not to be wise or zealous above what is written, swelling men with spiritual pride and imagined sufficiency. As to the fear to which our dislike of these things is imputed, the fear of their gaining converts to the band of orthodoxy, it is false both in principle and fact. For the fact is, that these things are making Unitarians as fast as any thing that has ever been done. It is useless to deny this. I know and can produce many instances, in different places, of individuals and whole families going over from trinitarian to unitarian societies in direct consequence of these measures. We are

glad to receive them, but we do not wish evil that good may come of it. Nor is the good to be compared with the many evils. I have been heartily disgusted with the conduct of some, even of the leaders and ministers, who have most influence in these proceedings. The manner in which some of these men, some of the first clergymen in the orthodox body, have preached and prayed at these meetings, is enough to disgust any one,hardly less extravagant or monstrous, than those excesses in the State of New York a few years ago, which these very men so loudly condemned. I have heard of more than one instance of preaching and praying, which was regarded by some sensible and religious hearers as shocking profanity, so coarse, so bold, so irreverent! I know of no speculative error so much to be dreaded, as the reckless familiarity, the confidence, assumption, and almost impiety, which seem to be the natural fruit of these unnatural excitements. Such men should be the last to charge others with a want of solemnity or reverence. I hope it is only apparent in them, a part of their system rather than the feeling of their hearts. Yours ****

LEVI AND SARAH, OR THE JEWISH LOVERS.

Levi and Sarah, or the Jewish Lovers, a Polish Tale; by Julius Ursinius Neimcewicz; translated from the German edition, with Preface and Notes, by the Editor. London, 1830.

The title of this instructive work will probably deceive many readers, who may expect from it the amusement, or at least the species of interest, that a well written tale of the heart, of which the subjects are of good education and refined characters, seldom fails to inspire. But though they will be disappointed of this, they will be abundantly compensated by the rich and various instruction given them from the most satisfactory sources, as to the manners, morals, prejudices, and superstitions of the modern Jews. In truth, as the translator remarks, the story is merely the vehicle for conveying to the public some more correct information, than has hitherto been given of the present condition particularly of the Polish Jews.

The author of the work is Julius U. Neimcewicz, a native of Poland, and long honored by his countrymen, not less for his genius and wisdom than for his personal and public virtues. He was the bosom friend of the patriotic Kosciusko, and pronounced a funeral oration at his grave. He was the bold and eloquent assertor of the liberties of his countrymen; bearing a large share in their dangers and sufferings; by his poetry animating their courage in the day of battle; and by his own noble example and character giving them confidence in their cause. They were eager to show him their gratitude by bestowing upon him many honorable trusts.

These letters are only a small part of his many works. They are ingeniously contrived, so as to introduce a variety of characters, and exhibit the great diversity which exists at the present day, and particularly among the Jews of his own country, both in the views they entertain of their own religion, and in the feelings, which they cherish towards Christians. There is still among them, probably forming by far the greatest proportion, a superstitious, unprincipled, and degraded race, who in blind obedience to their elders, still hold to the traditions of their fathers, and prefer the Talmud,* and still more, their miserable cabalistical books to the writings of Moses. Among this class are to be found the very vilest of the nation, as they have been known

*The Talmud, our readers are aware, is a Theological work, highly prized by the Jews, and by many set before the Old Testament. It professes to contain the body of the religion, doctrine, and precepts of the Jews. It is divided into two parts, the Mishna and the Gemara, of which the former, signifying the second law, was compiled about 120 years after the destruction of the temple, or A. D. 190. There are two Talmuds, that of Jerusalem and that of Babylon, the latter of which is most highly esteemed; but it abounds with fables and absurdities, and even indecencies, which, however, are eagerly received. The Gemara is a commentary on the Mishna. Maimonides, the celebrated Jewish Teacher, of the twelfth century, made an abridgement of them both, which, omitting the most exceptionable parts, is most valued by the enlightened Jews.

The Cabbala, which signifies tradition, contains the abstruse, hidden, or mysterious meaning, drawn from the words, or the letters of scripture: And the Cabbalists, or Rabbinical Teachers profess to explain both the Talmud and the scriptures by the hidden meanings discovered not only in the letters, but by combinations and transpositions of letters, which they make at pleasure. It is easy to perceive, what dreams and follies as well as awful perversions of truth, they may invent.

in the great cities of Europe, the true successors of their ancient masters, the Pharisees, and of their disciples, who pay tithes of mint, anise and cummin, and overlook mercy and the love of God; devouring widows' houses and for a pretence making long prayers. 'Next to the joy,' says one of them in a letter written to a brother merchant, engaged with him in a most nefarious traffic-which I feel in cheating a Christian, either with goods, in the change of money, or in selling a horse, the greatest enjoyment is on the sabbath, after a plentiful meal, to lose myself in the profound wisdom of the Talmud, the Mishna, and the Gemara.'

This sentence, doubtless with some exaggeration, marks the perverted notions and debased morals of a large multitude of the trading Jews.

But besides these, are to be found not in Poland only but in various quarters of the world, enlightened, pious and liberal Jews, who hold with sincere hearts and discerning minds the faith of their fathers; who mourn over the miserable perversions of their ancient religion, as well as the moral degradation of their countrymen; and who, though looking for the consolation of Israel in a Messiah yet to come, do not refuse to examine the records and evidences of the Gospel. There are even some, who are so weary with their ancient superstitions, so much disgusted by the practical abuses they witness and suffer, and are so far impressed by what they permit themselves to understand of Christianity, that they are perhaps ready to say with Agrippa, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.'

Of this class are Sarah and Levi, the two prominent subjects of this work. Their letters, while expressive of a pure and devoted attachment, which after various disappointments and sufferings terminated in a happy union, furnish at the same time a beautiful representation of the class of believers we have mentioned; while in those of their venerable friend and counsellor, Abraham, may be gathered rich stores of historic learning, accurate information relating to the domestic, - social, religious and political condition of the Jews, with lessons of practical wisdom. Did our limits permit, we should gladly lay before our readers some passages from this interesting work. We can only here express our conviction of the truth of the conclusions, to which it leads, that if the great body of this people could but be withdrawn from their blind dependance on their elders, and relieved of the burdens under which, not less by the exactions of these very elders, than by the governments under which they live, they continue to groan; if the reading of the Talmud and their other unauthorised books were substituted for the doctrines and precepts of their ancient Testament, and they were permitted to examine for themselves. the instructions of Moses and of their prophets,-then, and not till then, might there be hope of a reformation in their characters, and of their conversion to the christain faith.

According to the latest computations, which have been made, it appears that the number of Jews, now existing in all parts of the world, is not much less than it was in the times of David and Solomon. • Their population,' says an intelligent German was then