Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chiyaley,
The turbulence of the Jews in Syria caused both Constantine and Hadrian to enact fresh laws to restrain them . Julian , Theodorius , Hdnorius , and others , favoured the Jews ; and by the Gothic kings of Italy they were protected . JDuring the frequent wars and invasions of the period , the Jews had the slave-trade of Europe in a great measure in their hands ; and Pope Gregory interfered to prevent
their abusing the power they thus acquired over the persons of Christians . Justinian enacted several oppressive and intolerant laws against the Jews and Samaritans ; indeed , the latter were almost annihilated , but it is said a small community are still in existence , near Mount Gerizim , who possess the law in the old Samaritan character .
When Ghrosroes II . invaded Syria , the Jews rose to join the Persians , with whom they entered Jerusalem , then a ( Christian city , and assisted in the slaughter of the inhabitants . It is said they also purchased the captives of the Persians for the sake of murdering them . Mohammed attempted to win them over to his cause , but they refused to acknowledge a descendant of Hagar , the bondwoman ,
as the greatest or prophets , and he consequently treated them without mercy ; but under the Caliphs , particularly Haroun-al-Kaschid , his successors , they paid tribute , and were protected ; and many following the conquerors contributed materially to the triumph of the Crescent in Syria . The splendid , polished , and more tolerant
Mohammedanism of the earlier Caliphs had sunk before the savage , yet no less warlike , Turks . This race , of the Mongol stock , had embraced all that was enterprising , barbarous , and aggressive , rejecting all that was humane or tending to a higher civilization , in Islamism . They were more fanatic Islamites than the followers of the Prophet , or even the Prophet himself .
Pilgrimages to Jerusalem , Bethlehem , and other places included under the general name of the Holy Land , began as early as the time of Constantine , who may be said to have set the example ; and from that time pilgrimages maybe considered as belonging to the universal religion of man . Some sacred spots connected with the history of the faith , or with some peculiar manifestation of the Deity ,
have ever concentrated the worshippers within their precincts , or drawn them together at periodical intervals to revive their pious emotions ; to partake in the divine influences still supposed to be emanating from the holy ground , or to approach nearer to the present and locally indwelling godhead . Even in the coldest and most unimaginative times the traveller to the Holy Land seems to have enjoyed a privilege enviable to the Christian , who , considering its natural
effects on the religious emotions , w ill not venture to disdain the blameless , at least , if not beneficial , excitement . The bathing in the Jordan was , as it were , a second baptism , and washed away all the evil of a former life . The shirt the pilgrim had worn when he visited the holy city , was carefully laid by as his winding-sheet , and was supposed to possess the power of transporting him to heaven . "We may also observe that to the Mohammedans Jerusalem was no indifferent
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chiyaley,
The turbulence of the Jews in Syria caused both Constantine and Hadrian to enact fresh laws to restrain them . Julian , Theodorius , Hdnorius , and others , favoured the Jews ; and by the Gothic kings of Italy they were protected . JDuring the frequent wars and invasions of the period , the Jews had the slave-trade of Europe in a great measure in their hands ; and Pope Gregory interfered to prevent
their abusing the power they thus acquired over the persons of Christians . Justinian enacted several oppressive and intolerant laws against the Jews and Samaritans ; indeed , the latter were almost annihilated , but it is said a small community are still in existence , near Mount Gerizim , who possess the law in the old Samaritan character .
When Ghrosroes II . invaded Syria , the Jews rose to join the Persians , with whom they entered Jerusalem , then a ( Christian city , and assisted in the slaughter of the inhabitants . It is said they also purchased the captives of the Persians for the sake of murdering them . Mohammed attempted to win them over to his cause , but they refused to acknowledge a descendant of Hagar , the bondwoman ,
as the greatest or prophets , and he consequently treated them without mercy ; but under the Caliphs , particularly Haroun-al-Kaschid , his successors , they paid tribute , and were protected ; and many following the conquerors contributed materially to the triumph of the Crescent in Syria . The splendid , polished , and more tolerant
Mohammedanism of the earlier Caliphs had sunk before the savage , yet no less warlike , Turks . This race , of the Mongol stock , had embraced all that was enterprising , barbarous , and aggressive , rejecting all that was humane or tending to a higher civilization , in Islamism . They were more fanatic Islamites than the followers of the Prophet , or even the Prophet himself .
Pilgrimages to Jerusalem , Bethlehem , and other places included under the general name of the Holy Land , began as early as the time of Constantine , who may be said to have set the example ; and from that time pilgrimages maybe considered as belonging to the universal religion of man . Some sacred spots connected with the history of the faith , or with some peculiar manifestation of the Deity ,
have ever concentrated the worshippers within their precincts , or drawn them together at periodical intervals to revive their pious emotions ; to partake in the divine influences still supposed to be emanating from the holy ground , or to approach nearer to the present and locally indwelling godhead . Even in the coldest and most unimaginative times the traveller to the Holy Land seems to have enjoyed a privilege enviable to the Christian , who , considering its natural
effects on the religious emotions , w ill not venture to disdain the blameless , at least , if not beneficial , excitement . The bathing in the Jordan was , as it were , a second baptism , and washed away all the evil of a former life . The shirt the pilgrim had worn when he visited the holy city , was carefully laid by as his winding-sheet , and was supposed to possess the power of transporting him to heaven . "We may also observe that to the Mohammedans Jerusalem was no indifferent