head. But all these things are said only of the time that Israel is in captivity amongst the nations, or that the idolaters have the upper hand of Israel; but when the hand of Israel is strong, it is forbidden to suffer an idolater in the midst of us either to dwell or to pass from place to place with merchandize. He is not to pass through our land until he take upon him the seven commandments given to the children of Noah, for it is said, 'They shall not dwell in thy land, not even for an hour."" It may be thought, however, and it is often confidently asserted, that Rabbinism does not interfere with the religion of other nations. It is true that the Jews do not interfere, and that for ages they have been a quiet people, attending only to themselves. But the conduct of the Jews, and the Rabbinical system, are two different things. The system commands the conversion of the heathen by force, and sentences them to death if they refuse to be converted-"Moses our master did not give the law as an inheritance to any but Israel, as it is said, 'the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob;' and to those of the nations who might wish to become proselytes. Moses our master has also commanded us, by divine appointment, to compel all that come into the world to embrace the commandments given to the children of Noah. And whosoever will not embrace them is to be put to death."* Their doctrines concerning the children of Noah are much more mild, but still the Rabbies are very far from considering even the pious of the nations as their brethren. They admit that such will have a share in the world to come, but make a wide difference between them and the Israelites, as may be seen from the following laws:-1st, A proselyte of this sort is not allowed to study the law.+ 2nd, If a female, a Jew cannot marry her. 3rd, It is lawful to lend on usury to the child of Noah. 4th, The murderer of this sort of proselyte was not put to death by the sanhedrim. It may, however, well be doubted whether according to Rabbinism there are any such proselytes at present. There are no doubt Gentiles who are not idolaters; but freedom from idolatry is not sufficient to constitute a child of Noah. In order to this, he must be received as such during the celebration of the Jubilee,¶ which is now impossible; and further, he must be formally received before three witnesses.** Christians have not fulfilled these conditions, and therefore, according to these laws, cannot be considered as the children of Noah and the pious of the world. Indeed, we have seen above that Maimonides reckons them amongst the deniers of the law, and in other places he says expressly that they are idolaters. But this is enough to Hilchoth M'lachim, c. viii. 10. Hilchoth Accum, c. x. VOL. VII.-Feb. 1835. + Ibid. shew that Rabbinism is an exclusive system, and cannot be represented either as tolerant or liberal without keeping back a part of the truth. Not that we find fault with it or its teachers on that account. Until the Rabbies be conscientiously convinced that the system is wrong, we honour them for their uncompromising statement of their religious opinions. PARISH CHURCHES. NO. XXI.—B ARFRESTON CHURCH, KENT. To the Editor of the British Magazine. SIR,-I send you a drawing of a door-way, which has often been engraved, but principally in scarce or expensive books, such as "Britton's Architectural Antiquities," "King's Munimenta," or "Grose's Antiquities." I have here thrown it into perspective, (contrary to those mentioned,) with a view to shew the depth and richness of its various mouldings; and having, like all who have seen it, been led to bestow on it some degree of attention, you will perhaps allow me to balance some opinions which I have met with respecting it. To determine the æra of its erection would be to discuss the arguments advanced for and against the existence of Saxon churches in this island. The earliest date assigned to it is that of King, in his "Munimenta," who considers it a work of Theodore's, A.D. 670, if not of Honorius, his predecessor in the see of Canterbury. The latest is that of Britton, who pronounces it of the age of Lanfranc. The first feature to be noticed in this very curious door-way is the semi-circular impost which fills the intervening space between the door and the mouldings. It is charged with a basso relievo, exhibiting a rich specimen of the prevailing style of ornament in these remote ages. A majestic seated figure, within an oval compartment, elevates his right hand, as if in the attitude of speaking; his left supports a book, which is widely opened before him; around him are various figures of crowned heads and angels. King, in his "Munimenta Antiqua," offers arguments to prove that this must be the archbishop by whom the church was built; an opinion which Mr. Britton's correspondent, in his Antiquities, rather decidedly controverts; maintaining that this figure is the second person of the Trinity, as the lesser one, immediately above him, can be no other than the first. With all due deference to such high authority, I cannot but think his hypothesis imperfectly made out. By what right can we argue that these two figures, so dissimilar in their position, and in their proportions, form two persons of the Trinity to the exclu sion of the third? I cannot help thinking that Mr. King is peculiarly happy in his conjectures respecting these decorations of the door-ways of our early churches. He succeeds, in many instances, in explaining them by a simple reference to the event they were intended to commemorate, and which must have been uppermost in the minds of these primitive architects-the preaching of the word of God in places hitherto unprovided for. Here the preacher was represented, as was customary in those days, seated; around him are divine and human auditors;- we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men," is the language of his great precursor in this sacred office. A rich, but not a rare, moulding encircles this basso relievo; consequently I shall pass on to the next order above it, which is enriched with twelve medallions, as it were, of varied execution. More than one instance of the twelve signs of the zodiac are met with in works of this æra; and sometimes the twelve months are alluded to by their various occupations; but here it seems improbable that any such device was intended. King discovers in this moulding an allusion to Æsop's fables; nor need this discovery be deemed trifling or unimportant: for in such high request, hardly a century previous, had been this author, that the greatest man of his age, the good and wise Alfred, thought it not an unworthy occupation to translate these fables for the profit and amusement of his subjects. On the key-stone of this moulding is carved a prominent figure, clothed in full canonicals, with the pall hanging from his neck. The last-mentioned appendage establishes the dignity of the wearer. Doubtless this is an archbishop. Why not the prelate by whose authority our church was built? We come, last of all, to the outermost of these mouldings, which is broader than any of the others, and lies flat to the wall. It forms, in fact, a semi-circular band of fifteen ovals, each containing a figure engaged in some occupation either of peace or war. Music, husbandry, and archery are well and plainly delineated; and, at so remote an æra, it is interesting to see the violin, or an instrument closely resembling it, formerly, as now, conspicuous. The key-stone of this outer arch represents an aged female, bending with years and infirmities, and might pass, in the present day, for an accurate and close resemblance of many an ancient dame to be met with in our rural villages. In fact, the life and spirit of several of these figures warrants an opinion which I have met with in one of the papers of the "Archæologia" that the objects carved upon such door-ways were not always imaginary, but were intended as faithful memorials of those who frequented the cemetery. "Giveales," as they were termed, on the anniversary of the patron saint, converted the church-yard for the time into a scene of varied amusement. At these festivals, figures, such as have been mentioned, would be |