CONTENTS. PAGE OBJECT of these Lectures-Modern views of the philosophy of history -Professor Leo-the Pentateuch-Dr Hartmann-Conclusion.......... ix Introduction-Two difficulties arising from the lateness of the Gospel obviated-The Law a Schoolmaster-How this expression is to be Definition of terms-Effects of the Law in giving consistency to the Jewish nation, and in producing the return of the Jews from Cap- The effects of the Law in securing a religious education to the Jewish vi The Law and the Promise-The Jewish interpretation of the Promise- The Law transitory-the Gospel eternal-Future dealings of God— Caution respecting our judgment of them-Modern claims to gifts, The Christian view of affliction opposed to the Stoic-National judg- ments Voltaire's verses on the earthquake at Lisbon-Conclusion..... 184 INTRODUCTION. THE Lectures which are now offered to the Public relate to two subjects, being occupied partly with the history contained in the Bible, and partly with the evidence on which we receive it. Their main purpose is to trace some of the effects which the existence of the Law of Moses appears to have produced upon the character of the Jews, and the events of their history. I conceive the typical and prophetical character of the Law in reference to the Messiah, to be the great and leading object of its institution, but I apprehend that we may find considerable profit from tracing its moral and political effects. Two distinct enquiries offer themselves to our notice when we enter on these considerations; the effects which the Law was calculated to produce had it been obeyed, and the effects which, in spite of man's disobedience, it did actually produce, as well as the punishments which befell the Israelites for that disobedience. The limits to which I am confined preclude any thing but a rapid sketch of these points, and only allow me to point out a path which I feel convinced may be followed with advantage, to trace an outline, which, if succeeding years shall not enable me to fill up myself, I shall be glad to resign into abler hands. The motive which more immediately urged me to select this subject, was a series of Lectures delivered before the University of Berlin by Professor Henry Leo, and published in 18281. They contain a view of Jewish History founded on the modern German School of Philology; and the opinions maintained in them are so at variance with those which I believe ought to flow from a just and philosophical consideration of the Jewish history, that I have thought it worth while to bestow my labour chiefly on the points most misrepresented by that writer. The belief of the writer appears to be, that the history of the Jews, contained in the Bible as it now stands, is in great part a fable, and that we are to seek for those fragments of truth that can be recovered from the darkness of antiquity, by a discriminating consideration of a variety of hints occasionally dropped in the most ancient books of the Bible, and a philosophical view of what must have been the case, judging the history of the 1 Vorlesungen über die Geschichte des Jüdischen Staates, gehalten an der Universität zu Berlin, vom Professor D. Heinrich Leo. Berlin, 1828. 8vo. |