Sabbath. But indeed it is not necessary to go to the rabbies
to prove that modern Judaism teaches astrology. That common
wish which one so often hears amongst the Jews, even at the
present day, (Hebrew characters) mazzal tov, or good luck, has its origin
in the doctrine of the Talmud, and shows how universally it
has been received. And thus we see the influence which the
oral law has had in leading away both learned and unlearned
from the Word of God, and of spreading amongst them, as a
tradition from Moses, what is merely one of the numerous
errors of heathen idolatry. The heathen worshipped the host
of heaven. The sun, and the moon, and other heavenly bodies,
they considered as deities; it was, therefore, natural for them
to suppose that they exercised an influence over the affairs of
men. The Chaldeans were especially devoted to this doctrine,
and had almost exalted it to the rank of a science. From them,
probably during the Babylonish captivity, the Jaws learned
this system; and though altogether idolatrous in its origin,
and learned from idolaters, it was congenial to the minds of
the superstitious rabbies, and was, therefore, introduced into the
oral law, where it has ever since continued. The oral law has,
therefore, in this respect, adopted heathen doctrine, and teaches
heathenism. Every Jew who wishes his neighbour (
Hebrew characters),
mazzal tov, uses a heathen idolatrous expression—sanctioned,
indeed, by the Talmud, but utterly repugnant to the doctrine
of Moses. But where will he find in the New Testament
any warrant either for such a doctrine or such a wish? The
New Testament is entirely free from all shadow and tincture of
this heathenism. Your oral law has taught you that the course
of events depends upon the stars. Jesus of Nazareth has taught
us, that the ordering of all events, even the minutest, proceeds
from our Heavenly Father. He says, "Are not two sparrows
sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the
ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your
are all numbered." (Matt. x. 29, 30.) Jesus of Nazareth,
therefore, whom you are afraid to follow, lest he should lead
you after other gods, directs all his followers to the one living
and true God, the Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer of all
things. Those men, on the contrary, who crucified Jesus of
Nazareth, and that oral law, which you prefer to Christianity,
have led you away from the doctrines of Moses and the
prophets to the principles of heathenism. The general doctrine,
that the moral nature, the weal and wo of men, are altogether
dependent upon the stars, is not Mosaic, it is heathen; and the
particular details concerning the influence of Venus, Mars, and
Mercury, are plainly the offspring of the worst part of heathen
mythology. If, then, Jews believe in this Talmudic astrology,
they approach very nearly to heathenism, and such has been
the case with the majority and the most learned of the nation
Page:The old paths, or The Talmud tested by Scripture.djvu/198
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