Note 36 — Chapter LXXIX · THE EARL OF ELLINGHAM AND LADY HATFIELD AGAIN.
Reading edition
We have been much gratified by observing that our attempt to vindicate the Jews against most of the unjust charges which it seems to be a traditionary fashion to level against them, has not passed unnoticed. All the Jewish papers have quoted the exculpatory passage at page 172 of this Series of "The Mysteries of London:" many provincial journals have also transferred it to their columns; and in No. 173 of Chambers's Edinburgh Journal (New Series) it was printed, with the following record of approval on the part of the Editors of that well-conducted periodical:—"We cordially agree in this manly defence of a cruelly misrepresented people."
In this enlightened age it is really horrible to think that the most abominable prejudices should prevail amongst Christians against the Jews. England boasts her high state of civilisation; and yet the Jews labour under innumerable disabilities, which have been abolished in France. After all, the French understand what civilisation really is much better than the English. The idea of a Jew sitting in the House of Commons would send all the Church party raving mad: but in France there are many Jews in the Chamber of Deputies. The learned Selden said very justly, "Talk what you will of the Jews, that they are cursed, they thrive where'er they come; they are able to oblige the prince of their country (and others too) by lending him money; none of them beg: they keep together; and for their being hated, my life for your's, Christians hate one another as much."
The worst feature in the malignant persecution and misrepresentation of the Jews, is that the evil prejudice against them has been, and still is, fostered by Christian Divines and Theological writers. A Spanish theologian has placed on record the following infamous specimen of malignity:—
"The tribe of Judah treacherously delivered up our Lord, and thirty of them die by treason every year.
"The tribe of Reuben seized our Lord in the garden, and therefore the curse of barrenness is on all they sow or plant, and no green thing can flourish over their graves.
"The tribe of Gad put on the crown of thorns, and on every 25th of March their bodies are covered with blood from deep and painful wounds.
"Those of Asher buffeted Jesus, and their right hand is always nearly a palm shorter than the left.
"Those of Napthali jested with Christ about a herd of swine, since when they are all born with tusks like wild boars.
"The tribe of Manasseh cried out, 'His blood be on us and on our children,' and at every new moon they are tormented by bloody sores.
"The tribe of Simeon nailed our Lord to the cross, and on the 25th of March, four deep and dreadful wounds are inflicted on their hands and feet.
"Those of Levi spat on the Saviour, and the wind always blows back their saliva in their faces, so that they are habitually covered with filth.
"The tribe of Issachar scourged Christ, and on the 25th of March blood streams forth from their shoulders.
"The tribe of Zebulon cast lots for the garments, and on the same day the roof of their mouth is tortured by deep wounds.
"The tribe of Joseph made the nails for crucifying Jesus, and blunted them to increase his sufferings; and therefore their hands and feet are covered with gashes and blood.
"Those of Benjamin gave vinegar to Jesus; they all squint and are palsied, and have their mouths filled with little nauseous worms, which, in truth (adds our author), is the case with all Jewish women after the age of 25, because it was a woman who entreated the tribe of Joseph not to sharpen the nails used for the crucifixion of our Lord."
That wretchedly prejudiced and unprincipled writer, Justin Martyr, wrote as follows, while apostrophising the Jews:—
"God promised that you should be as the sand on the sea shore; and so you are indeed, in more senses than one. You are as numerous, and you are as barren, and incapable of producing any thing good."