That if the TESTS are repealed, the Jews may have the benefit of this indulgence in common with all the other fubjects of England.

IN

A LETTER to a Reverend High Priest of the Church by Law established.

From the EIGHTH EDITION.

By SOLOMON ABRABANEL, of the House of DAVID.

First Printed in the Year 1736.

* Mr. Arnall, author of this ingenious tract, and of the Animadverfions on a certain Prelate's Remarks, &c. inferted in the 3d vol. of this work, was a man fo fingular and extraordinary that a short account of him will be acceptable to the reader.

He was clerk to an attorney, when being recommended to Sir Robert Walpole as a man of most ready wit and invention in writing, he tock him into his fervice, and employed him for a courfe of years in writing the Free Briton, and other papers in defence of his adminiftration, for which he affigned him a thousand pounds yearly out of the treafury and befides thofe public papers, he wrote feveral occafional tracts in defence of his Patron, who laid the treasury open to his demands. But when Sir Robert refigned, all his fupplies being flopped, and having spent his money as faft as he received it, and being in debt a thousand pounds, he died of a broken heart in the 26th year of his age.

His invention was fo quick, that Sir Robert ufed to fay, no man in England could write a pamphlet in fo litle time as Arnall. His expences were boundless, having at one time ready furnished lodgings in three different parts of the city, and keeping a coach and

He was author of the Letter to Dr. Codex on his modeft inftruction to the crown, in the cafe of Dr. Rundle, appointed bishop of Londonderry: he alfo wrote Ofpofition no proof of Patriotism; Clodius and Cicero; and many other political tracts, all very ingenious and plaufible apologies for the adminiftration of that time. It is faid, that he affected to be a gentleman, but behaved in all companies as an atto: ney's clerk.

THE

COMPLAINT

OF THE

CHILDREN of ISRAEL,

&c.

Reverend SIR, †

A

LTHOUGH I am a JEW, a circumcifed Few, it will be allowed me to address myfelf to a chriftian high priest; nor will the rabbins of our religion condemn me for this application, fince I come to you in behalf of a numerous innocent people, groaning under oppreffion, obliged to contribute to every pub lic charge, yet excluded from every public employment; and this, on no other account than that of religion, though you know, and, I doubt not, are ready to avow, that the CHRISTIAN religion was never intended, nor ought, to lave

+ Dr. Gibson,, bishop of London.

the RIGHTS OF MANKIND in a worfe condition than it found them, letos daw nor do về

The truth is, that we, the Jews of this kingdom, who have always been peaceable wellmeaning meo, fubmitted with patience to this hardship, because we never yet faw our chriftian Countrymen agreed in opinion, whether chrif tians in general are qualified by chriflianity itself for public employments; and we were led to believe, that if the faith of Christ admitted of so much diftinction, if chriftians might be separated from chriftians, and only thofe of a favourite complexion entitled to offices, the Jews in this cafe could not hope for much indulgence from a people who have fo little for one another.

A

But fince this fumbling block of offence is likely to be taken away, fince it is proposed that no man's RELIGIOUS OPINIONS fhall be any longer his civil qualification or disqualification, we hope, that proteftant diffenters will not be the only men received within this righteous comprehenfion, but that you, Sir, whofe equity we reverence, though we differ from your faith, will be our patron on the principle of universal charity; that as the great apostle of your revelation gloried to be filed the apofile of the Gentiles, you will think it no difhonour to be the BISHOP OF THE JEWS, and that as your Sa

viour

visur himself faid of one in his times, we may say of you with equal truth, Behold an Ifraelite in whom there is no guile. For,

We have an unquestionable right to your protection, if you are unquestionable in your fincerity; (as who dare even fufpect it ?) we are told by fome chriftians who fometimes attend at church, that in your pulpit where you never deceive, and in your prayers where you never diffemble, you befeech God for Jews, Turks, and Infidels, giving us the preference of those who believe the Arabian prophet, as you prefer Mahometans before those who believe none at all. Now, it would be unreasonable to throw us wholly on the care of heaven, without fhewing fome regard to us on your own part: It would be impofing a burthen on the providence of God, and expecting him to werk miracles, whilft you neglect the natural means of doing us good." If therefore you refufe our reasonable requests, and favour us with unprofitable prayers, you act the part of courtiers, who profefs a world of respect for their friends, whilst they avoid every opportunity of ferving them, and get rid of them at laft by recommending them to princes or great perfons, who have either no leifure to mind them, or no obligation to prefer them.

We hope for greater candour from you, Sir, and are therefore thus free to trouble you with H 5

OUR