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Judaism commands the advance of civilization. The
superiority of its principles, and the truthfulness of its precepts, are
the cause of its controlling influence. The Jews are weak in a numerical
point of view, but numbers prove nothing; a handful of civilized men
subdue a nation of barbarians. Hence in contemplating their present
situation, and the influence they exercise as a people, we must remember
one prophecy has been fulfilled, and that they are scattered, and
conquered, and subdued. In ancient time, when Christianity planted
itself by the side of Judaism, it was but a feeble child, eclipsed by
the more solid endowments of its parent. The genius of a great
philanthropist soon induced a comparison between the old and the new
faith since then the child has disputed with the parent from whose bosom
it sprung for the mastery over the great family of man. The new faith
supplied a popular want. True it bade men be blind, it bade men hush all
inquiry in the depth of their heart; but it promised a future, a
never-ending future of joy and gladness. The old faith, though beautiful
in itself, was preserved by a people who announced it not to the world,
because they felt it was given to them and for them. This faith, older
than the memory of the oldest, had belonged to past generations, who
like the present were content with it, and regarded it as their
property. The hour of danger was nigh. The sabbath-breakers and the
uninstructed multitude wanted another system of morality,
<<395>>or another
system of religion, for religion is the natural property of man.
Something eclectic, advancing with the ideas of the age; something
modern, but identified with the old was alone calculated to gratify the
wants of the people. The hour of danger was come. From obscurity there
suddenly burst one, whose great genius was to retard or develope the
progress of the human family. Robed in sackcloth and adorned in
humility, the greatest philosopher of ancient times, while he
understood, prepared to minister to the wants of the people. He came not
as Moses came, with thunder and lightning, and all the awful proofs of
his power, but as the humble representative of Him from whose will
flowed creation, who made man in his own likeness, and blessed him with
an intelligent principle. Neither ignorance nor dishonesty influenced
many of his contemporaries when they undertook to propagate the new
faith; interest, the lever of Archimedes, moved the world to place
Christianity on a level with Judaism. The Jews had created a host of
enemies for themselves, because their Scriptures formed them thinking
creatures, and thought elevated them. With their aid they had burst the
barriers of ignorance, which had surrounded them equally with other
races; with their aid they were the most reasonable of the then
reasonable beings.
But people pass from jealousy to persecution most
rapidly. It was therefore soon thought, despite the teachings of Christ,
that the overthrow of Judaism was necessary to give legitimacy to
Christianity. Superstition too, united for the destruction of the
Jews. Under its dominion men were transported beyond themselves, as is
most usually the case, and they hailed as sacred what was
incomprehensible; whilst the Jew still defended valiantly the faith of
his forefathers, and would sooner have abandoned his life than his
religion. Thus a formidable opposition was offered to Christianity at
the outset. Was this opposition reasonable? Is the worship of wooden
gods less barbarous than the humiliating acknowledgment, that God had an
only son, equal with himself, who on earth was no longer his equal
though he retained his father’s nature, and that because he was fallen
from his high estate, he could wipe away the sins of the world, by
suffering himself most patiently to be put to death? The slave of the
priest, the ambitious politician, or the jealous
<<396>>and greedy fanatic,
might consistently acknowledge the mysterious supremacy of the half
heaven half earth-born prophet; but it is the privilege of the wise in
all times to adopt only those truths which are evident to the senses, or
the imagination, for neither the sanction of a multitude, nor the oaths
of a few can consecrate a falsehood, or explain away the truth. Who can
deny that if the New Testament contain the doctrine promulgated by
Christ, when first his alleged miracles, as it is said, astounded the
nations, he who doubted was entitled to more credit than the civilized
believer? But the character of that day was mechanical: a man with
common sense soon became a saint. Individuals framed the opinion of an
epoch. The masses had but to hear, to see with the blind eye of faith,
and believe, even with an outcry of dissension in the heart. Christ was
eminently qualified to turn the inertness of the Jewish faith against
itself, and open a new prospect for those without the Jewish church. But
alas! he or his disciples attributed such an absurdity to Providence in
order to prove the truthfulness of his mission, that no time nor reason
has been able to excuse the extraordinary vision of a distempered
imagination. Though he made no conquest except of human hearts, these
alone were required to consolidate his system; surrounded by a credulous
public, always eager for new manifestations of his power, he had ample
opportunity to astonish their prejudices, and wean them to him by
gentleness and eloquence. These are weapons in all countries most
formidable; and when used by wise men are irresistible.
We have already said the jealousy of other nations
was kindled into hatred as well as an undue enthusiasm. The spectacle of
a people swayed by virtue, even when surrounded by corruption and
corrupt masters; a people linked together by one hope, and fighting
around one standard; who made no proselytes, but were content to pursue
the even tenor of their way, warmed the indignation of those natures
which never could equal them. What a beautiful picture the Jewish people
presented before the time of Christ, whether regarded in a moral,
political, or religious view! But his wisdom and cunning, one mutually
supporting the other, prostrated in the dust and swallowed up its
harmony. Not that those great truths received by the Jews from their
Scriptures, and written in the depths of their souls,
<<397>>were so fragile as
to be broken by the new apostle or his followers; but because that
fanaticism was born and contaminated the moral atmosphere. The Jews had
to fear their enemies; they were powerful, so powerful that they broke
the sinews of an ancient race. But even in this day of tribulation, when
the Israelite was abhorred, his faith, contrasted with the Christian’s,
shone forth like the moon beside the evening star; and the time will
come when the star shall shine no more, and the moon will still shed her
silvery light.
The progress of Christianity is evident. We
recognise the most enlightened nations of the world within the bosom of
the Christian church. Its march has been progressive, civilizing and
conquering; redeeming from barbarism thousands and hundred thousands, of
the human family. Yet when we look from an elevated point of view on the
present state of humanity, we must readily discern the central and
invincible position of the Jews; nor can we avoid determining their
influence and their destiny. The difference existing between the
Christian sects is enormous, notwithstanding their close affinity. This
dissimilarity necessarily forces the Christian church to describe a
circle. At one time we see the Catholic church dictating terms to the
world, and then we see the world at war with Catholicism. And what a
war! Anathemas become practical, and denunciation is the language of
courts. Then Episcopacy unfurls its banner; ministers conspire and walk
in the same path with warriors, and seek the battle-field to display
their weakness or their valour. One sect swallows up the other, and
hunts with savage fury its co-religionists, to convert or to massacre
them. Here we read of two hundred thousand Christians brought together
to drive out Mahommedanism from Europe, “armed and accoutred according
to law;” again we read of one hundred and forty thousand cavalry raised
by Conrad III. and Louis VII., wasting away in the passage of Natolia.
True it is that Christian tribes do not now attempt to overrun the
countries occupied by those nations who never heard of Christ, but are
content with Bible and Missionary Societies to promulgate their
doctrines. It is no less true that anathemas have lost something of
their original force. Yet let us cast our gaze abroad, and contemplate
with a clear vision the spectacle of the Christian world as it now is.
<<398>>The various Christian sects, and their name is
legion, comprise about two hundred and thirty millions of men. The
Christians have colonies all over the world, and their school embraces
particularly Europe and America. Now notwithstanding it is maintained by
the present fathers of the Christian church, that though there exist
different sects of Christians, their differences are merely nominal and
confined to forms: it is all-important that we notice that they do not
gravitate towards a common form of civilization. Hence the same
diversity is noticeable between their various sects as between
Mahommedans and Brahmins. The mass of Christians are most undoubtedly
better advised on the great questions that influence society, than the
Asiatics. But Christianity alone must not be mistaken for the specific
means which civilizes men; since it is nothing more than a form of
religion. Nor will it answer to argue that when Christianity comes in
contact with Brahminism or Mahommedanism, an amalgamation ensues to the
disadvantage of the latter; civilization is an active principle,
barbarism an inert element, and herein lies the true solution of the
problem. It is not the peculiar truths of the Catholic or the Protestant
doctrines which give to either so much influence amongst barbarians; but
it is the superiority of those individuals who represent their
denomination, that subjugates the heathen. Rome was overrun by
barbarians, who in turn adopted the manners and habits of the subjected
party. But what was the political state of these hordes before the
conquest? Germany afforded little arable land, and that little was
indifferently cultivated. When these tribes poured down like an
avalanche on the mighty empire founded on the seen hills of Rome, they
began to make permanent settlements, and combined to make the conquered
territory a secure asylum for themselves. Here then was first awakened
in the rude heart of the barbarians the instinct of civilization; and
here it is we discover their first advance from darkness to light. This
was their first school; here they learned their first lesson, under the
most beautiful sky in the world, and on the most productive plains in
Europe.
The Christian, who carefully maintains the doctrine
of Christ, is a good preceptor. He is a social being. Hence when he
journeys amongst a people whom despotism has degraded, or who, never
having been in contact with civilized man, know nothing of civilized
society, he plants in the bosom of this people a seed
<<399>>that gains
strength daily, gradually bursts from its narrow bed, unfolds its
branches around, and covers in time a country with its beneficent shade.
He is the agent of civilization, and though he be employed by Protestant
or Catholic, it is not his faith, but his example which bursts the
chains of barbarism. If Christianity alone and unaided was sufficient to
civilize man, then surely the adoption of the same means would bring
about the same results. But when we notice that Christian nations have
not arrived at the same degree of civilization, and are still subject to
all the revolutions and changes of the remainder of the human family: we
must conclude that their superiority rests on other grounds that the
acknowledging that a God of mercy “ordered a dearly beloved son, whom he
had engendered without a mother, and who was as old as himself, to go
and be put to death on the earth,” for the salvation of mankind. It is
by virtue of a determinate system of legislation, that one nation is
always in advance of the other. This has been the case in the earliest
times, and ever will continue to be the same.
(To be continued.) |
