In speaking of the Inquisition, allusion has been made to the feelings of mistrust and opposition, which had arisen in regard to the Pope, and the Church of which he claimed to be the head.
By the beginning of the eleventh century, the Papal power, or power of the Popes, was far greater than that of any sovereign; and kings were obliged to acknowledge and submit to it, because in case of any dispute, their subjects would probably have obeyed the Pope rather than their own sovereigns. Nor was this extraordinary, since the people were led by the priests to believe, that they could not possibly be saved, unless they obeyed the Pope in everything; and that on the other hand, he could forgive their sins, and ensure their salvation. Thus was the Pope put almost into the place of God.
This naturally produced evil consequences, and for more than two centuries the corruptions of the Church of Rome went on increasing: the real doctrines and truths of the Gospel were more and more forgotten, and its precepts disobeyed; so that wickedness seemed everywhere triumphant. Such a sad state of things led many to think, that as the Pope and his clergy were not teaching the truth as contained in the Scripture, some reform was greatly needed. This feeling once roused, spread rapidly; and in the beginning of the sixteenth century, it was strengthened and confirmed by the preaching of a German, called Martin Luther. Luther was born in A.D. 1483, at Eisleben, in Lower Saxony: wishing to devote himself to a religious life, he entered a monastery of Augustines. His fondness for learning caused him to be appointed as a teacher in the new University of Wittemberg: but his studies soon taught him that the church to which he belonged, had departed very far from Gospel truth and practice; and a journey to Rome showed him so much that was wrong in the lives and conduct of her clergy, as quite to destroy all his reverence for the Pope. His own mind being thus made up, Luther boldly declared his convictions; and taught that all who wished to be saved by Jesus Christ, must make a great change in their religious opinions and practice; and instead of blindly obeying the Church of Rome, must strive to worship God as the Apostles and early Christians had done; for this purpose he urged every individual to read and study the Holy Scriptures, which the Pope did not permit any member of his Church to do. People of all ranks listened to Luther's words; and many determined no longer to submit to the Pope's dictation, but to purify the Church, by extirpating the errors which had one after another crept into her doctrines and practice, so as to restore her to her original condition of a scriptural Church.
Whole nations now shook off the authority of the Pope, and became separate branches of the One Catholic or Universal Church established by the Apostles, and of which Jesus Christ is the true and only head.
In A.D. 1517, when Henry the Eighth was King of England, such a branch was established in our own country, and called "the Church of England"; whilst to that branch over which the Pope still rules, we give the name of "the Church of Rome."
All the works of man are liable to error, and in this great separation from the Church of Rome, some mistakes were probably made; nor were all who advocated the changes actuated by holy and religious motives.
But whatever mistakes may have been made, we find in the teaching of the Church of England the way of salvation. All of us who have been baptized into this Church, must ever remember with thankfulness that we belong to a Church which bids us take the Holy Scripture as our rule of life. As members of such a Church, let us always strive to act up to our baptismal vows, carefully studying all the articles of the Christian faith, that we may hold them fast; and that our faith may be firm and lively: let us renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, constantly striving against sin in every form, so that we may truly keep the commandments and precepts of God: loving Him with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves, for His sake. If we are thus true and worthy members of the Church Militant upon earth, we shall, through the atonement and mediation of Jesus Christ, be hereafter received into His Church triumphant in Heaven.
Before we go on, it will be well to say a few words as to the word "Protestant," often applied both to Churches and individuals who have separated from the Church of Rome. To "protest," means to "object to,"
to "declare against." "Protestant," therefore, only means one who objects to anything, or declares against it; and so the word came to be applied to those, who so objected to the errors and false doctrines of the Church of Rome (which claimed for itself alone the title of Catholic), as to separate from it, and establish a reformed branch. In _this_ sense the Church of England may be called _Protestant_; but we must never give up our claim of being a true and pure branch of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head.
The separation from the Church of Rome was not effected in any country without great struggles; many battles were fought, and many crimes committed, under pretence of religion, on both sides.
Luther died in 1546, having lived to see the doctrines he had taught, too firmly established ever to be overthrown by the opposition of the Pope and his supporters, who made great efforts to bring all men back to the Church of Rome.
Mary, the daughter of Henry the Eighth, who became Queen of England on the death of her brother Edward the Sixth, A.D. 1553, tried hard to make her subjects submit again to the Church of Rome, and many were burnt to death for refusing to do so.
Elizabeth, who succeeded her sister Mary in 1558, was zealous for the doctrines opposed to the Papal teaching; and in her time the Church of England was firmly established in this country, though many Englishmen have never joined it, and continue to this day to be Roman Catholics, as we call those who belong to the Church of Rome, to distinguish them from those who have renounced her errors; for we all claim to be Catholics, as members of the Catholic or Universal Church of Christ.
Many, too, in our own times have unhappily forsaken the Church of their forefathers, and joined that of Rome. Let us watch and pray, that we fall not into such grievous error.
The Reformation relieved the Jews from much active persecution, but, on the other hand, Luther declared, that no Christian might even employ a Jewish physician; for as the whole race lay under the curse of God, they ought not to cure those who were the children of God: the Jews naturally detested Luther, by whose advice many Christian princes in Germany, refused to receive them into their dominions. The chief persecution against the Israelites in Europe during this century, arose from their being falsely accused of causing a fire that did great damage in Bohemia. In Persia they suffered much from one of the kings, who was resolved to make them embrace the Mahometan faith.
The Jews at this time, seem to have enjoyed more peace in Egypt, Abyssinia, and other parts of Africa, than in any other countries in the world. They became numerous, wealthy, and powerful at Cairo, and also in Morocco, from whence one of them was sent as ambassador to the united provinces of Holland, in the beginning of the seventeenth century. Although the King of Portugal had banished the Jews from his European dominions, he allowed them to settle at Goa and other places, which then belonged to him in the East Indies: but, unfortunately, after some years, these Jews allowed themselves to be deceived by a pretended Messiah. The news spread to Portugal where some of the Israelites, who had become Christians, showed such joy at the intelligence, as to make it clear that they still clung to their old faith, and were Christians only in name. The Inquisition, therefore, interfered, and all Jews living in such parts of the East as were subject to the King of Portugal, were forced either to become Christians, or to leave the country.
The Jews had now been shut out of England for about 350 years; but when, after the murder of king Charles the First, Cromwell became ruler under the name of Protector, A.D. 1654, he, seeing the benefit which Holland had gained by allowing this persecuted race to settle in that country, was anxious to bring their industry and their riches back into Great Britain. At his request, the Parliament allowed Manasses Ben Israel, who was greatly looked up to by the whole Jewish people, to come to England, to beg permission for his countrymen to return: but the idea was so displeasing to the people in general, and was so strongly opposed by some persons of ability and learning, that Cromwell was unwillingly obliged to dismiss Manasses, without giving him any positive answer. Some of his countrymen, however, did venture into England, where they were left in peace, and allowed to reside together in a certain part of London: but no laws were made for their protection, though they were ready to pay large sums for any such marks of favour.
Unfortunately for Cromwell's project of re-establishing the Jews in England, a deputation arrived from the Asiatic Jews, for the purpose of making out that Cromwell was the Messiah. This made the Protector very angry; and when the object of these Jews became known, it excited so much indignation throughout the country, that they were obliged to leave the kingdom in all haste. This incident greatly increased the feelings of prejudice and dislike, with which the children of Israel were regarded. When Charles the Second was restored to the English throne, A.D. 1660, he, being greatly in want of money, sold to the Jews permission to settle in England, and their numbers increased greatly in consequence.
James the Second, who in 1685 succeeded his brother Charles, also favoured the Jews; and during this seventeenth century, they also regained a footing in France, from whence they had been finally banished in 1394, though, as has been said, some Jews were always to be found in different parts of that kingdom. The first place in which they were now permitted to reside and carry on trade, was Bordeaux; they were also allowed to buy estates in France.
Chapter XV.--SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES.
The most curious event connected with the Jews in the seventeenth century is the history of the impostor, Zabathai Tzevi, who was born in Syria, of poor Jewish parents; and being gifted with wonderful talents and great powers of learning, was enabled to take advantage of the ignorance and credulity of his countrymen. Towards the close of the century, there was a general idea amongst the Jews, that some wonderful event was about to take place, and all sorts of strange tales were told, and believed: amongst others, it was related that a ship had reached the coast of Scotland, filled with sailors who could speak nothing but the Hebrew language; that the sails of this ship were made of the most beautiful silk; and that upon them were embroidered the words, "The Twelve Tribes of Israel." Tzevi immediately took advantage of so favourable an opportunity, proclaimed himself to be the Messiah, and promised the Jews a glorious kingdom, in which they should enjoy peace and prosperity.
He pretended to work miracles, and reproached some of his followers with wilful blindness, because they would not own that they had seen him rise up into the air! The multitude believed in Tzevi, but many of the better instructed and more intelligent Jews condemned him as an impostor, and would gladly have put him to death, could they have done so. After visiting Greece and Alexandria, Tzevi went to Gaza, where he persuaded a celebrated Jew, named Nathan Levi, to act as his forerunner. Tzevi and Levi then went to Jerusalem, and actually named a time when the Jews should recover their kingdom by the conquest of the Sultan, who then held it in subjection.
Some of the more sensible among the Jews, saw that such folly could lead only to their own destruction, and therefore they condemned Tzevi and his forerunner, to be put to death as impostors; but they went off to Constantinople: the Jews there had, however, been warned not to listen to them, and they therefore proceeded to Smyrna.
Here Tzevi received presents from the Jews of many countries; and although the Jewish Council at Smyrna condemned him as an impostor, his party was too numerous and powerful for any active steps to be taken against him. At length Tzevi having, as he said, received the command of God to do so, went again to Constantinople, where, by the Sultan's orders, he was seized and cast into prison; but this event did not in any way shake the faith of his followers, who firmly believed that it was not in the Sultan's power to put him to death.
When he was questioned by the Sultan's ministers, Tzevi declared that he had only called himself the Messiah, because his nation had forced him to do so: his life was therefore spared, and although he was kept in prison, all who chose were allowed to visit him. He remained a prisoner for some months, visited by the infatuated Jews from all parts, who still persisted in looking upon him as the Messiah; but as the Turks made all these Jews pay for the privilege of visiting Tzevi, they did not interfere with the attentions and honours paid to him. In the height of his fame he was visited by a learned Jew from Poland, who wanted to be admitted in some manner to share his honours: this, Tzevi was by no means inclined to allow, and the two men quarrelled.
In revenge, the Polish Jew told the Sultan that Tzevi was a dangerous impostor, who was plotting to overthrow the Turkish dominion: upon this, the Sultan ordered that he should be set up as a mark for his archers to aim at, and that if he escaped unwounded, it would be a proof that he was not an impostor. Tzevi naturally had no mind to submit to such a trial of his truth, and therefore he at once confessed himself to be an impostor; and when he found that this was not now enough to save his life, he became a Mahometan, declaring that he had long wished to do so. This step filled his followers with grief and horror.
Tzevi lived for many years at Constantinople, and became a learned and zealous Mahometan: he still declared himself to be the appointed deliverer of the Jews, but told them that he should not be able to prevail with the Almighty to restore them as a nation to the Holy Land, until they gave up the Law of Moses and followed that of Mahomet, as he had done. Multitudes did actually, in consequence, go to Constantinople, and there declare themselves to be followers of the false prophet Mahomet. By this means, Tzevi hoped to keep his influence over the Jews, and at the same time remain in favour with the Turks; but all his impiety and wickedness soon met with just punishment, for, for some cause or other, he was beheaded by order of the Sultan.
During the eighteenth century, the condition of the Jews improved greatly throughout Europe. No more dreadful persecutions took place; and though the prejudices of the people often led them to treat the Jews with contempt and ridicule, and to annoy them in many ways, still the laws of the different countries in which they lived, did more or less, protect the Hebrew race from real injuries and violence. In the middle of the eighteenth century there were nine synagogues in Rome, and also an academy for the instruction of youth: the Jews in this city seem to have exercised some authority over their brethren in other parts of Italy, who consulted them upon all important matters, and paid great respect to their advice. There are now great numbers of Jews in Rome, who are all obliged to dwell together in one part of the city, called the Ghetto.
The King of Naples, in the eighteenth century, granted such great privileges to the Jews, as to make the Roman Catholics very uneasy; but in spite of the remonstrances of the clergy, he persevered in this course, until the Jews, by their ill conduct, forced him to make a change.
In Spain and Portugal during this century, there were a great many Jews who, according to the permission granted them by the Talmud, _pretended_ to be Christians, and as such, filled various offices in the state, and even performed the functions of priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Outwardly they were zealous Roman Catholics; inwardly they were Jews: so that it has been said, that whenever a house was more than usually furnished with crucifixes, images of the Virgin and of the Saints, relics and lamps, the inhabitants were sure to be Israelites in heart. By pretending great zeal for the Christian religion which they detested, these dissemblers generally escaped detection; though from time to time some of them did fall into the hands of the Inquisition.
Jews can now live openly and unmolested in Spain and Portugal: they claim to be descended from the tribe of Judah, and declare that many of their ancestors went into those countries, at the time of the captivity, more than two thousand years ago! For these reasons, the Spanish and Portuguese Jews think themselves superior to those in other countries, and will not allow of marriages with them. The daughter of a Portuguese Jew having married a Jew of Berlin, the parents of the bride put on mourning for her as if she had been dead, which she was to them, as they never would see or hear of her again: they renounced her for ever.
After the revolution in France towards the end of the eighteenth century, when the king Louis the Sixteenth was murdered, the Jews were allowed all the privileges of citizens, on condition of taking an oath of obedience to the Government of the country. Their numbers then increased amazingly in France.
In Germany also, during this century, the Jews gained many privileges from the Emperors. In short, the children of Israel were now everywhere protected by the laws, though they were still often robbed of their property, ridiculed and scoffed at, and employed in the lowest work.
At Frankfort, as in Rome, the Jews rich and poor, are all obliged to live in one quarter of the town: this consists of a long street, with high walls at the backs of the houses, to separate them from those parts in which the Christians dwell.
Zealous Christians have often formed plans for the conversion of the Jews; not, as formerly, by violence, but in a manner more suitable to the spirit of the Gospel; that is, by endeavouring to convince them that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah prophesied of in the Holy Scriptures, and that they must look for no other, until in the end of the world He shall come again in glory, to judge both the quick and the dead. These efforts have met with some little success, but still there are an immense number of Jews. One of these converts to Christianity in the middle of the eighteenth century, was a young man named Moses Marcus, whose parents, rich Jews of London, had him carefully instructed in Hebrew and Chaldee, and in all the learning of their people. When he was old enough, he was sent from England to finish his education at Hamburg, and there became acquainted with some clergymen of what was called the Reformed Church,--that is, a branch of the Church which had given up many of the doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome. With these clergymen, Marcus frequently talked of the difference between the religion of the Christians and that of the Jews. By their advice he studied the Scriptures of the New Testament, and became thereby convinced that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah. Mean time the father of Marcus had been to India, and when he returned to England he sent for his son, then about twenty years old. On his arrival, the young man at once told his father of the change which had taken place in his religious feelings and opinions. His father received this intelligence with the greatest displeasure, and spared neither threats nor promises to induce the young man not to desert the synagogue. But the faith of Marcus had been strengthened by conversation with clergymen of the Church of England, and therefore, disregarding all threats and promises, he persevered, even at the risk of his life, and was baptized: soon afterwards, he published a work explaining his reasons for becoming a Christian; pointing out the fulfilment of prophecy in the person of Jesus Christ; and showing how many absurdities and contradictions were contained in the Talmud.
Chapter XVI.--CONCLUSION.
Of late years many privileges have been granted to the Jews in England, and many societies have also been formed, for the purpose of trying to prove to them from their own Scriptures, that the promised Messiah, _has_ accomplished His work, and that the Christian religion should now take the place of the Jewish Dispensation,--that the two are but in fact, only two parts of one religion,--that the Jewish Dispensation, the Law, the Covenant of Works, was designed to prepare mankind for the Coming of the Messiah,--and that, as that event has taken place, we are now living under the Christian Dispensation, the Gospel, the Covenant of Grace. Some have believed; but many, alas!
believe not, and still cling to their old faith.
At the present time, no persecution is carried on against the Hebrew race, and Jews are to be found in all parts of the world, having free liberty to observe the rites and ceremonies of their own religion, as far as they can do so. Their manners and customs, and their mode of observing the ceremonies of their religion, differ in different countries; but all agree in denying that Jesus Christ was the Messiah.
One thing we must remark about the higher class of Jews in the present day--they are very charitable, not to their own people only, but also to Christians, helping even to support Christian schools.
It is said that there is in these days a growing feeling amongst the Jews, that the Messiah must have come unobserved by them. Let us pray, that through this feeling, they may be led to see and acknowledge, that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed that Messiah. Great efforts have been made, and are still being made, for the conversion of the Jews, but with little success at present. The time is not yet come for them to be brought into the fold, and made one flock with the Christians, under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord.
But the time _will_ come, when by some means or other, the Lord God Almighty will do this thing, for the Scriptures contain very many prophecies as to the restoration of the Children of Israel to the favour of God. The Scripture predictions of future happiness for the Jews, _will_ as surely be fulfilled, as those _have been_, which foretold the miseries that have fallen upon the once chosen people of God.
The whole history of this remarkable nation, the chosen people of God, warns us in a most forcible manner of the evil of sin, which made the Almighty at last cast off the people whom He had so loved, and whose sins He had so long borne with. Let us learn from this, that sin persisted in will bring destruction upon any people; though, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, those who repent of it and forsake it, shall be forgiven.
The history of the Jews gives also the clearest proofs of the truth of prophecy.
To go no further than Moses, let us see how exactly his words have been accomplished in the sufferings of the Jews. His prophecies, fulfilled in part when the children of Israel and Judaea were carried into captivity, also describe most truly the circumstances of the Jews, since the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 72, put a final end to their existence as a nation.
Moses says, "And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people from one end of the earth even to the other." In the sketch which has been given of the Jews, we have read of them as being found in all parts of the known world.
Again, their condition, as described by Moses, "Thou shalt only be oppressed and spoiled evermore," exactly agrees with all that has been said of them. We have seen that, in the East as well as in the West, they have been continually "oppressed" by the cruel laws and heavy taxes of the rulers of the various countries in which they sought refuge, as well as by the violence of the people, who have repeatedly "oppressed" them in every way, robbed them, "and spoiled"
them of all their possessions. Again Moses says, "The Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, even great plagues, and of long continuance."
No people have ever suffered so much as the Jews: their "plagues," or calamities, have indeed been wonderfully great, and of "long continuance," carried on, as we have seen, with little intermission through 1,700 years.
Some of the calamities inflicted upon the Jews were especially foretold; for instance, "Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people"; and "Thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see." We have read that the children of the unhappy Jews were cruelly taken from them by force, and "given to another people," to be educated as Christians. Their despair on this and other occasions, when they saw that their children were likely to fall into the hands of their enemies, drove them to madness; and in their frenzy and despair, they often destroyed their families and themselves. They were indeed made "mad," by the sight which their eyes had seen.