144 THEOLOGY. 



4. The principal Sects among the later Jews, were the Pharisees, 

 who attached great importance to the ceremonies of religion, neglect- 

 ing its weightier matters ; and the Sadducees, who were generally 

 incredulous, denying the resurrection, and the immortality of the 

 soul. The Scribes, mentioned in the gospels, were professed doc- 

 tors of the law, which they expounded to the people. The Essenes, 

 were a small and ancient sect, noted for their austerity. The Kara- 

 ites, (or Caraites), are a modern sect, chiefly in the east, who attach 

 no authority to the Talmud ; while the Rabbinists, chiefly in Europe, 

 regard it as nearly of equal weight with their Scriptures. 



The Talmud consists of two parts, the Mishna, (or Mischna), 

 explaining their laws and customs ; and the Gemara, which is a 

 commentary on the Mishna. The Mishna was collected by the 

 Rabbi Jehudah, or Juda Hakkadosh, A. D. 200 ; and is attributed 

 by the Jews to Moses, as its principal author. The Mishna with a 

 Gemara, compiled by Rabbi Eliezer, about the sixth century, forms 

 the Jerusalem Talmud ; and with another Gemara, compiled by 

 Chaldean Jews, it forms the Babylonian Talmud, most frequently 

 referred to. The Targums, are Jewish paraphrases of their Scrip- 

 tures, written in the Chaldee tongue. That of Jonathan BenUzziel, 

 on the Prophets, was made about 30 B. C. ; and that of Onkelos, on 

 the Law, was made at the time, nearly, of the Christian Era. The 

 Targum of Jerusalem, is on the Pentateuch ; and that of Joseph the 

 Blind, is on the Hagiographa. The Cabala, (or Cabbala), embracing 

 the cabalistic writings of the Jews, consists of mystical interpretations 

 of the Scriptures, and metaphysical speculations, handed down by tra- 

 dition, and regarded by them as the sublimest of sciences. The 

 modern Jewish creed, drawn up by the Rabbi Maimonides, in the 

 eleventh century, contains nothing very peculiar, and need not here 

 be repeated. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CHRISTIANITY. 



IN the branch of Christianity, we include the whole study of the 

 Christian Religion; its Origin and History ; its Scriptures and 

 Evidences ; and the History and Doctrines of the different Sects 

 which profess to adopt it. The name is derived from that of its 

 divine author and founder : the word CHRIST, from the Greek, ^pt^oj, 

 like the Hebrew word MESSIAH, signifying one who has been anointed ; 

 as were the Jewish prophets, priests, and kings ; whose functions were 

 all united in the incarnate Son of God. We regard the pure Jewish 

 religion as a part of the Christian ; which properly embraces the 

 whole Scheme of Salvation, shadowed forth by the sacrifices, foretold 

 by the prophets, and realized by the advent and ministry of Jesus 

 Christ, our Lord and Saviour. To this scheme alone we apply what 

 has already been said, of the incomparable importance of practical 

 religion, (p. 127.) The term Theology, is frequently restricted to 



