Moses and Aaron: Civil and Ecclesiastical Rites, Used by the Ancient Hebrews. Goodwin Thomas Aiken

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СКАЧАТЬ The Rabbies term such a one ‎‏גר צדק‏‎ Ger tsedeck, Proselytum justitiæ, A Prosylite of righteousness. Secondly, ‎‏גר שער‏‎ Ger sahagnar, Proselytus portæ, A Prosylite, or stranger within thy gates, Deut. 14. 21. Of him also we read in the fourth Commandment. He was suffered to dwell amongst them; whence he is also called ‎‏תושב‏‎ Toschab, Incola, an Inhabitant. He was not circumcised, neither did he conform himself to the Mosaical rites, and ordinances, only he was tyed to the obedience of those Commandments, which among the Hebrew Doctors go under the name of Noahs seven Commandments;[31] which they reckon thus: 1. Judgements or Punishments for Malefactours. 2. Blessing the name of God; under this is contained the keeping of the Sabbath. 3. Disclaiming of Idolatry. 4. Uncovering ones nakedness. 5. Shedding of blood. 6. Robery. 7. Eating of any member of a beast, taken from it alive. Of this sort, were Naaman the Syrian, the Eunuch, Cornelius, and those of whom we read, That there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews Men that feared God[32] of every Nation under Heaven, Acts 2. 5.

[30] Rabbi Solomon, Deut. 23. 14.

[31] Sheindler in pentaglot. p. 1530.

[32] Ἄνδρες εὐλαβεῖς.

Secondly, to the making of one to be a Prosylite of the Covenant according to the difference of sex; and the difference of times the Rites of initiation varied. To the making of[33] a Male-Proselyte, at first three things were required. 1. Circumcision.[34] 2. A kind of purification by water. 3. The blood of Oblation. This oblation was commonly two Turtles or Pigeons. To the making of a Woman Proselyte, were required only purification by water, and Oblation.[35] Now because the Jews have neither Altar, nor Sacrifice, they say that for the Males Circumcision, and purification by water sufficeth; and for the Females, only purification by water.[36] In Davids time, they say that many thousands of Prosylites were joyned unto the Church without Circumcision, by this purification.

[33] Moses Kotsen. fol. 40. col. 2.

[34] ‎‏במילה ובטבילה ובהוצאת דמים של קרבן‏‎.

[35] Drusius de trib. sect. 2. p. 102.

[36] Moses Ægyptius, in Assurebiah, Perek. 13. fol. 137. vide Serarium trihæres, l. 2. c. 1.

      Hence we may observe, that a kind of Initiation by water was long in use among the Jews, though it were not Sacramental until Christ his institution: yea therefore it may seem to have been used by them, because they expected it at the coming of the Messias, as appeareth by their coming unto John, questioning not so much his Baptism, as his Authority, by what authority he baptized: Why baptizest thou them, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet? John 1. 25.

Thirdly, the respect born by the Jews towards Prosylites, was charitable;[37] they used no upbraiding terms towards them, saying Remember thy former deeds. Notwithstanding it was also provided,[38] No Prosylite should be eligible into the Court of their Sanhedrim; yea in their common commerce, they had an usual proverb, which admonished them of wariness[39] Vel ad decimam usq; generationem a Proselytis cave; Beware of Prosylites to the tenth generation.

[37] P. Fag. Exod. 22. 21.

[38] Moses Ægypt. lib. ult. Iad. tract. Sanhedr. c. 2.

[39] Casaub. advers. Baron. 27.

CHAP. IV.

       Of their Kings.

       Table of Contents

We shall read of three sorts of Kings in the Old Testament. Melchisedeck was King and Priest; David King and Prophet; others simply Kings. Melchisedeck was King and Priest, David King and Prophet. The concurrence of Princely Sovereignty, and Holy Orders, in the same man, intimates that supreme Authority should alwayes be accompanied with care of Religion: In which respect Joash, when he was anointed King, received the Testimony, or Book of the Law, 2 King 11. 12. Neither did these two meet only in Melchisedeck & David, but the same man among the Heathens[40] was oftentimes King and Priest. And the Trismegistus had his name Ter maximus,[41] because he was Philosophus maximus, Sacerdos maximus, & Rex maximus. All Kings were not anointed, but onely those in whom succession was broken; and there the first of the family was anointed for his Successor, except in case of dissention, where there was required a renewed unction, for the confirmation of his Authority. For this reason it was, that Solomon was anointed as well as David, because of the strife between him and Adonijah.

[40] Rex Anius, Rex idem hominum, Phœbique Sacerdos. Virg. Æneid, lib. 3.

[41] Alex. Neopolit. lib. 2. Cap. 6.

      Furthermore, Saul and Jehu were anointed ‎‏בפך‏‎ Bepac, with a cruse of Oyl, to shew the short continuance of their Kingdoms. David and Solomon were anointed ‎‏בקרן‏‎ Bekeren, with an horn of Oyl; that is, in a plentiful measure, to shew the long continuance of their Kingdoms.

As Kings were distinguisht from the People by many Ensigns of Honour, by their Crown, their Scepter, their Throne, &c. so likewise were they distinguished by their Apparel; that was the reason that Ahab entring into battel, changed his apparel, 1 Kings 22. 30. Though purple and white colours were not appropriated unto Kings,[42] yet these colours were in chief esteem, and principally used by them,[43] yea Purple above others was affected by the Emperours СКАЧАТЬ