(ANGLO-JUDAICA).

(ANGLO-JUDAICA).

BARLOW, THOMAS. Several Miscellaneous and Weighty Cases of Conscience. Viz: I. Of toleration of Protestant dissenters. II. The King's power to pardon murder. III. Objections from Gen. 9, 6 answered. IV. Mr. Cottington's case of divorce. V. For toleration of the Jews. VI. About setting up images in churches. VII. An dominium fundatur in gratiâ?

Frontispiece engraved portrait of the Author. 6p.l., 3-93 [1]p., 1l., 1-14p., 1l., 1-40p., 1l., 1-134p., 1l., 3-78p., 2l., 3-46p., 1l. front. (port.) Browned, first page and last page laid down. Recent boards. 8vo. Roth B1-36.

London, “Printed, and sold by Mrs. Davis”, 1692.

    In 1654, Manasseh ben Israel petitioned England for the readmission of the Jews following their centuries-long expulsion dating back to 1290. In September of 1655, after Menasseh issued his “Humble Address” to Oliver Cromwell, a national conference was summoned to debate the issue.

    

    Thomas Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln, known for his amenability to the various governments of seventeenth century England, wrote "For Toleration of the Jews" sometime around 1655, although it was not published until much later.

    In the present compendium, Barlow looked favorably upon the issue of re-admission, one of his "weighty cases of conscience." Cromwell favored readmitting the Jews, among other reasons, so that they might transfer their trade interests from Holland to England. Indeed the arguments Barlow presents here mostly focuses upon the likely usefulness of the Jews to the State.

    Cromwell indeed gave informal permission to the Jews to reside and trade in England on condition they did not obtrude their worship upon the public. Although full emancipation of the Jews did not occur until the 1840's (and was certainly perceived by 17th century Jewry as unattainable), re-admission was the first and most important step.