1807.] 
of the nation who afforded us an asylum, 
we mourned that there were Sovereigns 
who refused us the right of inseribing our 
names on the list of our fellow-citizens; 
at the same time we could not exist under 
our ancient ‘laws; and the Israclite, 
through many races, having contracted 
the manners and the characters of the 
nations, among whom he had been cra- 
dled, we were necessarily permitted to 
live under the laws of al! nations. 
“Ta declaring therefore our fraternal 
sentiments for persons professing another 
religion, bat who obey the same sove- 
reign, we are only complying with the 
injunctions of God, aud the dictate of 
our meral sense. We are not so much 
establishing a doctrine, as stating a fact. 
Our sacred writings abound with autho- 
rities to sanction this natural afféction 
for the virtuous men of every country.” 
When at the fifth sitting, 25th of Fe- 
bruary, the Saahedrim voted this deci- 
sion, respecting fraternity, it was distin- 
guished by a remarkable circumstance: 
The chief having delivered a discourse in 
Hebrew, afterwards read in French, and 
having declared that this fourth decree 
had been adopted unanimously, the as- 
sembly, inspired by an instantaneous 
sympathy, divesting itself of the religous 
gravity of its. character, echoed aloud 
their unanimous plaudits when they heard 
proclaimed as doctrinal, chat conscience, 
which is innate in all our hearts, and 
which perpetually is reminding men ‘of 
all religions to cherish the teader senti- 
ments of mutual benevolence. We are 
here forcibly reminded of the-well-knowa 
aiiecdote of the celebrated verse of Te- 
rence, which, at the Theatre, occasioned - 
a2 similar senSation in the breasts of all 
present. 
In the sitting of the 19th of February, 
they read the fifth, sixth, and seventh 
decisions. q 
Vohe fth decision was on the moral 
duties which the law of Moses prescribed 
to the Hebrew, to be observed between 
diim and the individuals of the nation 
ampng whom he resided.. The Great 
Sanhedrim declare, that the Decalogue of 
the Sacred Writings, which contain the 
‘precise commandments of ‘God, do not 
‘make any distinction. between man and 
aman, who acknowledge one God, ereator 
of the Universe. That this doctrine has 
‘heen taught by the Doctors of the Law, 
who never cease: to inculcate the love of 
the Creatorand his Creature; that Moses 
commands it in the name ef God—See 
e.. 
Acts of the Great Sanhedrim at Payis. 133 
Leviticus, chap. xix. v. 38, 34.—And they 
quote one of their Rabbins, who says, 
** Our doctors declare that the man wke 
is Compassionate towards his fellow, is im 
eur eyes as dear to us, as if he had de 
scended from the race of Abrahan.” 
That every Israelite is obliged to love’ as 
his brethren those who observe the 
noachides (these mean the precepts vive 
to Nouh,) to visit their infirm, assist their 
poor, &c. whatever may be their re- 
livion, 
The sixth decision relates to civil aad 
political duties. At is declared that it és 
a religious duty for the Israelite to love 
the kingdom im which he is bora, or re- 
sides, as his country; and its Sovereign, 
ashisown. Thus Daniel said to Darius, 
that he had been saved froma the rage of 
the lions only because he had been 
equally faithful to his God and his RKiag. 
Chap. vi. 28, Thar Jeremiah exhorts 
ali the Hebrews to consider Babylon as 
their own country. Choiv. See also in 
the same-book, ch. xl..9, the oath which 
Guedaliah offers to the Israelites to re- 
main faithful to the king of Babylon. 
“ Fear God and thy King,” says Solomon, 
Prov. ch. xxiv, 21. Tat all obhges the 
Jew never to issulate his interest frons 
the public interest, nor to separate the 
prosperity of Ins ‘affairs from the public 
welfare; to afflict himself with its cala- 
mities, and to rejoice in its triumphs. Tn 
a word, the Great Sanhedrim declare, 
that the Israelite is to serve and to defend 
his country, and to obey its civil laws. 
There 1s one remarkable decision conclus 
ding this article. Yhe Great Sanhedring 
deciares, that every Israelite called to 
aulitary service is dispensed by the law, 
during the time of that service, from’ ob- 
serving all religious érdinances and ce= 
emonies, which are incompatible witly 
military service. 
Theseventh decision turns on useful 
professions. 
The Great Sanhedrim are desirous of 
enlightening the Israelites, on the necese 
sity and the advantages resulting frona 
agricultural pursuits, to become lands 
-holders, to practise arts and trades, and 
to cultivate the scietices which will en 
abie them: to embrace liberal professions, 
and reflecting that hitherto the Israelites 
have been com pelled from various impe- 
diments to renounce mechanics and ma- 
nufactures, and above ail, the cultivation 
ef jand which had been from the earhest 
times their favourite occupation; this 
fatal abandonment can only be attribu- 
os | ted 
1 
