Discourses on the Jewish Religion Volume 9

by Isaac Leeser

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 Excerpt: ...of divine power in a manner so remarkable and striking, shall we doubt that God can gather us again, and restore our nation and our worship? Only see, we then were slaves, ignorant, and sunk into the depths of pollution, as it has been allegorically said, that there are fifty gates of uncleanness, and the Israelites in Egypt had entered into all but one, and were thus well-nigh lost forever. And against this awful picture compare us as we are now; we have indeed sinned deeply; but for all this the law of God is with us, and we are in almost every land more or less adherents of its precepts; we are not sunk into the debasement of absolute slavery; we have a share in the progress of science and refinement: and can it be possible that we should declare in our unbelief, that the Lord cannot accomplish all his word which He has spoken? Moreover, the progress of science is such at this day, that it is scarcely possible to say what can be accomplished through means of natural causes, which operate in a manner which would have been deemed fabulous not a century ago. The exhibition of the natural miracles of electricity, photography, and illumination by gas and similar things would, in the beginning of the last century, have exposed the possessor of these secrets of n ature to the danger of being punished as a wizard. Yet now every one acknowledges them to be as they are, within the range of natural causes, and they are used daily without exciting more than ordinary attention. How shall we then determine now what can or cannot be and take place hereafter? We are met with the objection that at present the land of Israel is not fit for our occupation; it has become barren and parched, as though sulphur and salt had destroyed the soil: yes, it is so indeed; but the Han...

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2010

About the author

1806-1868