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THe Jews do not agree amongst them∣selves in the very principles of their Religion, but are divided into two companies: the first do hold onely to the Text of the Old Testament, the other add unto it the Traditions of the Rabbins; the latter are more numerous then the former, and call themselves Rabbanim, to distin∣guish themselves from the former, to whom they give the name of Karraim.
Now the aversion is so great, that if one of those Karraims desires to be in∣corporated into the sect of the Rabba∣nims, they will not admit him thereunto, but are altogether irreconcilable; if it be out of prudence, surely 'tis not according to piety or charity: We do observe this, That the genius of these Rabbanims may be yet further known, who are the same Jews we have in Europe. 1 Why do they admit a Pagan that will become a Jew, and reject a Jew who desireth most en∣tirely to be one of their number? Is the distance greater between a Jew and a Jew, then between a Jew and a Pagan? Are not the Karraims, who acknowledge the Law of Moses, and all the Books of the Old Testament, and expect the coming of the same Messias, as the other Jews do, nearer to the Rabbanims then the Pa∣gans and other Idolaters? Why then do they receive them into the number of the Proselytes, and reject those who are al∣ready Jews, both by Birth, and by Reli∣gion? 2 If salvation be onely amongst the Rabbanims, why do they exclude those who desire to be admitted among them? 3 If they believe that the Karraims (what∣soever promise they do make) will never prove good Rabbanims; Who made them Judges of the heart? But assuredly they are more jealous of their own Traditions,
then of the salvation of souls, or of the glory of God. 4 They shut the door on those, to whom God will have it opened: The Law excludeth from the Congrega∣tion of Israel but onely certain Persons and Nations, who are named in the 23d. of Deuteronomy; and yet that exclusion relates onely to publick Offices, as it may easily be proved; but the modern Jews do for ever exclude those from their Church, who are Jews as well as they, depriving them for ever from all the be∣nefits of the Covenant; and this not for any faults expressed in the Law, but onely for having refused the Traditions of the Rabbins.