The Old Paths;
or,
A Comparison of the Principles and Doctrines
of Modern Judaism with the
Religion of Moses and the Prophets

Rev. Alexander McCaul, D.D.
(1837)

 

"Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths."
Jeremiah 6:16

 

"In these papers we have taken up this simple position, that the religious system of those who rejected Jesus of Nazareth is contrary to the laws and the prophets, and is therefore false; whilst the doctrines of Him that was rejected, are in conformity with those writings and must therefore be true. When we say that the Rabbinical system is false, we do not mean that the Pharisees held no truth. On the contrary, we [have shown] that some of their expectations were agreeable to the word of God and therefore are true. All we intend is, that the peculiarities of Rabbinism of which the system is composed, are erroneous."

 

 

  1. January 15, 1836 (pg 1-4)
    Salvation is of the Jews; What is Judaism?; What is Christianity?; Jewish Prayerbook; Authority of Oral Law; Why discuss these 2 systems?; "Deniers of the law" shut out from hope of salvation; Contradictions in oral law?; The unlearned and poor denigrated.

  2. January 22, 1836 (pg 5-8)
    Character of the great and learned men of that time; New Testament charges against these men.

  3. January 29, 1836 (pg 9-12)
    What the law is; Who is to study.

  4. February 5, 1836 (pg 13-16)
    "Love thy neighbour as thyself"; Noahites.

  5. February 12, 1836 (pg 17-20)
    "Love thy neighbour as thyself"; Idolatry.

  6. February 19, 1836 (pg 21-24)
    Conversion; Severe penalties of oral law; Religion by sword.

  7. February 26, 1936 (pg 25-28)
    Purim; "Drink wine until drunk"

  8. March 4, 1836 (pg 29-32)
    Toleration and Charity; Noahites; 7 commandments or 12?

  9. March 11, 1836 (pg 33-36)
    Earthly blessings; "The pious of the nations"; Year of Jubilee; One fold, one Shepherd.

  10. March 18, 1836 (pg 37-40)
    Commandments of men; Laws of washing of hands; Penalties; Freedom from

  11. March 25, 1836 (pg 41-44)
    Passover; Leaven

  12. April 1, 1836 (pg 45-48)
    Anticipation of the future restoration; Deliverance from sin; The true Passover

  13. April 8, 1836 (pg 49-52)
    Passover; Four cups; Second holy day observance

  14. April 15, 1936 (pg 53-56)
    Lawful on Sabbath, unlawful on Holy Day laws

  15. April 22, 1936 (pg 57-60)
    Holy Day constitutions; Jewish charity lauded; Preparing for the Sabbath on a Holy Day

  16. April 29, 1936 (pg 61-64)
    Intolerance of heathens; Who is Edom?; Pray for enemies

  17. May 6, 1936 (pg 65-68)
    Legend of Leviathan and Behemoth

  18. May 13, 1836 (pg 69-72)
    Legends in the Synagogue Services

  19. May 20, 1836 (pg 73-76)
    Legends, continued

  20. May 27, 1836 (pg 77-80)
    Legends in the Prayers for Pentecost

  21. June 3, 1836 (pg 81-84)
    Legends in the Prayers for Pentecost

  22. June 10, 1836 (pg 85-88)
    Legends in the Prayers for Pentecost

  23. June 17, 1836 (pg 89-92)
    Magic

  24. June 24, 1836 (pg 93-96)
    Astrology

  25. July 1, 1836 (pg 97-100)
    Amulets

  26. July 8, 1836 (pg 101-104)
    Charms

  27. July 15, 1836 (pg 105-108)
    Charms, continued

  28. July 22, 1836 (pg 109-112)
    Sabbatic Laws

  29. July 29, 1836 (pg 113-116)
    Fast for the Destruction of the Temple

  30. August 5, 1836 (pg 117-120)
    Sabbatic Laws, continued

  31. August 12, 1836 (pg 121-124)
    Sabbatic Laws, continued

  32. August 19, 1836 (pg 125-128)
    Excommunication

  33. August 26, 1836 (pg 129-132)
    New Year's Day

  34. September 2, 1836 (pg 133-136)
    New Year, continued

  35. September 9, 1836 (pg 137-140)
    New Year, continued

  36. September 16, 1836 (pg 141-144)
    Justification

  37. September 23, 1836 (pg 145-148)
    Day of Atonement

  38. September 30, 1836 (pg 149-152)
    Feast of Tabernacles

  39. October 7, 1836 (pg 153-156)
    Prayers for the Dead

  40. October 14, 1836 (pg 157-160)
    Almsgiving

  41. October 21, 1836 (pg 161-164)
    Priests and Levites

  42. October 28, 1836 (pg 165-168)
    Ideas of the Deity

  43. November 4, 1836 (pg 169-172)
    Title of Rabbi

  44. November 11, 1836 (pg 173-176)
    Sanhedrin

  45. November 18, 1836 (pg 177-180)
    Sanhedrin, continued

  46. November 25, 1836 (pg 181-184)
    Sanhedrin, continued

  47. December 2, 1836 (pg 185-188)
    The Female Character

  48. December 9, 1836 (pg 189-192)
    Polygamy

  49. December 16, 1836 (pg 193-196)
    Divorce

  50. December 23, 1836 (pg 197-200)
    Concerning Meat

  51. December 30, 1836 (pg 201-204)
    The Birth - Messiah

  52. January 6, 1837 (pg 205-208)
    Slaughtering of Meat, continued

  53. January 13, 1837 (pg 209-212)
    Concerning Meat with Milk

  54. January 20, 1837 (pg 213-216)
    The Poor

  55. January 27, 1837 (pg 217-220)
    Wine

  56. February 3, 1837 (pg 221-224)
    Mourning for the Dead

  57. February 10, 1837 (pg 225-228)
    An Oath

  58. February 17, 1837 (pg 229-232)
    Oaths, continued

  59. February 24, 1837 (pg 233-236)
    Circumcision

  60. March 3, 1837 (pg 237-240)
    The Unlearned

Index