Moses and Aaron. Goodwin Thomas Aiken

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СКАЧАТЬ Every Colledge had two sorts of Officers: First, Treasurers, who looked to the common stock, provided their diet, appointed each his task, and other publick necessaries. Secondly, Others, who entertained their strangers.

      2. The Pythagoreans shunned pleasures.152 So did the Essenes:153 to this belongeth their avoiding of oyl, which, if any touched unawares, they wiped it off presently.

      3. The Pythagoreans garments were white:154 So were the Essenes white also,155 modest, not costly: when once they put on a suit, they never changed it till it was torn, or worn out.

      4. The Pythagoreans forbade Oaths.156 So did the Essenes;157 they thought him a noted lyar, who could not be believed without an oath.

      5. The Pythagoreans had their Elders in singular respect.158 So had the Essenes.159 The body, or whole company of the Essenes, were distinguisht εἰς μοίρας τέσσαρας into four ranks, or orders, according to their Seniority; and if haply any of the superior ranks had touched any of the inferior, he thought himself polluted, as if he had touched an Heathen.

      6. The Pythagoreans drank water.160 So did the Essenes only water,161 wholly abstaining from wine.

      7. The Pythagoreans used θυσίαις ἀψύχαις inanimate Sacrifices.162 So did the Essenes:163 they sent gifts to the Temple, and did not sacrifice, but preferred the use of their holy water before sacrifice, for which reason the other Jews forbad them all access unto the Temple.

      8. The Pythagoreans ascribed all things to fate or destiny.164 So did the Essenes.165 In this Aphorism all three Sects differed each from other. The Pharisees ascribed some things to Fate, and other things to Mans Free-will. The Essenes ascribed all to Fate, nothing to mans free will. The Sadduces wholly deny Fate, and ascribed all things to the free will of man.

      9. The Pythagoreans the first five years were not permitted to speak in the School:166 but were initiated per quinquennale silentium,167 and not until then suffered to come into the presence of, or sight of Pythagoras. To this may be referred the Essenes silence at Table straightly observed, so that Decem simul sedentibus, nemo loquitur invitis novem; Drusius168 renders it, that ten of them sitting together, none of them spake without leave obtained of the nine. When any did speak, it was not their custome to interrupt him with words, but by nods of the head, or beckenings, or holding their finger, or shaking their heads, and other such like dumb signs and gestures, to signifie their doubtings, disliking, or approving the matter in hand. And to the time of silence amongst the Pythagoreans, that it must be for five years, may be referred the initiation of the Essenes; for amongst them none were presently admitted into their society, with full liberty, but they under went four years of tryal and probation. The first year they received Dolabellum,169 Perizoma, & vestem albam, a spadle, with which they digged a convenient place to ease Nature; a pair of breeches, which they used in bathing or washing themselves; a white garment, which especially that Sect affected. At this time they had their commons allowed them, but without, not in the common dining Hall. The second year they admitted them to the participation of holy matters, and instructed them in the use of them. Two years after they admitted them in full manner, making them of their Corporation, after they had received an Oath, truly to observe all the Rules and Ordinances of the Essenes. If any brake his oath, an hundred of them being assembled together, expelled him, upon which expulsion commonly followed death within a short time; for none having once entred this Order, might receive alms or any meat from other; and themselves would feed such a one, only with distastful herbs, which wasted his body, and brought it very low: sometimes they would re-admit such a one being brought near unto death; but commonly they suffered him to die in that misery.

      10. The Essenes worshipped toward the Sun rising.170

      11. The Essenes bound themselves in their oath, to preserve the names of Angels:171 The phrase implyeth a kind of worshipping of them.

      12. They were above all others strict in the observation of the Sabbath day;172 on it they would dress no meat, kindle no fire, remove no Vessels out of their place; no, nor ease Nature, Yea, they observed173 ἑβδομάδων ἑβδομάδας, every seventh week, a solemn Pentecost; seven Pentecosts, every year.

      13. They abstained from marriage, not that they disliked marriage in it self, or intended an end or period to procreation: but partly, in wariness of womens intemperance; partly, because they were perswaded that no woman would continue faithful to one man. This avoiding of marriage is not to be understood generally of all the Essenes, for they disagreed among themselves in this point. Some were of the opinion before noted: others married for propagation. Nihilominus autem cum tanta ipsi moderatione conveniunt, ut per triennium explorent valetudinem fœminarum; & si constanti purgatione apparuerint idoneæ partui, ita eas in matrimonia asciscunt. Nemo tamen cum prægnante concumbit, ut ostendant, quòd nuptias non voluptatis, sed liberorum causa inierint. Thus the latter sort preserved their Sect by the procreation of children: the former sort preserved it by a kind of adoption of other mens children, counting them as near Kinsmen, and tutoring them in the Rules of Discipline, as Josephus witnesseth. Pliny174 addeth also, that many other of the Jews, when they began to be struck in years, voluntarily joyned themselves unto them, being moved thereunto, either because of the variable state and troubles of the world, or upon consideration of their own former licentious courses, as if they would by this means exercise a kind of penance upon themselves.

      Concerning the beginning of this Sect, from whom, or when it began, it is hard to determine. Some175 make them as ancient as the Rechabites, and the Rechabites to have differed only in the addition of some rules and ordinances from the Kenites, mentioned Judg. 1. 16. And thus by consequence the Essenes were as ancient, as the Israelites departure out of Egypt: for Jethro, Moses father-in-law, as appeareth by the Text, was a Kenite: but neither of these seemeth probable. For the Kenites are not mentioned in Scripture, as a distinct order or sect of people, but as a distinct family, kindred, or Nation, Numb. 24. 21. Secondly, the Rechabites, they neither did build houses, but dwelt in Tents; neither did they deal in husbandry, they sowed no seed, nor planted Vineyards, nor had any, Jer. 55. 7. The Essenes, on the contrary, they dwelt not in tents, but in houses;176 and they imployed themselves especially in husbandry. One of the Hebrew Doctors177 СКАЧАТЬ