204 FORESTRY IN LITHUANIA. 



sing in the fact that they are everywhere spoken against ; 

 but that those who have suffered from what they are 

 pleased to call their extortionate dealings, like the 

 innocent fleeced lambs in Britain who sow not neither do 

 they spin, but borrow from the Jews, have only them- 

 selves to blame for the calamities which have come upon 



such, Dr Levaison, a learned Rabbi, who was profoundly versed in the Talmud, but 

 found in it no satisfaction. While enquiring after the truth at one of the universities 

 of Germany, he became acquainted with a distinguished professor, whose theological 

 sentiments have secured for him a soubriquet importing that he is a personification of 

 Pagan philosophy He gradually imbibed his sentiments, and in proportion as he did 

 so he had to give up his Talmudical views, but he still felt that more was necessary 

 to enable him satisfactorily to account for all the phenomena with which he was 

 acquainted. In this state of mind he met with a priest of the Greek church, who was 

 in the suite of a Russian ambassador at one of the German courts. He, carefully 

 distinguishing betwixt ceremonies devised by man and truths revealed by God, directed 

 his attention to the doctrines generally received as evangelical, and convinced him of 

 the truth of Christianity. Not having met with evangelical Christians amongst Pro- 

 testants, he came to St. Petersburg in the hope of there hearing more perfectly the 

 principles of the religion he had embraced. 



I endeavoured to ascertain the prevalent opinions of the Jews in regard to the nature 

 and character of the Messiah, and found that of the Talmudists, almost all expected 

 him to be only a man ; among the Cabbalists, m&ny expected that he would he divine ; 

 but by many of the Jews it was expected that there would be two Messiahs, one who 

 has probably appeared already, in whom was to be, and has been, fulfilled the predic- 

 tions contained in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah ; and another who is to reign for ever. The 

 former, as might have been expected, lived unknown ; but there is more than one 

 individual known to Jewish history whose life is supposed to fulfil what was foretold. 

 None, however, excepting Christian Jews, appear to consider that Jesus of Nazareth 

 was he. This is not wonderful, as few have access to the New Testament ; and there is 

 amongst them a distorted history of his life, which is calculated to hold him up to the 

 ridicule, contempt, and execration of the nation. With regard to that Messiah, I found 

 it believed that his death would be as a sacrifice for the sins of his people, and not 

 merely an effect brought about, directly or indirectly, by the wickedness of the nation. 



There is a very interesting body of Jews living in the Crimea, known by the name of 

 Karites or Caraites, and sometimes called Tartar Jews, in consequence of their speaking 

 the Tartar language. These men long ago rejected the Talmud, and for several genera- 

 tions have continued to regulate their sentiments and conduct by the Scriptures of the 

 Old Testament alone. I often heard of them while in Russia, and invariably on 

 inquiry received a favourable report of their conduct and behaviour. Many of them 

 appear to be spiritually -minded men ; but they were hated by other Jews, among whom 

 there was a trite saying expressive of their hatred and contempt, to this effect ' If a 

 Christian be drowning, take a Karite and make his body a bridge by which to save 

 him.' But I have never heard of their rendering railing for railing. The designation 

 "jnerally given by them to the other Jews, when speaking of their theological difference 

 is, ' Our brethren of the Talmud.' They had amongst them copies of the New Testa- 

 m'ent, which they considered a record of the life and doctrines of a godly Jew and his 

 disciples, and they manifested to Christians no objection dispassionately to discuss 

 the question of his Messiahship. 



From observation, and from intercourse with Christian Jews who have laboured 

 amongst their brethren, I am persuaded that the conversion of the Jews to Christianity 

 has been greatly hindered by the following circumstances : 



1. Both Jews and Gentiles have fostered the notion that a Jew must necessarily 

 forego his nationality on embracing Christianity . It may be true that they who are like 

 Abraham are the children of Abraham ; but he who is a .ineal descendent of that 

 patriarch never can cease to be such on abandoning ' vain conversations received by 

 tradition from the fathers.' The Apostle of the Gentiles, in common with other 

 Apostles, and, I may add, in common with their Master, was a Christian Jew. 



2 Jews have seldom an opportunity of witnessing the effects of Christianity in 



