but we
have not been able to learn any thing father than the above concerning
their author, or the manner in which they came in the possession of Mr.
S. We regret this exceedingly; but we indulge the hope, that some
persons in England may be able to throw some light on the subject; and
we hereby request of our friends in that country to favour us with any
information which the publication of these letters may call forth.
About the name of Dea we are somewhat doubtful whether it be
the correct appellation of the author, who was evidently a Portuguese
Jew; since we know of no family of that name now in England. May it have
been Dias? This seems to us to be more probable, still it is mere
surmise.
Part of the series was published in the Jew, edited by S. H. Jackson,
of New York, about twenty years ago; but that useful periodical was
suspended before the whole series was printed. Another small portion
appeared in the Christian Inquirer, edited by B. Bates, of the same city;
but a comprehensive part has never yet been printed. We hope that our
Magazine will live long enough to enable us to insert the whole, which
we mean to do, in the very words of the MS., only altering the
phraseology and spelling, where they have become somewhat antiquated,
and with such occasional notes as the subject may seem to require.
We call the attention of our readers to the following remarks by a
correspondent as fully explaining, not alone the justice but the
necessity of giving publicity to some defence of our views on the
subject in dispute. We know that in the main these arguments have been
advanced frequently; but whilst our opponents, (we use the term in a
friendly sense,) urge their old views upon our notice, it is but fair
that we meet them with arguments which have been found unanswerable for
so many centuries.
For the
Occident.
No apology is deemed necessary for laying
the following letters before the public, in a country where every man's
right to publish his sentiments is held as sacred as his right to think.
It cannot be thought surprising that a part of the community, who have
long been treated as the outcasts of society, should feel anxious to
vindicate themselves from what they consider misrepresentation. It were
to be wished that in conducting a defence of this nature, all allusion
to commonly received opinions could have been avoided; that religious
discussions should have been laid aside, and the rights of the parties
settled upon the broad principles of equality. This, however, must
always remain impossible, where the party attacking grounds its charges
upon theological distinctions, and claims a superiority in this respect
over its opponents.
The "American Society for
Meliorating the Condition of the Jews" has assumed this
superiority, and upon that assumption, it has erected a barrier, which,
if not broken down, must for ever expose the Jews in this country to
obloquy and contempt, for their adherence to that form of worship which
alone they consider divine.
No one will deny that the Jews have as
just a claim to protection as the Christians; but if laws are passed
authorizing the latter to combine as a body politic to deprive the
others of their religion; if there exists a union of men, honourable
from their high standing, whose very formation as a society gives
countenance to the prevailing calumnies; if such a combination continues
to disseminate its pernicious principles: it is impossible that this
persecuted people can ever obtain that standing in the community to
which their equality in the eyes of the law and their moral worth justly
entitle them. It is therefore hoped, that no one will take offence for
inserting the subjoined letters, wherein the claims of the gospels are
candidly examined; since, if we are called upon to give up our religion,
it is but fair that we should discuss first why we should pursue such a
course.
ABRAHAM.
LETTER 1.
Dear Sir,
No distance between us shall hinder me, now having
leisure, from satisfying your curiosity, and sending you my opinion
concerning primitive Christianity, and the foundation on which it is
established. I believe, when you required this task of me, you little
thought of the trouble and pain I should be at; and I have no doubt, but
you expected I should so this in about half a dozen letters. If so, you
will find yourself greatly mistaken, for as the subject is extensive,
you'll find that the consideration of one thing sill insensibly lead me
to another. Your curiosity, I am afraid, will cost you dear, and you are
likely to pay for postage more than perhaps any thing I can say will be
worth.
In the course of these letters I shall say, myself, as
little as possible, neither shall I assert any thing but under the
authority of Scripture, or of some eminent authors. Of these there are
three, (all in Spanish.) The first is "Fortification de la Fé,"
by Isaac, the son of Abraham, of whom, take the following character from Basnage: "It must not be denied," says he, "but that they
had their defenders, at the head of whom we may rank Rabbi Isaac, the
son of Abraham; this man declares, that he spent his life in the courts
of Germany, near princes, who often gave him marks of distinction,--he
had frequent conferences with Luther's disciples, and it was against
them he composed his 'Buttress of Faith.' It must be confessed, his book
is one of the most dangerous that has been produced against
Christianity. The author runs through the whole gospel, and dwells upon
all the passages of the sacred story, that can furnish him with any
objections; he enforces them briskly, and at the same time, refutes the
Christian's answer. This book is translated into Latin under the title
of "Munumen Fidei." "It were to be wished," adds Mr. Basnage, "the learned translator had followed the author, step by
step, and confuted him." The author wrote it originally in Hebrew,
the Spanish translator has added several notes and remarks of his own.
The second is the famous "Tratado de la Verdad de la Ley,"
written by Saul Levy Mortera, of whom, no doubt, but you have heard. The
third is "Prevenciones Divinas Contra La Vana Idolatria de las
Gentes," by the learned Doctor Isaac Orobio de Castro, of whom Mr.
Basnage makes mention. This learned person had a famous controversy with
Limborch, concerning the Christian religion, which is published in
Latin; but I very much doubt if the arguments on his side be fairly
represented. In the manuscript which I have, there appears so much
learning, solid argument and sound judgment, that he must have been
entirely qualified to support the advantages arising from his cause,
besides his being well versed in all the doctrines of Christianity, and
in their subtlety of subterfuges, which he continually exposes and
explodes by his solid reasoning. These are the principal Jewish
authors, who have written on controverted points, whose works are all in
manuscript. I am indebted to some eminent Christian authors who have
supplied me with many hints, which I shall make use of occasionally; as
what they assert must, when properly applied, give an additional
strength to, and illustrate whatever I shall assert.
I shall take care to settle and fix the proper meaning
of the terms, and use them according to their true sense and
signification, otherwise it will be impossible to avoid mistakes and
confusion, as it happens when terms are made use of, or introduced,
which have no determinate meaning, or have not proper ideas annexed to
them; for how, otherwise, can we judge of the truth of any proposition?
After all, I am very sure that the subject will suffer greatly in my
hands, for want of abilities equal to the task. For though I shall take
care to assert nothing but such truths as I am convinced of: yet I
cannot pretend to the happiness of being able to set it forth to you
with that clearness, which the importance of the subject requires;
neither can I pretend, or you expect, that I should follow that method
and regularity so necessary to be observed, and which oftentimes gives
additional light to a subject; and I assure you, that nothing less than
the pleasure which I always take in obeying you, together with a strong
propensity, or desire in me, to search into these matters (for my own
satisfaction and information) could induce me to undertake that which
must expose my ignorance, and which I only do, on the condition that you
keep these letters private, and that you show them to no person
whatever.
LETTER 2.
How unfortunate is it, that there should not be any
authentic ancient writing of the transactions which are related in the
New Testament, on the veracity of which we might depend. The
disadvantage of being reduced to the necessity of taking every
particular from such as were deeply engaged, and whose interest must
naturally have led them to relate things which, perhaps, never happened,
and many others in which they might be deceived, great as it is, is
nothing (were there any certainty that the evidence of such authors is
genuine,) in comparison with what they have received; and that to such a
degree, that I dare say no learned man of the present day will be
willing to assert of any one single text that it may not have undergone
some change or alteration. Our first inquiry, therefore, must be into
the authority of the New Testament; for no person can have the least
right over our understanding, or demand our assent to any proposition
contrary to our conviction, and we may be sure that we cannot offend,
when we make inquiry into the nature of the evidence produced for our
conversion; since it is the only method we have to come at the knowledge
of truth in any matter. Besides, in so doing, we avoid as much as
possible the being imposed on, and act as reasonable creatures, and
according to the dignity of our natures.
"God himself," says the judicious Mr.
Chandler, "who is the object of all religious worship, to whom we
owe the most absolute subjection, and whose actions are all guided by
the discerned reason and fitness of things, cannot, as I apprehend,
consistent with his own perfect wisdom, require of his creatures the
implicit belief of, or actual assent to, any proposition which they do
not, or cannot, either wholly or in part understand; because it is
requiring of them a real impossibility: no man being able to stretch his
faith beyond his understanding." Therefore, our inquiry into the
nature of any proposition is absolutely necessary; particularly in
matters offered for our conversion. And it is a very just observation of
Mr. Basnage, who says, "We must prove the divine authority of the
Gospel (to the Jews) before we engage in the particulars of other
controversies." And I add, till this is done, and the Jews admit
the divine authority of the New Testament, nothing can be urged from it
for their conversion; for, in controversies, neither party can, with the
least shadow of reason, make use of any authority which is not admitted
or granted by the other. A Mahomedan might as consistently urge the
authority of the Koran for the conviction of the Christian, as a
Christian make use of or urge any thing from the New Testament for the
conviction of the Jew. The absurdity of such a method in either case is
equally plain and obvious: for, as the Christian does not admit the
infallibility or divine inspiration of the Koran, what force or validity
could any argument drawn therefrom have, or what regard would the
Christian pay to any such authority? So, in like manner, what regard can
it be expected the Jew will pay to any proof drawn from the New
Testament, the authority or infallibility of which they do not admit.
Can conviction be reasonably expected from such grounds?
By inspiration I mean, God communicating his will, and
exciting a person to publish, by writing, or proclaiming by words, such
matters as are dictated to him. A person thus actuated, either in his
writings or words, is properly inspired; and whatever he writes or says,
under such circumstances, must be infallible or true; because, being
under the immediate influence or guidance of God, he cannot be liable to
error or deception. But the person, so actuated or influenced, must
necessarily lose his own free-agency; because he thereby becomes an
instrument which God makes use of, under whose direction he acts; for
otherwise he would not be infallible. Therefore, when I speak of the
infallibility of any book or writing, I mean thereby, that its author
was under the circumstances afore-mentioned at the time of writing; for
if he was not under these circumstances, then cannot his writings be
infallible; because he, like other free agents, must be liable to
deception ,and may mistake the things concerning which he writes, or may
impose upon others.
It is a doubt with me, whether there is any considerate
person who believes in the infallibility of the New Testament. For no
person will undertake to say that every word it contains was dictated by
God to those who wrote it; and if they were not all dictated by God,
then cannot the whole be infallible.
That every word could not be dictated by God is plain,
from the contradictions it contains; and if only some part or parts of
these writings should be thought infallible, such difficulties must
necessarily arise in settling what part is so, and what part is not so,
that it would be impossible to come to any tolerable agreement
concerning it. And I am sure that nothing less than an inspired person
could understand it: for otherwise there would be as many different
opinions as persons employed in the work; and we should hear one person
give as fallible what another asserted to be infallible.
Thus stands the case. Whoever now believes, or is
persuaded of the divine inspiration or infallibility of the writings of
the New Testament, must, I apprehend, have his evidence and conviction
from one of the following means:
-
The immediate inspiration of the writer.
-
The immediate evidence of God's influence.
-
Immediate tradition from the inspired writer.
-
Distant tradition.
-
Education on authority.
-
Evidence arising from examination.
1. As to an immediate inspiration of the writer, or that
evidence which the writer has, at finding himself, at the time of
writing, under the irresistible influence and immediate guidance of God,
whose dictates he is forced to set down, as an instrument and, (during
the time) with the loss of his natural free-agency: the person thus
influenced and excited may very consistently believe his writings to be
inspired, and, consequently, infallible; because the circumstance in
which he found himself at the time of his writing produced that
conviction in him.
It is questionable whether those, who are so anxious to
impress on others the infallibility of the writings of the New
Testament, ever believed the writers thereof under the aforementioned
circumstances; which they must necessarily do, otherwise their
infallibility falls to the ground; but if they believed they were, I
should be glad to know from what source their conviction arises; for I
have not yet met with any thing to this purpose.
2. The next evidence, to that which the writer himself
has, is when God is pleased to impress on, or influence the mind of a
person by irresistibly forcing him by some supernatural means to believe
such and such writings to be inspired. It is very certain that God may
do this; but it is a question if He ever did; for no person did ever
pretend to these supernatural illuminations, without being suspected by
the more cool and sedate; and all pretending to such a gift never met
with any credit from the most discerning, who generally ascribe it to a
distempered imagination. However, they, like the writer, may very
consistently believe such writings to be infallible. But then neither
the writer nor the person so influenced can be any evidence to me,
unless I attain to the certainty of it by the same supernatural means.
(To
be continued.) |
