LEGISLATIONS OF ISKAEL AND BABYLONIA. 



165 



These two are inseparably linked, for there must be a more or 

 less close correspondence between the character of the legislation 

 and the sentiments of the governed. Legislative ideas of our 

 own and past ages readily present themselves to the mind in 

 abounding number — to ev ^r}v — with all that it meant to the- 

 Athenian ; the imperialism of Eome; liberty, equality, fraternity ; 

 utilitarianism ; laissez /aire, laissez passer ; nationalism, and sa 

 on. If we interrogate the Babylonian code for its ideas, we 

 learn that its watchword is " Security and Prosperity " ; if the 

 Israelitish, we receive the answer " Holiness." 



The fate of the legislations has corresponded to their respective 

 characters. A generation or two after the death of Hammurabi,, 

 no man could have doubted that his work had been successful; 

 probably few would have said as much of the work of Moses at 

 a corresponding interval after he was gathered to his fathers.. 

 " In those days there was no king in Israel ; every man did 

 that which was right in his own sight." But to-day the verdict 

 is different. The code of the Babylonian had its period of 

 utility, and was then flung aside like an old shoe. For 

 thousands of years its very name was forgotten, and to-day, 

 when the bulk of it has been exhumed from the dust of 

 centuries, we find that it is without value for our life or its 

 problems. The people to ^^'hom it was given have passed away 

 after doing their part for the material and intellectual advance- 

 ment of the world, but without contributing one iota to its 

 higher life. The work of the Israelite, on the other hand,, 

 has given to his own people tlie quality of immortality and 

 has borne mighty fruit among other peoples in both hemispheres ;. 

 so far as human vision can see, it will continue to do so in 

 ever-growing measure ; and throughout a century of generations, 

 the work of him who was powerless to create machinery that 

 could maintain public security in the national territory for 

 a single generation, has remained for millions of people all 

 over the world jm?^ excellence the law. 



Discussion. 



The Chairman (F. S. Bishop, Esq., M.A., J.P.) expressed 

 the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Wiener for his able paper^ 

 He then asked for discussion, pointing out that it was once again 

 shown how any comparison of the Sacred Book with contemporary^ 

 documents only serves to exalt the former. 



