Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

NOTICE.

In

my

First Edition of this Book I was under the belief that Editors of newspapers were likely to welcome all omission of useless letters. But this is true only within very narrow limits. I now learn that to drop final e where it is not only superfluous but also misleading, probably is the utmost that they can advance ahead of the public. To this therefor I confine myself at present, not without hope of elsewhere further pressing for cautious reform of our worst and indefensible irregularities. To the total revolution contemplated by the Pitman-school, I am on principle irreconcilable.

CHRISTIANITY IN ITS CRADLE.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL VIEW OF JUDAISM.

HISTORY is a vast topic, of which few of us can know much; yet to know a little correctly is valuable. An obvious parallel is Geography. We must be contented with great ignorance, yet an outline map is superfluous to no one. To study the birth of a Religion is eminently instructiv, yet generally is very difficult from the absence of written documents contemporaneous and trustworthy. So much the more do we need to learn the people and the circumstances under which it rose; which in the case of Christianity are no wise obscure.

These pages do not compete with complete Christian histories, nor attempt continuous narrativ, but only aim to summarize what will throw most light on the topic, and thereby aid to sound judgment.

The peculiarity of the Jewish people has turned on two pivots, Monotheism and Ceremonialism; and in the secondary stage, which alone here concerns us, each principle has derived its energy from a belief in Sacred Books. In the earlier period, before and during the Hebrew Monarchy, an activ warfare was carried on against Polytheism, to which a majority of the people, surrounded by Polytheistic and Idolatrous nations, was inclined but the chief champions of the characteristic Hebrew faith were then, not established Priests, but Prophets rising untaught, or reared in voluntary seminaries; men who professed to utter the voice of God,

A

NOTICE.

In my First Edition of this Book I was under the belief that Editors of newspapers were likely to welcome all omission of useless letters. But this is true only within very narrow limits. I now learn that to drop final e where it is not only superfluous but also misleading, probably is the utmost that they can advance ahead of the public. To this therefor I confine myself at present, not without hope of elsewhere further pressing for cautious reform of our worst and indefensible irregularities. To the total revolution contemplated by the Pitman-school, I am on principle irreconcilable.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »