Religious Denominations,

OR

BODIES OF MEN,

PROFESSING DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS OPINIONS,

IN

Syria and the Holy Land.

B

Jews.

RABBINISTS-KARAITES-SAMARITANS.

In describing the different Classes of People who at present dwell in Syria and the Holy Land, it is natural to give the first place to that Nation, which, in the most ancient periods of history, possessed so considerable a portion of this territory, by the title of a special gift from Heaven. What we might almost term, the Divine Nobility of this Race, is briefly and energetically sketched in those words of Scripture:-Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Rom. ix. 4, 5.) No Master of Heraldry ever pronounced such a majestic train of titles: no Country, not the proudest, can present, in a condensed form, such a splendid record of its privileges and distinctions. There does not, nor

ever did there exist, such a remarkable Nation as that of the Jews-a people terrible from their beginning hitherto !

This family of the Children of Abraham-attainted and despoiled of its heritage, but not extinct -still lingers, a small part of it at least, upon the paternal estate; anxious to be found on the spot, at

the moment of the appearance, daily and hourly expected, of their Deliverer and Restorer; or, in the event of their death, fondly deeming it meritorious to be gathered to the grave of their Fathers.

From Aleppo to Jerusalem, Jews are to be found in all the principal cities: in Mount Lebanon there are but few. The Author, in a future part of this Volume, gives an account of them, principally in those places which he visited.

The distinction betwen the two leading Divisions of the Jews is extremely simple-the Rabbinical, who are attached to a multitude of human Traditions and Commentaries; and the Karaïtes, who adhere to the simple Text of the Scriptures of the Old Testament.

Besides this leading distinction, there is another, which is of a national kind; that between Jews and Samaritans. It may, indeed, very reasonably be doubted how far the Samaritans have a claim to be classed with the descendants of Abraham. A fuller discussion of this point than could be allowed in this Preliminary Chapter, will be found in a subsequent part of this Volume. It seemed, however, not improper to class under this head, a Body which professes to ground its Religion entirely upon the Five Books of Moses.

There are, further, distinctions among the Jews, arising from differences in their modes of worship, or from refinements of speculative opinion. Such are the Sects of the Spanish and Polish Jews, the Hassidim, &c. of which some notice will appear in that part of the following Journal which describes Tiberias.

(5)

Christians.

If pure Christianity consist in the enjoyment of the Light of Revelation; in the exercise of Faith, Hope, and Charity; and in the maintenance of the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace-then must it be mournfully admitted, that the Professors of our most Holy Faith have, in Syria and Palestine, wandered very far indeed from the truth and simplicity of the Gospel. Darkness and Discord share the dominion here. It is true that there is no part of the Christian World into which these foul spirits have not, in various degrees, found entrance: but, in our present Survey, the sight of them is doubly painful; while we contemplate the intensity of their influence, and the melancholy fact, that they should be here ruling in that very sphere, where the Religion of Light and Love was first promulgated.

We must not shrink, however, from faithfully delineating the picture. If the scornful feelings of the Infidel should begin to kindle at the description, let him reflect that here is no triumph over Christianity, but a developement of erring Human Nature. That professing Christians have departed from the purity of the Faith, no more tends toward a refutation of Christianity, than the errors of Idolatry and Polytheism to deprave the doctrine of the Eternal Godhead. Does a reflecting man doubt the truth, that there is One God, because the myriads of the Heathen have worshipped stocks, and stones, and beasts, and reptiles? Neither ought the faith of any Chris