| 231 time of calculation, but few agree as to the exact year. Numbers are a few years over and under the period that I calculate from. The reasons that I adopt it is because the excellent Wesley had fixed upon it, viz: 567, adding 1260, it brings us to the year 1827, which Mr. Wesley expected would be the beginning of a new era in the Christian world, and probably about 1830 the millennial light would go forth!!! How exact. In the identical year, 1827, the fulness [fullness] of the gospel burst forth on the world, contained in the Book of Mormon, it in a measure laid dead three days and a half (three years and a half,) but in 1830, life came into it, it was printed and circulated, and thus the light of the millenium [millennium] went forth. You see, sir, poor father Miller has got hold of the beast by the wrong horn.
It would seem that the long night of Jewish persecution is drawing to a close, and the dawning of a brighter day is fast breaking over their horizon. Their condition is meliorating in all parts of the world; the word of the Lord is sure; the natural branches of the olive tree will be grafted in again, and the time is not far distant, when the Jews will bow to the name of Jesus, and enjoy the liberty and blessings of the children of God.
The Jews believe that they shall yet be restored to the holy land, where, under the dominions of Messiah, they shall become an independent and glorious nation. But an unsurmountable [insurmountable] barrier to the fulfilment [fulfillment] of prophesy, is the uncertainty of the existence of the ten tribes, which has caused a great deal of search and enquiry [inquiry] to be made in all parts of the world. What an expence [expense] and trouble it would have saved the Christian world if their God had given revelation in these last days, but they have been obliged to go the warfare at their own expence [expense], and I suppose have about made up their minds that the ten tribes are not in existence! For, say they, if they are, where are they to be found? Many boldly assert that they have been lost among the nations. But if the ten tribes be extinct, how will prophesy be fulfiled [fulfilled], and the promise of God realized? But where are they to be found? Why, say some, in China, that their ancestors settled that country one thousand years before Christ. Sir William Jones thinks that they were the nations of the Afghans, in Persia; who had generally mingled with the Mahometans. Dr. Buchanan said he had found them among the black Jews, near Cochin; who had copies of the books of the Old Testament, written before the captivity, but none after. Manassas Ben Jorden, in a work styled the "Hope of Israel," proves that the American Indians are the decendants [descendants] of the ten tribes. To this, the apostle of the Indians, Mr. Eliot, agreed. Mr. Adair, a trader among the Indians for many years, was a warm advocate of this opinion. These writers say that they have found among the Indians, something like the Hebrew festivals, fasts and religious rites; the Jewish prophets, priests and cities of refuge. The bases of the Hebrew language, many Hebrew words, something of the theocracy, or divine government of Israel; the doctrine of the divine unity, the Jewish divisions into tribes; phylactries [phylacteries], or ancient Hebrew writings, and various traditions, unaccountable on any supposition but this, that they descended from Israel. Paul said in his day, that the ten tribes were alive, and serving God day and night, in expectation of the promise made to their fathers, and Joseph says they still live, and are yet expecting the promise to be fulfiled [fulfilled].
At the present time the employment of the Jews is generally that of merchants, brokers, bankers, jewelers, dealers in clothes, watches, gold and silver, ornaments, pedling [peddling], &c. &c.-They are not known in Great Britain, in law, but are connived at, and valued for their enterprize [enterprise]. They have the free exercise of their worship, and the opportunity to acquire and hold property to any amount.
In Holland, the Jews are numerous, wealthy and respectable.
In Spain they are not known as Jews; but are numerous in every class of society, even among priests and inquisitors, as good Catholics.
In Portugal, they are in the same manner, obliged to dissemble. The Spanish and Portuguese Jews do not mingle with the German Jews. They have separate synagogues wherever they reside.
In Germany and Prussia, most of the vexatious statutes of former ages have been repealed, and the Jews are living in quiet. At Frankfort, however, they are subject to many humiliating restrictions.
In Russia, favorable edicts have been passed by the emperor, and in Poland there are about 300,000 enjoying great privileges.
In Sweden and Denmark, they have a good degree of liberty.
In France, their situation since Napoleon has been highly gratifying. In 1791, all who would take the civic oath were admitted to the rank of citizens. This was the first act that gave the Jews a country in Europe.
In the Ottoman empire, they have to pay a heavy tax to the Porte, before they are allowed the liberty of their own worship.
In South America and the West Indies, the Jews are favorably situated for accumulating wealth and practicing their religion.
(page 231) |
