of any of the first sort being onely tied to the observation of them which forbid something to be done They say also that there are some Preceps which are onely to be executed by them at certain times when their pleasure is and also others to which they are no way subject as Circumcision the office of the Priests and Levites and such like Sometimes they may not observe the Commandements because of their husbands to whom they acknowledge themselves to ow dutifull obedience who have power over them and oftentimes call them to the performance of other things than Gods Law yet never by compulsion If any one make a question to what the women are more particularly obliged the answer is that they are bound to the performance of sixty four of the prohibiting and thirty six of the Commanding precepts Thus do the Rabbins appoint their women their Task which they have not alwayes leasure to mannage because they are to keep the house play the Cook Laundresse and Nurse and are also forced to do what ever their husbands enjoin them yet for all this the number of the Precepts was not thought sufficient for the Rabbines have added seven more that the summe ariseth to six hundred and twenty according to the number of the Letters in the Hebrew Decalogue which number the Hebrew word Keter signifying a Crown comprehends for the three radicall Letters Caph Thau and Resch make up the number and certainty if there were any who could fulfill the whole Law of God he were worthy to wear the Crown of the whole world and needfull it is that the Law should be fulfilled for otherwise the world cannot subsist as their wise men would perswade us out of the words of Jeremy If my covenant had not been with day and night I had not made the earth for so is this place perverted after a swinish manner in the forenamed book Brand spigelium A Jew is as fit an Interpreter of the Scripture as a Sow to be an Husbandman as in rendring these words that unlesse the Law which they call Berith that is to say a covenant had been given I had not created the heaven and the earth and whatsoever now hath any existence it hath it from the observation of the Divine Law moreover say they whosoever keeps all these Commandements sets a Crown upon Gods own head and in lieu thereof God shall invest their forefronts with seven Crowns who doe celebrate his Coronation and shall make them heirs of the seven bed-chamber which are in the Garden of Para dise and he shall defend them from the seven infernall Mansions and they shall obtain seven heaven's and so many earths Hereupon it is recorded in that Tract of the Talmud entituled Joma that it was the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer that the world was created for the sake of one just man for it is written in the first book of Moses the first chap. v. 31. That God shallman that it was good and by this good thing is meant that good and just one as it is written Praise the just one because he is good and it necessarily follows out of the words of Moses above mentioned And God saw c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or one just man which was Adam for at that instant there were no more in the earth Rabbi Chaia Bar Abha is of the same mind and Rabbi Jochanan confirms it out of the 25. verse of the 10. Chapter of Solomons Proverbs where it is written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The righpeous is an everlasting foundation Moreover the wisest of their Doctors write that every vein in mans body is the souls pedagogue to instruct it what to avoid whereupon it shall be found that if any proves disobedient to such an admonition he shall be branded with this mark that he hath not one good vein in him Again all the members prick a man forward to the execution of that which is commanded him and in this manner the three hundred sixty five prohibitory precepts are observed and fulfilled Oâ—â—serable Jew what Chirurgion can prick that vein in thee whren hath any goodâ—nesse in it or extract from thee the smallest dram of blood which is not corrupt King Salomon in his Proverbs saith Keep my Commandements that thou mayest live that is thy veins and members shall become thy provocative unto goodnesse thou shalt live for ever and David the King in the 34. Psalm and the 21. verse promiseth He shall keep all thy bones so that not one of them shall be broken which is as if had said who keeps the commandements of the Lord his bones shall not be broken Thus the poore blind doting Jews are fallen into such a reprobate sense that they neither will nor can understand the essence of faith and good works but running headlong into their obstinate errours persist in their folly so that the words of Sophonie are now verified Her Prophets are light and treachchrous persons her Priests have polluted the Sanctuary they have done violence to the Law Truly any one would think that they ought to be ashamed of so gross ignorance by which they dilacerate the word of God in that manner as though they had not the least relish or spark of understanding in them for in the confirmation and declaration of their faith settled upon no foundation in the Exposition of the holy Scripture they seema as strangers and aliens to the word of God who had dreamed of it about some thousand years ago and now grope after it as the blind man gropeth the for wall in darkness I will not in this place add one word more concerning the Jewish beliefe and superstition considering that I shall speak more largely of it in the following Chapters yea more then they could wish should be revealed It is now seasonable and expedient to speak something of the cause of their blindness and obstinacy with which they are plagued especially in the reading of the Word of God It is apparent out the History of the Old Testament The Jews always have been so stiff necked that if once they fixed upon any opinion that no force of Argument could inforce them to relinquish it whereupon Moses and the rest of the Prophets so often reprehend them for which many of them were persecuted and put to death by the obstinate Jews who for this very cause are often in the new Testament termed the Murtherers and Butchers of the men of God When God had once chosen them for a peculiar people made a Covenant with them and for the confirmation of it had annexed unto it the seal of Circumcision as an external sign had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies brought them into a Land surpassing a others with great strength and a stretched out arme and also had given unto them by the hand of Moses a Law according to whose prescript they ought to frame their lives acknowledge God praise and exalt him
they did acknowledge even then when the whole World drencht in the Sea of Idolatry was ignorant of the true God the Creator of Heaven and Earth then began they to wax proud haughty and puâ—t up counting the Nations as dung and with a supercilious sore-front boasting themselves to be the hâ—â—ly and elect people of God the Law of God and Circumcision being the main pillars of this their ostentation And seeing they at that time actually possessed the Land of Promise offered their Sacrifices the sum of their wants must be a glorying in their City Temple Sacrifice and other kinds of worshâ—p for which if any one dare manage a reproof objecting that they are not the children of Abraham because God shall prosligate and destroy them because their hearts and ears are uncircumcised and God shall again scatter them among the Gentiles he shall upon the very instant be cauterized for a false Prohet and a Liar and destinated to the stake for bearing witnesse unto the truth Neither did they here put a period to their madness they stand firm in their foolish opinions imbracing the Covenant according to its outside the Law according to the letter the ceremonies oblations and sacrifices in their naked representation provoking not only the Prophets but God himself never regarding whether or no any true knowledge fear or reverence of his Majesty was implanted in their hearts For the attempting of these enormities the Lord conceives heavy displeasure against Israel terms them a sinfull Nation laden with iniquity a seed of evil doers children that are corrupters which had forsaken the Lord and provoked the holy one in Israel and gone away backward whose hearts were obstinate their neck an iron sinew and their brow brasse Transgressors from their Mothers womb whose birth and nativity is the Land of Canaan their Father an Amorite and their Mother a Hittite a people rejected and accursed as Moses witnesseth He threatens them to baniâ—h them out of their own Land and to carry them into a Land which neither they nor their Fathers had known there also that they shall tast of his fury be slaves to their enemies and to make their City and Temple in which they so much rejoyced like unto Shiloe Lastly speaking to Esay the Prophet he saith Make the heart of this peole fat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyespuch and heare with their ears and understand with their heart and convert and be healed After the same manner God denounceth against them by Moses saying it shall come to passe that if thou wilt not hearken unto the voyce of the lord thy God to observe to do all his Commandements and his Statutes which l command thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee The Lord shall sinite thee with madness and blindnesse of heart Thou shalt grope at noon day as the blind gropeth in darkness and thou shalt not prosPer in thy wayes thou shalt be only oppressed and spoyled evermore and none shall save thee The fundamental then and prime cause of the blindness and obstinacy of the Jews is the just judgement of God upon them for their sins and the punishment due unto the same which came upon them because they heaRkened not unto his voice worshipping him with their mouth and with their lips drawing near unto him but in their hearts being far from him their service towards him consisting only in the commandements of of men as the Prophet Esay complains By which we may perceive that they soon left off to trace the way of Gods Commandements setling themselves upon their own carnal wisdome upon the sublime perspicuity of their Doctors who after Ezra were called Scribes as upon a new foundation accounting Their Expositions Ordinances Laws and Institutions to be of far more worth then the Doctrine of the Prophets against which the Prophets oftentimes declaimed but to little purpose What these Commandements are which they esteem more then the word of God our Saviour Christ teacheth us in the new Testament when the Jewes reprehend him that his Disciples walked not according to the tradition of the Elders which were of washing hands cups pots brazen vessels and tables and innumerable fopperies of the same sort by which they make the word of God of none effect but only strive to fulfill the inventions of their Ancestors Now in the last place seeing these their Traditions which Christ pointed out unto us are at this day accurately kept and observed of the Jews seriously also described in their Cannon La. and celesiastical and moral constitutions part of which I have decreed to lay open in the following discourse I think it here convenient to search out the grounds and reasons which might thâ—n and at this day doth induce them to prefer the Ordinances of men before Gods Commondements casting them headlong into the darkness of Superstitlon so blinding their understanding that they cannot possibly find out the trUe meaning of the holy Scripture We read in the Preface of that learned man Rabbi Mosche Mikkotzi called Hakdamah who writ a Book and Exposition upon three hundred and thirteen of Gods Commandements which he entituled Sepher mitzuos gadol that is the great Book of the Commandements in the year of Christ 1236. and published it at Toledo in Spain where the Jewes then had a most flourishing Schoole the Students therein being in number twelve thousands as he witnesseth in his hundred and twelfth Prohibitory precept that the written Law which God delivered unto Moses in Mount Sinai is obscure and difficult first because it contradicts is selfe Secondly because it is imperfect and therefore all things necessary to be known are not there set down wherupon it is needful some certain Exposition should be framed by whose pluÌ„met every one might dive into the genuine sence of the written Law grouÌ„ d theron as a firm foundation That the Law of Moses contradicts it selfe there are many instances We read Exod. 12. 15. For sevean dayes thou shalt eat unleavened bread but Deut. 16. 8. Six dayes thou shalt eat unleavened bread againe vers 9. Seven weeks thou shalt number unto thee which make only forty nine days but in the 23. of Leviticus and the 16. it is read Vnto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall you number fifty dayes In the 16. of Deuteronomy vers 2. it is said Thou shalt sacrifice the Passover unto the Lord of the Flock and of the Heard contrary to this â—xod 12. 5. Your Lamb shall be without blemish a male of the first year you shall take out from the sheep or from the Goats Again Deut. 15. 19. All the firstling males that come of thy Heard and of thy Flock thou shalt sanctifie unto the Lord thy God but in the 27. of Leviticus vers 26. The firstling of the Beasts which should be the Lords firstling no man shall
that he would not defile himself with the portion of the Kings meat nor the wine which he drank Secondly when the City Jerusalem was taken the Temple laid wast the Jews overcome led captive and no end of their misery and bondage could be expected behold God was so bountifull to Rabbi Juda Hannafi who was the very pattern of humility piety and sanctity that thence he was called Rabbenu hakkadosch our great Master that he found so much grace and favour in the eyes of Antoninus the Emperour whose favourite he was that by his permission he called a Councel of the most learned of the Iews out of every quarter of the Empire who might consult and find out the means how that their Law might be kept safe and not perish utterly while the misforTune of the Jews might daily encrease their Learned Doctours be either killed or sent into exile The consultation came to this issue that a consideration had of the great calamity the Jews were in being dispersed over the face of the earth and again seeing it was not unlawfull to commend their Kabala unto writing that this same Rabbine should gather together in one book what ever parcell of this Law delivered by mouth remained in memory either before or after Christs time This book he entituled Mischna that is a second Law in Greek called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it contains six Principal Chapters which are again subdivided into sixty peculiar Sections or Tracts Thus much Rabbi Mikkotzi In these Sections are contained in short injunctions conclusions positions and aphorismes the Traditions and Ordinances of their Elders according to whose Rule the Jewish Synagogue was then and now ought to square their lives against which Christ the Evangelists and Apostles preached and taught yea Isa also when he calls their Doctrine the Commandements of men This book in the year of Christ 219. being confirmed as absolute and Orthodox was received and approved by the whole Synagogue of the Iews who also enacted that the Jews then living and all their posterity should live according to the tenour of it which they do even to this day as it is clearly manifest by the Hebrew Chronicle called Tzemach David Some few years after arose Rabbi Iochanan who was Rector of the University of Ierusalem for the space of fourscore years he enlarged the foresaid book and called it Talmud Hierosolymitanum or the Talmud of Ierusalem which book seemed so obscure difficult and hard to be understood that few cared for the reading of it neither was it in so great esteem as the former neither is unto this day and because this book Mischuaios was written in a decurtate and different dialect Rabbi Asse Rector of the same University after him began to explain it for his School lectures and every year ranne over two Tracts thereof in this whole time of his profession which was threescore years two times finishing his exposition In writing he onely finished thirty five Tracts as Rambam witnesseth in his Preface to the book called Zeraim he began to professe in the year of Christ 3670 Next after him in the year 427. succeeded Maremar in the Rectorship to whom Rab. Asse son to the former joyned himself they two finished that which Rabbi Asse the father had left imperfect so that the book Mischuaios was now altogether compleat that which was added they called Gemarah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a complement or perfection which together with Mischuaios made up the whole Talmud these two spent seventy three years in the consummation of their labours so that the body of the Talmud was perfected received and acknowledged for authentick in the year of Christ 500. being called the Babylonian Talmud which to this day is a rule and square unto the Jews both in their Ecclesiasticall and civil affairs This is that glorious vestment of Jacobs posterity that precious treasure of which they are the keepers delivered unto them by hearâ— say this is their genuine Perasch or Expósition yea rather as Malachi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dying upon your faces out of which the doubtfull places above mentioned may fully be resolved this is that Thorah begnal peh the Law of words of greater esteem with them then that which was written seeing this without that can by no means be understood Now because the main of their folly is not known to many of the Christian World I wil here adde what I have transcribed out of their own books Aben Ezra in his Proem upon the Pentateuch hath these words This is most infallible sign unto us that Moses grounded upon the Law delivered only by word unto him and expressed in the Talmud which Talmud is the joy and consolation of our hearts There is also no difference betwixt Law and Law being both delivered unto us by our Ancestors And in another place he writes many things to the same purpose affirming it to be impossible to come by any exposition agreeable to the nature and proprietie of the Commandements of the Law unlesse we lay for our foundation those things which our Wise-men and Rabbines have spoke and written Hence we may conclude that the faith of the Jews is not grounded upon Moses but upon the Expositions of their owne Doctors which must interpret the former as a sure foundation of it as it is further confirmed in the Book Ammude Golah called also Semak or Sepher mitzvos katon that is the little book of the Commandements printed at Cremona in Italy in the year of Christ 1556. The words are these Thou shalt not think that the written word is the Groundwork for much rather the Law delivered by mouth only which is the Talmud is the true foundation And according to this Law God made a Covenant with Israel as it is written Exod. 34. 27. and these words are Gods Treasure for God fore-saw that the Israelites in time to come should be cast out into exile and because the people of the Land in which they were strangers would copy out interpret their Books as they did the written Word God would not have this to fall under the Pen of the Scribe and although in processe of time it came to passe that this was also written yet the Christians could not comprehend the true sence thereof by reason of its difficulty and because the interpretation thereof requires an acute and sublime understanding as it is written I have written unto him the great things of my Law but they were accounted as a strange thing yet if Rabbi Isaac Ben Joseph had not been hood-winkt in superstition he might have had the eyes of his understanding so much illuminated as to have perceived that place of Hosea to point at the written word and that this Law was not as he complains vilified and had in contempt by the Gentiles but even by the Jewes themselves who had so debased it that it seemed â—nto them as an ucouth and unknown
favour of children in the Cradle and so the Jewes in my judgment understand it of some diabol cal Ghost appearing in the shape of a woman which was accustomed either to kill or carry away young Infants after their Circumcision on the eighth day This Ghost or Spirit was named Lilis from Lel which in the Hebrew tongue signifies night Concerning this matter we read a story in a Book called Bâ—n Sira not after the Edition of the learned Paulus Fagius but after the Jews own impression The copy that I have Printed at Constantinople is the same with that which Sebastian Munster makes mention of in the end of his Cosmography and out of which he transcribed the Hebrew History of the Kingdome of Prester John which is also printed in the end of that Copy which I bought of a Jew inhabiting those parts who had got it out of Munsters Library for Munster was professor of the holy tongue in this City of Basile where also he was buried In this Book I say it is recorded that when God had created Adam alone and placed him in Paradise he said it was not good for Man to be alone therefore out of the Earth he formed a Woman like unto him and called her Lilis They presenly fell at odds began to brawl and chide the Woman saying to the Man I will not be subject unto thee and the Man replying neither will I be a Vassal to thee â—ut exercise dominion over thee for thou ought to obey She presently makes answer we are both equall thou art not better then I am nor I better then thou we were both fashioned out of the earth and thus shall they continue in strife and variance At last when Lilis perceivs that there is no hopes of agreement she pronounceth the name Schem hamphorasch which is the holy name Jehovah together with its secret and Cabalisticall interpretation against which Luther writ a Book and instantly upon the pronunciation flies into the air then Adam said unto God O Lord of the whole world the woman which thou gavest me is flown away from me Upon the hearing hereof God sent three Angels after the woman Senoi Sansengi and Sanmangeloph bidding them tell the woman that if she would return and be obedient unto her Husband all should be well if not that every day an hundred of her children should give up the Ghost These Angels having received this their commission presently were upon the wing and made after her and overtook her upon a most tempestuous place of the Sea even there where the Egyptians were afterwards drowned proclaiming unto her the will of the Almighty she refusing to return the Angels threatned to stifle and drowne her in the waters unless she would obey and go back unto her Husband Then began Lilis to pray and beseech them that they would let her passe because she was created to this end that she might torment and put to death little Infants the eight day after their nativity if they were males but upon the 20. if they were females Which so soon as the Angels perceived they attempt to force her to return to her Husband which Lilis fearing swore unto them that whensoever she should find the names or shape of these three Angels either written or painted upon any scrowl parchment or any such like matter that then she had no power over Infants and that she would not hurt them furthermore she refused not to embrace â—he condit on that every day one hundred of her children should die the death and so accordingly it fell out for upon one day a whole Centenary of her off-spring or so many yong Divels went unto their long home And this is the cause that we imprint the names of these Angels upon certain sorowls of parâ—hment use to hang â—hem about the necks of our Infants that Lilis beholding that which is written may remember her oath not hurt them Thus much we have transcribed out of Ben Sira It may very well go for a truth that they hang such scrolls about their childrens necks seeing they daily perform many a strange cure by the help of them In what place soever any woman is brougbt to bed we may find the forementioned picture as also the names of those Angels who are appointed for the safeguard of us mortalls written above the doore of the same But from whence had the learned Rabbines this their pleasant History this quaere is answered in the book called Brand spigelium in these words The rib which the Lord had taken from man he made it a woman that she as a rib taken from his side should be liable to his service hence the Rabbines comparing them words God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female with those It is not good that man should be alone I will make him an help meet for himself make a grand question what became of that first woman who was created at the same time that Adam was and they salve it thus the first woman of all whose name was Lilis being too highly conceited of her own worth would not be obedient to her husbands command because the earth was a common mother to them both the Lord therefore divorced her from Adam and gave unto him another who was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone who might follow obey and serve him as a member of his own body So from Brand spigelium So soon as this Witch or night hagge is by these their exorcismes banished and expelled the room and the pangs of child birth begin to seâ—se upon the woman and the little infant ready to weep out a salutation to his fellow mâ—rtalls it is first of all provided that a Christian midwife be not sent for for this is most severely proâ—ibited in their Law unlesse in case of necessity when the absence of a Jewish midwife must force a dispensation of the Statute neither is this licenced unlesse the woman to be delivered be guarded about with a whole Troup of her own nation for they greatly suspect the Chriâ—s tian women that they should either neglect their office or else kill their children while they are a coming out of the womb If the birth be fortunatâ— so that a man child be born into the world then nothing but the mounting echoes of joyfull acclamations are heard in their habitations the father of the child makes speed into the Market there to buy fat Geese crammed Capons flesh and fish of all sorts not omitting a cup of good liquor against the feast of the Circumcision which is to be celebrated the eighth day accordingly as God By Moses enjoyned them In the mean time the ten are called for They must be neither more nor fewer to the Circumcision of the Infant who ought all to be above the age of thirteen years and this number in their own language they term Minian a The night following
year untill the thirteenth they have a serious and impulsive admonition given time not to go uncovered after which time they are commanded to use the gesture The children of the Jews from their very infancy are accustomed to wear a girdle and truly their honest Matrons fasten it to the hinder part of their coats that by this means they may always be mindfull of it for the girdle severs their heart from the secret parts lest the heart in time of prayer might be hindred in its devotion by beholding the privities So soon as this infant Jew hath learnned his morning prayers he intermixeth this Petition Blessed be thou O God who girds Israel with the girdle of strength having respect unto the girdle he is girded withall for if he have none about him then is this his prayer of no moment but in vain and imputed to him for a sinne Moreover the children are not permitted to go barefoot for fear of a multiplicity of dangers which might happen unto them and that especially in the Moneths of December and January when the Cats dance their Corantoes for at that time they may chance to tread upon venemous stuffe cast out by the Cats in this their wantonnesse by which their feet may be annoyed with such a swelling that for a long time after they can have no remedy When they cannot as yet speak plainly or readily they are caught to pronounce some good Sentences out of the Bible they accustome them also upon the morning and Evening of Evening of every Sabbaoth and great feast decently to salute their father and mother and to bid them good morrow good even to wish them a happy Sabbaoth c. Seven years past and the children coming to more maturity they are commanded that every morning adjoyning the name of God they should remember to say God give yon a good day c. for so spoke Boaz to his reapers Hael immachem the Lord be with you and also this Jebarecha hael God blesse you or as we use to speak God thank you It is not lawfull for them to use the name of God unlesse it be in some pure place concerning which more shall be spoken in another place They are also taught all manner of utensils necessary for their life and daily conversation They practise Nomenclation that by this means they may fooner learn to speak Hebrew and hence it is that they intermingle many Hebrew words with the Germane language or any other which they use as their mother tongue Moreover these infants altogether shun the company of Christians will neither eat nor drink nor enter into any other kind of commerce with them this being the study of their Parents to make every action of the Christians for to seem odious and such as are abomination to the Jews hence it comes to passe that they indesinently hold on to nourish that hatred which they conceived against the Christians in their infancy even untill the end of their dayes When the children are seven years old then by their Parents command they learn to read and write If any one be of so great an estate that he can bestow the charges he keeps a Rabbi or Schoolmaster in his own house to instruct his children So soon as any one hath made so much progresse in this kind that he can read then first of all he is taught to construe the Books of Moses in that language with which he was brought up In a certain book called Schebkile emunah it is recorded that when the mother brings her son the first time unto School to the Rabbine that she ought to give unto him some delicious wafers made with Sugar and hony and to say these words Even as this wafer is sweet so let the Law be sweet unto thy heart let it be like sugar upon thy tongue and hony upon thy lips see that thou trifle not away thy time at School with babbling unprofitable speeches but learn to speak the words of the Law alone let them only proceed out of thy mouth for hereby it shall comete pass that the glory of Gods Majesty shall rest upon thy head and for evermore shall there keep his residence for God loves all those that are intent unto goodnesse and speak of his Word Hereupon the most learned Doctours among the Jews have left it written that Jerusalem being wasted and all the Priests and Levites exiled by the Enemy God did in such a manner for sake them that his Majesty would not vouchsafe to bear them company The Sanedrim also or the chief Consistory among the Jews being likewise by the Conquerours overthrown without Jerusalem had not the Majesty of the most high gone along with them yet the children at length being banished out of their School the glorious Majesty of God omnipotent was their Companion into the Land of their captivity concerning which the Prophet Jer. prophesied in these words Her children are gone into captivity before the enemy and from the daughter of Zâ—on all her beauty is departed where beauty notes out the presence of Gods Majesty in the presence of which the beauty of the City Jerusalem consisted therefore when the boyes sitting at the feet of the Rabbine learn the words of the Law and nothing but the Law issues out of his mouth then the glorious Majesty of the Creator dwells in them and delights himself with the breath coming out of the mouth of these punies for a breath of this nature is pure and holy considering the child hath not as yet committed sin In the thirteenth year of his age his title is Bar Mitzvah the son of the Commandements because he is now tied to keep the Law and will of God as also then he begins first of all to fin if he do not perform the said Commandements Rabbi Simeon Bar Nachmam in the name of Rabbi Jochanan uttered these words That if any one teach his son the word of God he is worthy to sit before the Lord in that University which is opened in the heavens as Jeremy saith If thou wilt return then will I bring thee again and thou shalt stand before me that is to say if thy son hear the Law I will make him fellow of the same Colledge that the Saints and Angels inhabit and make him partaker of life eternal and whosoever is not carefull that his son should learn the Law and so consequently becomes the occasion of his corrupt education it were better for him that he were blind so that he might not behold his reproachfull acts as it is written of the Patâ—iarch Isaac When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see he called Esau his eldest son c. On these words Rabbi Eliezer of the stock of Azariah saith That Isaac his eyes were therefore dimme that he might not see the immodesty and wantonnesse of his unnurtured son Esau and it is recorded in the book Medrasch that Abraham for the very
help them to judge deStroy and utterly to extirpate from the face of the earth the Mountain of Esau that is to say the Christians together with their Kingdome they stiling the Christians Edomites and the Roman Monarchy the Kingdome of Edom and so shall bring them back into their own Land flowing with milk and honey what the reason is that they call uâ— Christians Esauites or Edomites I will at large inform the Reader in another place I will only insert thus much in this present Chipter which they write and teach in their secret and hidden books which they will not suffer to come into the hands of Christians that the soul of Esau passed from his body into that of Christs and that Christ was no lesse wicked then Esau was and that we are no better whence ever we are not without great cause called Edomites who put our trust and confidence in him Then they begin to sing God shall be King over the whole earth In that day there shall be one God and his Name shall be one as it is written in thy Law O God Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one God This they â—abble out as a thing clear contrary to our Christian profession as though we worshipped more Gods then one and were wont to give him more names then one as the namâ— of Christ Next in order follows a short Prayer calâ—ed Krias schmah taken out of the fift Book of Moses and when they read that verse in the Hebrew language Hear O Israol the Lord our God is one God and come unto the last word thereof which is Echad signifying One they toss up and down and bandied from mouth to mouth with eyes cast up to Heaven for the space of halfe an hour yea sometimes for an whole hour together and comming to the last letter thereof which is Daleth the whole Congregation doth bend and turn their heads successively towards the four corners and winds of the earth hereby signifying that God is King in every place yea throughout the whole world for the letter Daleth by reason of its place in the Hebrew Alphabet stands for the number of four Furthermore the word Ecthad comprehends in it two hundred forty five other words to which they superadding these three Hael elohechem Emeth your God is truth the number amounts to two hundred forty eight the very number of the members in mans body so that if these several Prayers be said for every member in particular then the whole man is strongly guarded against all manner of evil Whosoever repeats the foresaid verse three times shall be safe from the Divel for that verse begins with the Letter Schin and ends in Daleth in this manner Schema Israel Adonai Eloheim Adonai Echad which two letters conjoyned make up the word Sched which signifies a Divel They repute also this Prayer as a Prayer of singular worth and sanctity by which may be wrought many miracles whence it comes to pass that they are extreamly superstitious in a repetition of the same every morning and evening It is registred in the Talmud that upon a certain time when it was commanded by open Proclamation that the Jews any where having a Synagogue should not publickly teach and make profession of their faith Rabbi Akibha not regarding the command ceased not to read and preach it openly in the Synagogue upon which he was apprehended and for the fact cast into Prison When the Tormentors were about to bring him to the stake to be burnt they first of all curried his corps with an iron horsecombe wounding and tormenting him after a lamentable manner Yet notwithstanding Rabbi Akibha remained constant praying without intermission And when the time of the day came wherein he was to say that Prayer Krias Schema he begun it with great boldness At the last his Scholers bespoke him and said Most dearly beloved Master thou hast prayed sufficiently now yield thy selfe and take thy death patiently To whom he made this answer I have had this saying in great esteem all my life long Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy body and thus I have understood it that though any one should pluck out my heart and rent my body in pieces yet I ought ever to determine this with my selfe never to cease to love him Therefore when God hath confirmed this in me should I cease to worship him and to bring this Prayer to an end which is directed unto him Therefore holding on in this his prayer he never left repeating the word Echad until his soul forsook his body Then was there a voice heard in the air saying Blessed art thou O Rabbi Akibhah because thy soul departed breathing the word Echad now shalt thou have an entrance into life eternal and shalt come into that light of the Garden of Paradise Amen Selah They have also another prayer like unto the former which they call Schemon Esre i. e. eighteen because it contains so many particular thanksgivings and prayers of praise therein Concerning the sanctity and holinesse of this and the former prayer the Jews have written many a large Tract which I leaving to bespeak their own worth will neither praise nor any ways disgrace The last of these every one repeats twice a day and he that is their Chaplain or Reader in the Synogogue doth publickly sing it by himselfe two or three several times The Jews esteem highly of it hoping that hereby they shall obtain remission of all their sins When it is their will and pleasure to poure out unto God they are bound to do it standing and with such a posture that one foot may not insist more upon the ground then the other in imitation of the Angels of whom it is written And their feet were streight feet This is handled more at large in Rabbi Alphes in his first Chapter and in their Minhagim and in many other books When they say those words holy holy holy Lord God of hosts the earth is full of his glory being a parcel of the Prayer Schemon Esre by them named Keduscha a then they caper three times together leaping up as though by this their gesture they did indeavour to become like unto the Angels who were the first Choristers that sung this Song of praise Others say that because these words in the Prophecy of Esay immediatly follow And the posts of the doors were shaken at the voice of him that spake it is both meet and convenient that a man should touching move himself in the quavering of such an Angelical Anthem The Hebrew Doctors write that whosoever dare to mutter the least syllable while the Prayer Schemon Esre is a saying shall after his death have coals of fire given him to eat as it is written in the fourth verse of the thirtieth chapteâ— of Job for so Rabbi Salomon expounds the words Rabbi Tanchum saith in the name of Rabbi
holinesse to the Lord. Then the sexton goes about and cries who will buy Gelilah etz chajim which is a certaine kinde of office which any supplying is licenced to tosse over the booke of the Law by a serious revisall Which office is granted unto him who will give the most money for it which is put into the poore mans box and chested up for their reliefe Those pieces of wood by the helpe whereof the booke of the Law is carryed up and downe are called by them etz chaijm the wood of life to which that sentence of Solomon was Godfather Wisdome is the tree of life to them thâ—t lay hold on it Gelilah signifies a folding intimating what things may be observed in the folding and unfolding of the book When the Chanter takes this holy booke out of the Arke then he goes into the pulpit where he reads out of the same these words following It came to passe when the Aâ—ke was set forth that Moses said Rise up O Lord and let thine enemies be scattered and let them that hate thee flee before thee Againe Many people shall goe and say come yee and let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his waies and we will walke in his pathes for out of Sion shall goe forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem The Chanter when he begins to sing laying the book upon his arme saith O praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his name together To which the whole congregation makes this answer O magnifie the Lord our God and fall down before his foot stool for he is holy O magnifie the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hil for the Lord our God is holy Directly above that four square structure is placed a certain table covered with a silken Carpet upon which the Chasan or Chanter laies down the book of the Law Then comes he who is to purchase the Office of Gelilah with his money taking away and devesting the booke of its formerly in wrapping garments which finished the Chasan and the other who was to buy his place calling one out of the whole congregation and commanding his personall appearance in his fathers name and his own he approaching the presence seats himselfe in the middle kisses the book not upon the bare leaves of the same for this were an hainous offence but through the swadling cloutes thereof and grasping the cover thereof saies with a loud voice praise the Lord c. Blessed be thou O God who hast chosen us unto thy selfe before all other nations of the earth and hast given us thy Law Blessed be thou O God the Law giver Now the Jew perswades himselfe that his lot is fallen unto him in a fair ground seeing he hath seen and handled the tree of life and therefore becomes blessed above all other people In the next place the minister reades a chapter or section out of the Bible which ended he who was formerly summoned to appeare takes the book the second time and kisseth it saying Blessed be thou O God who hast given us the very law and implanted unto us eternall life Blessed be thou the Law-giver After this two more are successively called whose behaviour is squared according to the platforme of the formers carriage He that came first in goes out by another doore then that which afforded him entrance After these another is cited who ought to have a well brawned arme for hee must lift up the book at armes end and turning round must expose it to the view of every spectator the whole congregation in the mean season bellowing ouâ— This is the law which Moses gave to the Israelites This Office is named Hagbahah and is sold to him for money who bids most While the match is in making those brawling scolds the women presse into the Synagogue with a great deale of quarrelling and much opposition every one striving to gain a place in some window or other where they may be blessed with the sight of such an holy booke thinking to reape some pleasure by the sole beholding of it seeing their lips cannot bee allowed to second their husbands in billing of it The women have a peculiar Synagogue of their owne differenced from that of their husbands with latticed and cross-barred windowes Concerning which much is spoken in the Talmud and an evident demonstration there of is given by the Prophet Zachary in these words The land shall mourne every family apart the family of the house of David apart and their wives apart the family of the house of Nathan apart and their wives apart The family of the house of Levi apart and their wives apart The family of Shimei apart and their wives apart All the families that remaine every family apart and their wives apart Whence they conclude that the men and women are not to come into the same Sinagogue in the time of divine service and that for modesty and honesties sake seeing not only women but men likewise are apt and inclineable to fall into divers lustfull cogitations when they are in the same place together If the Jew who reades the Law chance to stumble and let the booke fall out of his hand he is bound to fast and all the rest also for a long time together seeing this accident presageth some great calamity to come upon them At length come they who have purchased the Gelilah and etz chajim the one of them touching the wooden cover of the booke folding it up great experience is required in this case the other administers the linnen clothes in which it ought to be inwrapped and its silver-twisted coat involving all the rest Then comes every one in the Synagogue both young and old and kisses the booke touching it only with two fingers with which they afterwards handle their face which action relishing of a supreme sanctity is held for a soveraigne medicine against blindnesse and all diseases incident to the eie While the booke is carryed to the Arke the Chanter sings praise the name of the Lord for the name of this our God is of great power and strength The congregation answereth and saith His praise is above heaven and earth he hath exalted the horne of his peculiar people to the praise of all his saints Yea the Israelites being a folke most neare unto him praise yee the Lord. When the book is laid in the Arke the people say or sing those words of Moses used by him when the Arke rested Returne O Lord unto the many thousands of Israel Then they conclude all saying as was formerly noted at their going out of the Synagogue O Lord lead me in thy justice because of mine enemies make my way plaine before thy face The Lord shall keep my going out and comming in from this time forth for evermore These words they repeate also when they goe out
and religious who have done as much good as evil Those who are perfectly just have their names presently registred in the book of life but they who are extremely wicked have their names written in the book of death Those of the middle sort are deferred and put off untill the day of reconciliation which is the tenth day after the celebration of the feast of the new year If they truly and sincerely repent them of their sins in the mean time so that their good deeds exceed their bad ones then it goes well with them but if on the contrary their evil deeds be more in number then they are presently put in the catalogue of the reprobate and damned As it is written Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written among the just By the blotting out of the book understanding the book of the wicked and by the word life or living the book of the just and by the words Let them not be written among the just the book of those who are indifferently honest Hence is also that of Ralig bbi Nalig chman the son of Isaac upon these words of Moses Now if thou wilt palig rdon their sin thy mercy shall appear But if thou wilt not blot me out of the book which thou hast written In which words Blot out fingers out the book of the wicked Out of thy book the book of the just Which thou hast written the book of them which are indifferently just and godly So far the Talmud 1. Now that God should at this time sit in judgment rather then at any other the reason is grounded upon a certain tradition of the Antients that God created the whole world Adam and placed him in Paradise in the moneth of September therefore it was thought very meet and just that God at the years end should require of man an account of his life and see how he hath carried himself for the space of the year past and so reward every one according to his works Which he paies unto every one in the year following in this manner Sins are of divers sorts some God punishes in this world some also in the life to come so also good works some whereof are recompenced here some hereafter Now if a man for the most part doe nothing els but sin all the year long polluting his soul with the horrid filth of wickedness yet doing some few good deeds the sum of all is presented before Gods tribunal upon new-years day 1. Then God takes the scales and puts his good deeds in one end and his bad deeds in another If it seem good then to the Judge of all men to reward the foresaid man for the good he hath found in him in this present world it cometh to pass that he is called a just man and hath this happy sentence pronounced upon him in this vale of misery that he shall have a name in the book of life live for the next year become rich and shall be advanced to great honours 1. In like manner if an honest and just man who every day makes a conscience of his wayes and lives according to the law all the year through offend and commit some gross enormities for which God is pleased to punish him in this world then God calls him a wicked and unjust liver and pronounceth sentence against him for evil and not for good puts his name into the book of the dead thereby giving him notice that he shall either die or become poor or be troubled with some dangerous disease the year following and therefore although a man may enjoy the happiness of Saints in the world to come yet may he be called with injustice in this seeing he is here punished for his offences even as the reprobate And on the contrary one here accounted just and holy may be ordained to damnation because God gives him the reward of his workes in this present world And therefore no man ought to wonder or account it a strange thing that the godly suffer affliction and all manner of distress in this present life when on the contrary the wicked lives as he list gives rest unto his soule enjoyes pleasure and is without the gunshot of sorrow and vexation yet at the day of death the case is altered for he that was here so gay and gallant must goe into everlasting fire and the other so miserable into enternal bliss God then paying unto them the due reward of their labours And this is the very reason why the Germara affirms that the three foresaid books are opened upon new-years day Furthermore it often falls out that one good work blots out a number of transgressions and one sin abolisheth many good works both which are in the power of God If the sinner whose name is put into the book of death repent him of his wayes from the bottom of his heart and continue in this course unto the day of reconciliation being the tenth of the new-year he may happily moue God to reverse the sentence pronounced against him and to transferr him into the book of life Even as the godly in the same space angering his Maker by the commission of some hainous offence may move him to blot his name out of the book of life and to write it among the dead Thus the blindfolded Jews write speak and are conceited of the Almighties rule and government making him a Judge of that stampe and quality which they desire him to be of far contrary to the description of the Prophet David who in heavie cheer praying unto God for the forgiveness of his sins cries out Enter not into judgment with thy servant O Lord for no man living shall be justified in thy sight And again If thou O Lord marke whalig t is done amiss who is able to abide it Seeing therefore God sits in judgment upon every new-years-day and so severely punisheth the transgressors of his commandements the Rabbines have made it an Ordinance and Statute in Israel that every one should for a moneth before repent of his sins and the evil he hath committed turn from his wicked wayes and begin to lead a new life This therefore the Jews put in execution and upon the first day of Elul or August they fall to a serious account calling all their sins to remembrance and weighing them according to every several circumstance in which they have wickedly transgressed through the whole circuit of the year Whosoever then every day before he eat or drink questions his soule what it hath done and with a diligent scrutinie searches every corner of his heart for some formerly practised wickedness grieving very much and being very heartily sorry for the same he shall upon New-years-day when others are to give an account for their offences receive a plenary absolution And hence it is that the Jews dwelling among the Walloones at this day have a custome to rise every morning of this moneth
That by this mean Covenant-breakers may as well as the keepers the bad and the villanous as well as the good and just may sing praise and pray unto God Whence every Christian may see how little they esteem of an oath especially made unto one of us Then they hold on to sing and pray untill the night be far spent Some all the night over others returning to their houses betake them to their rest other sleep in some corner of the Synagogue or other or in the Synagogue of the women in some place farthest remote from the Arke They among the Jews who have an earnest desire truly to repent them of their sins and to lead a holy life stand all the time that the feast endures singing and praying without intermission as I have seen some who have stood immoveable in the same place for twenty seven hours together When the morning begins to approach they all repair to the Synagogue before the dawning of the day making there their agode untill night boasting very much of the book of the Law reading many Sections therein Falling often to the earth with their face uncovered and then chiefly when they make confession of their sins smiting their brests at every word to shew the devout attention of their mindes and the lifting up of their hearts unto their God and maker When it begins again to be night then the Priest wrapping a great hair-cloth ahout his neck and drawing it over his head so far untill it come to the threshold of his eyes he blesseth the people according to the ordinary forme prescribed by Moses Numbers the 6. the 24 25 26 and 27. verses When he pronounceth the blessing he stretcheth out his hands towards the people they covering their faces with their own for it is lawful for no man to look upon the hands of the Priests because the spirit of the Lord rests upon them while he blesseth the Congregation As it is written He standeth behinde our wall looking forth at the windows shewing himself through the grates that is to say God stands at the Priests back and looks through the windows and grates that is to say through his hands being being stretched out and his fingers being spread abroad severed one from another Then he siâ—gs another prayer repeating it seven times sometimes with a submisse and low sometimes with a loâ—d voice and the reason of this reiteration is because God at this time departs from them and goes into heaven not coming again untill the priest be the seventh time in repeating of this prayer The seventh time therefore they sing it in a melodious tune with a sense bereaving harmony having very good skill and sweet voices as they can witness who have heard them Before they depart the Synagogue they blow upon the Rams horne before mentioned a sound both long and loud in remembrance of the year of Jubile which in ancient times was wont to begin as upon this day Others write that they do it in memory of the seven heavens which the Lord opened when he descended upon Mount Sinai and gave the law to the people of Israel and declare unto them that in heaven there was no other God besides him When they have put an end to this their festival and a period to these their trifles then as they blush not to affirm there comes a voice from heaven saying goe and eat thy bread with joy and gladness of heart for God accepts all thy good works at the best Instantly upon the hearing of the voice they return to their own houses some carrying the reliques of their wax lights along with them because they commonly use them in making the separation between the festival and other dayes of the week But others on the contrary leave them in the Synagogue in the Candlesticks for a year together lighting them at some certain times They who are very holy and religious among them have a wax light burning in the Synagogue night and day never going out throughought the whole year this they call Ner Tamid an everlasting light When they are returning home one sayes unto another God the Creator seal unto a happy year for the three books of which we formerly made mention are now sealed up and Gods sentence pronounced upon every one is ratified and stands immutable Being come home they finde their guts to make a grievous complaint and themselves exceeding hungry having eaten nothing for twenty eight hours together they make haste therefore to satisfie their greedy appetite and to replenish their belly with store of victuals The next morning after they rise betimes out of their beds and return to the Synagogue lest Satan should take an occasion to complain of them saying unto God yesterday they rose early because it was the day of reconciliation but this day their devotion grows cold loving their pillow better then the Synagogue What should I say more this day they are so holy and religious so honest and devout that even the Devil is forced whether he will or not to commend their carriage concerning which we have his following conference in Pirk Rabbi Eleazar Upon that day in which God gave the Law to the Children of Israel the evil spirit Samael came unto him and said O Lord of the whole world thou hast given unto me power and dominion over all the people of the earth only the children of Israel excepted To whom the Lord made answer On the day of reconciliation and thence-forward thou shalt have power over them if thou canst finde any sin fault or offence in them of which if they be found in no manner guilty then shalt thou not approach so much as to touch them Which when Samael understood he said unto God thou hast a people upon earth like unto the Angels in heaven For as the Angels in heaven standing immoveable neither eat nor drink and being free from all sin live in peace among themselves even so do thy people Israel upon the day of Reconciliation which God hearing out of the mouth of the Devil presently without delay forgives them all their sins and opens his ear unto their prayers It is read in another place that they give gifts unto Satan that they may blinde and shut up his eyes lest he should see their doings and accuse them unto the Lord of hosts as it is written A gift blindeth the eyes of the wise and perverteth the words of the righteous I conclude with the words of God to Esay Cry aloud and spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and to the house of Jacob their sins Yet they seek me daily and will know my wayes even as a nation that did righteously and had not forsaken the statutes of their God They will ask of me the ordinances of justice they will draw neer unto God saying Wherefore have we fasted and thou seest it not We have punished our selves and thou regardest
hands under which they were to receive the blessing that the Angels became the Minstrels playing divers tunes upon Trumpets Pipes and other instruments that Adam Eve and God himself might dance In this balsphemous manner writes he that is the Author of that book called Bricum Spigelium printed some few years ago at Cracovia in Poland the German tongue and Hebrew letter which book contains many reprehensoâ—y and moral precepts and is of great esteem among the Iews at this day I finde it registred in the Talmud that God only made tresses for Eve which they prove out of those words and God built which the Rabbines read plaited and hence the Iews at this day call the plaits of a womans hair Biniasâ— which in English signifies a building from the Hebrew word Banah which signifies to build which signification Moses also gives unto it when he saith The Rib which the Lord God had taken from man thereof he built a womâ—n and brought her to Adam Which the Rabbines being Commentators must carry this sense that God plaâ—ted Eves hair and brought her unto Adam leaping and dancing as he came along Surely if there were but the least sparke of true knowledge they would blush and be ashamed to utter these blasphemous sayings before the world but God in his just judgment hath smitten them with blindness that seeing they will not see and hearing they will not understand We leave them therefore an return to our matter The time being come when the blessing due unto the married couple is to be given unto them foure boyes take the Canopie which is fastened to foure posts and wooden pillars and carry it into the street or garden where the solemnity is to be kept whither the bridegroom comes being attended with many men following him at his heels After him followes the bride and her damsels with sackbuts timbrels and other musical instruments seating her self by her spouse under the Canopie This Canopie they call by the name of Chuppah which signifies a cover or shelter When every man and woman there present have taken their places then every one begins to cry out Baruch habba Blessed is he that cometh Which said the Bride being led by others is to compass and circle about her bridegroom three several times as a Cock doth when he is about to tread a hen because it is said A woman shall compass a man Then the bridegroom takes his bride and leads her once about the floore in a circle the people in the mean time casting wheat or other grain upon the bride and saying encrease and multiply hereby signifying that peace and abundance of riches in housekeeping shall befall them according to that of the Psalmist He maketh peace in thy borders an filleth thee with the flower of wheat In some places they mingle mony among their wheat which the poorer sort gather for their own relief The Bride is to stand upon the right hand of the Bridegroom because it is written Kings daughters were among thy honourable women at thy right hand did stand the Bride in a vâ—sture of golde She must turn her face towards the South because it is a tradition of the Rabbines that whosoever placeth his bed in that manner that he lying there in his face shall be towards the South not towards the North shall be the father of many children The Rabbine who marries and joynes them together in the bond of matrimony takes the skirt of the hair-cloth or garment by them called Tallith a which the Bridegroom wears about his neck and puts it upon the head of the Bride which is occasioned by that saying of Ruth to Boaz Spread the wing of thy garment over thy â—andmaid for thou art the kinsman and that of Ezekiel I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was as the time of love and I spread my skirts over thee and covered thy filthiness yea I sware unto thee and entred into a Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine In the next place he takes a glass of wine which they call the bride-boule blesseth it giving thanks unto God that the Bride and the Bridegroom by his instinct have given their consent to be joyned together in the bond of matrimony and reaching out the cup unto them commands them to drink thereof If the Bride be a virgin then the cup must have a narrow mouth if a widow a large one at Wormes they use an earthen cup as also at other places After that they have both tasted of the cup The Rabbine takes the wedding-ring from the Bridegroom which is made of pure gold yet having no jewel in it and calling some witnesses shews them the ring and asketh whether it be a good one and worth the mony that was given for it and then puts it upon the Brides finger repeating the letters of contract with a loud voice Which being ended he takes another glass of wine blessing and praying over it giving thanks unto God that the Bride and Bridgroom had mutually accepted one of another Then reaching them the Cup and bidding them drink thereof which when they have done accordingly the Bridegroom takes the Cup and throws it against the wall in remembrance of the ruinated temple of Jerusalem In some places they are wont to throw ashes upon the Bridegrooms head for the same end and purpose And hence also it comes to pass that the Bridegroom wears upon his head a hood of a black colour such an one as mourners use and the Bride a cloak all rough and hairy able to fright a childe out of its wits to shew unto us that in their greatest jollity they ought to afflict and humble themselves for the desâ—lations of their City and Temple Thus they walk in garments which may shaddow out much sadness but in their hearts they have not sance not feeling thereof Proving the necessity of this trifling outside sorrow from the words of the Psalmist Serve the Lord in fear and rejoyce unto him with reverence That this their marriage or coupling together is celebrated abroad in open aire without covert the reason is because they ought to multiply even as the stars of heaven for multitude When the marriage is ended they sit down to dinner the Bridgroom must say grace and is bound to sing a long prayer and thanksgiving and the sweeter he sings the better he pleaseth his bride and indeed he doth it rather out of pride and to please her then for any glory to God While he is singing others are calling for the hens to be brought and set upon the table The Brides mess consists of an henn and egge served in together in one dish the Bridegroom carves a little of the hen and gives it to his bride which so soon as he hath laid upon her trencher the rest of the guests behaving themselves more like hungry dogs then men catching at and with both hands pulling in pieces the
credit that he is come so many years agoe are altogether ignorant for what end and purpose and in what degree his â—comming should be beneficial unto them for all that they expect is only this that he like another Moses and Aaron should deliver them from a terrestrial and corporal bondage and again bring them into their own land and to this end only that they might no longer drink the Wine of bitternesse among the Gentiles but be fed with milk and honey in the Land of Canaan They never dream of a deliverance from the spiritual captivity of sin for they perswade themselves that by pennance done in their own flesh they can satisfie for their own sin and by keeping of Gods Comâ—andements and their own good works merit eternal life In the 11. Article of their Belief they believe that whosoever doth many good works shall obtain a great reward in the world to come It is read in their Talmud All Israel shall have part in the world to come as it is written All thy People shall be righteous they shall receive the earth for an inheritance for ever the branch of my planting the work of my hands that I may be glorified Yet neverthelesse they shall not all share a like He that hath done many good deeds shall have a greater portion The wicked which never repented them of their sins shal be tormented in Hell or purgatory for the space of twelve months and after that shall have a portion in life everlasting but not so excellent as that of the just They who utterly deny God and profane his holy Name of which number are all those that turn to Christianity their foreskin shall grow again which done they shall the second time be circumcised as though they never had beene Jewes and shall remaine in Hell for ever The Son superviving his deceased Father is bound for a whole year to say a little Prayer called kaddisch for by the repetition of this Prayer he shall deliver his dead Father out of Purgatory such an one gives up the Ghost with great joy and incouragement knowing that he shall be delivered out of Hell by the Prayers of his Son left behind him After the same manner a honest woman may redeem her Husband But sometimes it so falleth out that the Husband â—and Wife are not equal in honesty and therefore it should seem that in the world to come the one should attain to a greater degree of happiness then the other here the Lord out of his mercy gives them both entrance together Briefly the whole nation of the Jews shal be partakers of life eternal and shal all ascend into Heaven but one shal be more glorious then another Even as a King or Duke coming into some great City he all his followers have entertainmet but in a different fashion so shall it be with the Jews in the world to come In the Article of the Resurrection of the Dead they themselves are dead for first they say it shall come to passe that only the Israelites shal be raised to life but the Christian and all other prople shall perpetually sleep in the dust Hence Rabbi ` Bechai in his Book intituâ—ed Kadhakkemach saith The Jewes have a four-fold honour and priviledge above other Nations which are these the Land of Canaan the Law the Prophets and the resurrection from the dead All these he repeats and proves in particular in hisâ— Exposition of the 18. and 33. chapters of the fiâ—t Book of Moses For the confirmation of the last priviledge he brin'gs amongst other the testimony of Isay prophecying of the Christians and other people They are dead they shall not live They are dead they shall not rise And of the Israelites Thy dead men shall live with my dead body they shall arise awake and sing you that dwell in the dust because your dew is as the dew of herbs and the Earth shal castâ— out her dead The same Rabbine out of the Talmud delivers thus much that at the great day of judgement three kinds of dead men are to arise the first of the most righteous Israelites the second of the most unrighteous and ungodly the third of a middle sort who did as much good as evil The good shall go into life everlasting the wicked into Hell and fire eternal as it is written Many of them that lie and sleep in the Dust shall arise same to everlasting life some to shame and everlasting contempt From hence sAith the Rabbine we may infer that even the wicked ones in Israel shall be co-partners in the resurrection yet shall this redound to their disadvantage seeing both body and soule shall together in Hell suffer never ceasing torments They of the middle sort shall be tortured for theirs in s in purgatory only the space of twelve months which time expired their bodies shall be consumed and a blustering wind shall scatter their ashes under the feet of the just The Talmudist proves this out of the 13. Chapter of Zachary the 8. and 9. verses for there is written It shall come to passethat in all the land saith the Lord two parts therein shal be cut off and die but the third part shall be left therein And I will bring the third part through the fire and refine them as silver is refined and will try them as gold it tried and they shall call upon my Name and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God And to the same purpose it is spoken 1. Sam. 2. 6. The Lord killeth and maketh alive he bringeth downe to the grave and bringeth up R. David Kimchi upon the first Psalm saith that the wicked shall not rise again but their souls shall perish together with their bodies in the day of death and in the same sence that a Resurrection only belongs to the just and godly in his Commentary upon the 26 chapter of the Prophecy of Esay Rabbi Saadiah upon the former words of the Prophet Daniel saith that the term many designs a certain number and there fore to be restringed to the godly in Israel who alone have a portion in life eternal Them that do not watch he ranks in their number who have forsaken the Lord and tâ—rned Apostates who for this very thing must be thrust into the lowest Chambers of the infernal pit there for ever to be the Emblems of ignominy To him assent Rabbi Higgaon and Aben Ezra in his Book Perusch or Exposition upon the fore-cited place of Daniel commenting that as many are to watch so many shall not watch the watchâ—men shall have life eternal they that do not watch never dying reproach The sense of the words in my judgement saith Aben Ezra is this that so many upright Jewes that pay their debts to nature in the Land of their captivity shall rise again and live when the Messias or Deliverer shall come for of
thing as it came to passe in the dayes of Josiah the King in which the Book of the Law was for a long time lost and being found again by Hilkiah the High Priest was accounted a rare and strange novelty as it is registred in the second Book of Kings It must also follow say they that the words of Moses above mentioned according to the tenor of these words must the jews being commentators be thus understood according to the words which were heard and received out of the mouth of God the sense must be that God made a Covenant with Israel not according to the written but unwritten Law which interpretation we find in the Talmud for in the Book Tauchum in the Section Elle Toledos Noach which begins at the 9. verse of the 6. Chapter of Genesis we find it thus written Our Wise-men say that God did not write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Horum verborum gratia for these words but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secundum os horum verborum according to these words which were delivered by mouth only not in writing have I made a Covenant with Israel And such are the words of the Talmud which is harsh and difficult to them that would learn it and therefore likened to darkness Esay the ninth and second where the words are The people that sate in darkness have seen a great light that is they who are much conversant in the study of the Talmud see great light for God inlightens their eyes to see how to behave themselves in respect of things permitted and not permitted clean and unclean which are not expressed to the full in the written Law A little after we read that by reason of this Covenant the World subsists because God created the day and night unto this end that the Israelites might learn the Law of Tradition or the Talmud by the benefit of them and so soon as they cease to study their Talmud day and night shall be no more Hereupon saith Jeremy If my Covenant be not with day and night and if I have not appointed the Ordinances of Heaven and Earth And what is this Covenant The Talmud saith the Jew and for this reason Jeremy a little before saith Thus saith the Lord if you can break my Covenant of the day and my covenant of the night that is when you will no longer learn and observe the Talmud then may also my Covenant be broken with David my servant Hereupon David saith in the Law of the Lord is his delight in his Law that is the Talmud will he meditate day and night Yea God himselfe hath also made a Covenant with Israel that this unwritten Law should never be subject to oblivion as it is written I saith tho Lord will make with them this Covenant my Spirit which shal come upon thee and the words that I have put into thy mouth shall never depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy children from this time for ever Here it is not written saith the Jew from thee but out of thy mouth that we might understand the unwritten Law here to be meant for the learning of which God hath placed the day and the night as two common Schools Hitherto Tanchum Moreover we read in the Sermons of Rabbi Bechai which booke he intitles Cad hakkemach a Barrel of Meale in that the six parts of the Talmud make up the Law of Tradition which is the proper foundation of the written Word considering that this without that can neither be profitably expounded nor understood Hereupon in that Tract of the Talmud called Bava meziah it is read that to study and read the Scriptures is profit and no profit to wit a small profit and not to be regarded But to learn the Talmud is an exercise worthy of a Salary and the workman shall surely receive it To commit unto memory the Gemarah which is the upshot of the Talmud is such a surpassing vertue that it admits not of an equal And this is the cause that the Jewish Rabbines and Doctors are better versed in the Talmud then the Bible I am now perswaded that I have given a full demonstration of the ground of the Jewish faith that it is not Moses but the Talmud that joy of their hearts and marrow of their bones which may put a period to the admiration of any who wonders at their blindness and superstition and they have forsaken the way of divine truth with a light heeled wantonness following the footsteps of their Ancestors in the way of lying When therfore the Divel that Father of lies for his recreation would play a game at Tick Tack with the Jews the Law of Moses being their stake he by cogging got the dice of them and would not give over till he had got the double point when he inspired into them this heart pleasing consequence Seeing the Talmud is the master point the true ground the right line according to which the written Word ought to be measured cut out squared and divided it must of necessity follow that the Doctrine of all the Rabbins should be conformable unto it as the Talmud is so true that it cannot be blemished with the least falshood so is every thing that the Rabbines do either write or teach Now that this after game or consequence did above all measure possesse the Rabbines who are such greedy hunters after glory that God and all the Prophets shall be tainted with a lie before they miss this their prey is apparent out of their following proud Luciferous speeches Rabbi Isaac who died in Portugal in the year of Christ 1493. in his Book Menoras hammaor a hath these words all that our Rabbines have taught or spoken either in their Sermons or in their mystical and allegorical Explications we believe as firmly as the Law of Moses In which if any thing be found smelling of an hyperbole or seeming clean contrary to nature and too high for the sensible faculty of any mortal we ought to ascribe it not to their words but to the defect of our understanding and although their strains be high and lofty and they seem to present unto our view things incredible yet if we rightly ballance them the truth will cast the Scales As for example we read in the Talmud that a Rabbine upon a certain time preached that the dayes shall come in which a Woman should every day bring forth grounding upon that Text she conceived and presently brought forth by presently understanding dayly which when some understood not they flouted the Rabbine and exposed him to contempt The Rabbine perceiving it answered that he spoke not after the vulgar fashion of a naturall woman but of an Hen that dayly layd an Egge an handsom put off indeed In the same place it is written all their words are the words of the living God neither shall any of them fall in vain unto the earth whereupon it is
our bounden duty to believe what ever is extant in their name for it is the truth neither let any deride them not in his heart for so doing he shall not escape unpunished let every one then take warning that he speak not any thing scandalous either to the person or attempts of these men but rather to endeavour to learn so much as he can possible out of their writings To the same purpose it is recorded in a book printed in the Germane tongue and Hebrew Letter at Cracovia in Poland Anno Dom. 1597. called Brand spiegelium in the hinder end of the 48. Chapter that the Jews are bound to say Amen not only at the end of their prayers but to every Sermon and Exposition upon the word of God in which lie hidden and profound mysteries shaped to the vulgar apprehension that by this they might signifie and acknowledge that they believe whatsoever their Rabbines or wise men have spoken as it is written in the Prophet Isa Open your selves O ye gates for the people cometh who keepeth Justice that is a people who saying Amen believes all things that the wise men and Rabbines have written but if any mans understanding be encompassed with such Egyptian darknesse that he cannot comprehend the aggados or expositions yet he ought to believe them for the words of our Doctours are not wind but truth it self Aggadah is a mysticall or hidden speech by which hidden matters and things of great moment are signified the word it self by a certain Metathesis is the same with Deagah which signifies poverty and grief because a man macerates and tortures himself after an uncouth manner before he can rightly understand the forementioned Aggadah Hitherto pertains that which is every where extant in the Talmnd to wit that when two Rabbines are at contention the one affirming the other denying none ought to contradict them because both their Positious are grounded upon the Kabala which Moses brought with him from Mount Sinai and although the one could not rightly understandd it yet it is not to be imputed unto him for both of them know the reason why they thus speak seeing the words of the one as well as the other are the words of the living God It is also a Catholick rule in the book of the Rabbines Rather keep in mind the sayings of the Scribes than them of the Law of Moses concluding from hence that the writings and instructions of the Rabbines are of greater authority than Moses and the Prophets Luther in his book which he writ upon Shem hamphorasch comments in this manner concerning the authority and credit given to the Rabbines and their writings The Jews say that they ought to believe that Rabbines though they should affirm thè left hand to be the right and the light hand to be the left as Purchetus testifies After the same manner three Jews who kept me company dealt with me when I urged any thing out of the Bible then would they object that they were bound to believe their Rabbines and were not tied to the Scripture whence I perswade my self Purchetus said nothing but truth seeing mine own experience taught me the same Luther was not too blame being guided by his own experience to believe Purchetus to make it more manifest I will produce their own words Raschi or Rabbi Salomon Jarchi upon those words Deut 17. and 11 According to the Sentence of the Law which they shall teach thee and according to the Iudgements which they shall tell thee thou shalt do thou shalt not decline from the Sentence which they shall shew thee to the right hand nor nor to the left hath this glosse when he saith unto thee of thy right hand that it is the left and of the left hand that it is the right thou must believe it as a truth how much more if he say thy right hand is thy right and thy left hand thy left The like we find in Rabbi Bechai his Commentary upon the foresaid words who brings in Ramban or R. Mosche Ben Nachman telling his tale in these terms Upon a time there came a certain Gentile unto that mirrour of Learning Don Shammai and asked him how many Laws or Commandements have you â—ews among you to whom Shammai made answer our Laws are onely two the one written the other delivered by mouth Then the Gentile replyed I believe as fully as thou dost that written Law to be true and whatsoever is contained therein to be nothing but the truth but as for thy Law of Tradition I cannot embrace it neither account it for a Law but go to make me a Jew be my Shoolmaster teach me in this Law which words possessed Schammai with such a fury that he thrust him from him and commanded him to depart the place then the Gentile came to Hillel the elder Schammai's copartner in office for they two were joynt Rectors and lived but a small time before Christs incarnation whom he questions in the same manner entreating him withall that he would vouchsafe to make him a Jew which Hillel did and instructed him in the Jewish Religion The day following Hillel saith unto him pronounce Aleph Beth Gimel Daleth which he did according as Hillel mouthed them unto him the day following Hillel inverting the Alphabet saith unto him pronounce Daleth Gimel Beth Aleph then the Gentile replyed Rabbi this is not the Lesson thou taughtst me yesterday then answered Hillel thou dost not onely reject me thy instructor but also fearest not to yield no credit unto my words therefore thou oughtest to rest thy self contented in the unwritten word and to believe all those things which are taught therein This Story is registred in the Talmud Tract de Sabbatho Hence may we conclude that every one simply without consideration or contradiction should believe not onely the Jewish Law of Tradition but whatsoever the RabbiNes according to the prescript of the same Law write and teach and that whosoever doth this is to be esteemed a Jew indeed whosoever is refractory and disobedient the most grievous torments in hell shall be his portion concerning which thing we read this Decree and Sentence of the Senate in the Tract entituled de libello repudii or Letter of Divorce in these words Mar. saith Whosoever shall deride or contemne what our wismen and Rabbines have spoken he shall be punished in hot boyling pitch and that in hell as they blasphemously affirm Christ our Saviour and Redeemer to be tormented because he walked not according to the traditions ordinances and Doctrines of their ancestours but rejected them as a thing despifed This punishment is also registred in another Tract of the Talmud and more at large expounded in a book called Menneras Hammaor and expresly set down in the book Beth Iaacob but in the Talmud printed at Basile it is left out and not without good reason as also many other blasphemous passages written against Christ and Christian
with the Godfather of the child because that is a holy place And thus much the Learned among the Hebrews have collected from the Hebrew word Milah which signifies circumcision This word hath four letters every one of which are the Index of a several word Mohel Jered liphne hattibha that is he that circumciseth shall seat himselfe near unto the Ark of the Covenant or Maleach Joschebh liphne Haaron that is the Angel stands before the Gate to wit Elias the Angel of the Covenant standing before the Ark sends up his prayers together with ours into the ears of the Almighty Some of the upright Jews take the little Infant and both before and after his circumcision lay him upon the bolster or cushion of Elias that he may touch him That they accomplish the Priah or denudation of the forepart of the Infants yard with so sharp nails they say that they are moved hereunto by that saying in the Book of Joshua Take unto thee sharp knives for so it is to be translated not knives of stone and circumcise the children of Israel the second time Upon these words the Wise-men among the Jews conclude that those words the second time ought to be understood of the priah which is not other but a second circumcision Hence issueth a most copious question Why they which were born in the Desart were not circumcised for the space of forty years together the answer is that this came not to passe by reason of the stiff necked malignity and hard hearted insolence of their Ancestors for they were men of circumcised hearts but because blustering Boreas had not blown in that Desart within the compass of forty years whose healthfull blasts conduce so much to the letting of bloud that any wound this not travising the terrestrial Globe is accounted perillous Hereupon they have this medicinal Canon In a cloudy day or in that day in which the East-wind blows Circumcision must not be administred nor any vein opened Here it may be objected the Northern wind doth not always blow and yet circumcision is dayly to be exercised This objection is answered in the Talmud that four winds blow every day and that the Northern wind is mixt with every one in particular and for the most part obtains the predominance and for this very reason circumcision may be dayly practised That this wind was husht and still while the Israelites were in the Desart the very nature thereof which is to free the aire from clouds and to be the author of fair weather is an invincible Argument as it is written The wind passeth and purgeth it from the North shall come gold that is to say with whose calm clearness the purity of the most refined gold cannot mannage a comparison If then this wind should have blown in the Desart it had driven away and dissolved the pillar of fire which always accompanied the people of Israel which had been to their great damage Here it is not lawfull for me to expose to the vulgar eye any more of these their quirks If any one be ravished with a desire of a further inquiry let him read Rabbi David Kimchi upon the fore-cited place of Joshuah and the Talmud in the book of affinity and that Chapter which begins Haarel where most accurate disputes exhâ—usted out of the very abysse of wisdome shall present themselves unto his view concerning the cause why circumcision was omitted in the Desart To proceed the casting of the fore-skin into the sand signifies that their seed shall be like the sand upon the sea shore for multitude as it is written I will make they Seed like the sand of the Sea and again Thy Seed shall be as the dust of the earth Secondly they use this Ceremony in remembrance of Balaam who when he saw that all the sand in the Desart was full of the foreskins of the Children of Israel he presently cried out Who can number the dust of Jacob as if he had said who can stand before the holiness and worth of this people all the males whereof not one excepted being circumcised bury their foreskins in such a sandy Sepulchre with what a fore-front shall I curse such an holy Nâ—tion Thirdly it signifies that the Old Serpent which seduced the first Adam in Paradise shall be fed with this fore skin for his bread is the dust of the earth as it is written Thou shalt eat the dust of the earth Now seeing the Serpent is as yet mans daily enemy and hath an incessant greedy desire to satiate his gluttonous paunch with his soule and body thence it comes to pass that these Saint-like Jews feed their enemy the Serpent according to Gods comman dwith the foresaid fore skin as it is written If thine enemy hunger give him meat This bit is so hard of digestion that it so debilitates and weakens the naturall strength of the Serpent that he cannot again â—educe man as once he did If an Insant be sickly they do not circumcise him upon the eighth day but defer it untill the time of his recovery If any Infant dye before the eighth day be come then he is cicumcised in the Church-yard over his grave yet so that no Prayers be said for him It is circumcised to this end that God being intreated would be mercifull unto him and together with others raise him up at the last day In some places it is not lawfull for any one the Godfather only excepted to sit while the child was a circumcising because it is written That all the People stood to the Covenant That for a conclusion of all the Moâ—el is bound to give a blessing upon the Covenant of circumcision holding the circumcision knise in his hand the wise men amongst the Jews demonstrate from that Scriptnre Let the prayses of God be in their mouth and a two edged sword in their hands Thus the fiâ—st Act in the Synagogue is finished now follows the second which is performed after the childes returne to his Fathers house In the mean time that they are busied in the Synagogue the Cooks are with much diligence conversant about their Kitchin affairs the Table is spread and great provision is made to which as hath been formerly recorded only ten men are invited two of which must be a couple of learned Rabbines who rabble out a long Grace and make a kind of a Sermon to which the hearers giving but lean attention in the mean time carouse whole Gobâ—ets of wine one to another It was my chance once to be invited to one of these their feasts commonly celebrated after the administration of the circumcision at which time one of the Rabbines took for his Text those words of Soloman Wisdome is a tree of life to them that lay hold on it Concerning his Sermon I can with out a lie affirm that I never heard â—uch a dry and ridiculous piece of stuff in all my life That they ought to provide such
may see and witnesse that she washeth her self according as she ought It is dangerous in their account to send for a Christian woman for in such an one they dare not put confidence Though it be winter time yet ought these washings to be performed in cold water yea though it be hard frost yet if in any place they can claim custome it may be lawfull for them to intermingle cold water and hot or if there be any hot baths as there is in many Countries into these the women may lawfully enter and wash themselves Who desires to know any more concerning this matter let him peruse a certain little book written in the Germane tongue and Hebrew Character called Franwen Buchlein or the book of women which because it contains a brief description of their conditions his palate may there find wished content and a plenary satisfaction In the next place we are opportunely invited to look into the manner how the first born is redeemed out of the hand of the Priest That son which the mother in time past brought forth according to Moses Law was holy unto the Lord and ought to be redeemed from the hand of the Priest as it is written Whatsoever openeth the Matrix is mine all the first born of thy sons thou shalt redeem and in imitation of their ancestors the Jews do redeem their first born the manner of the redemption followeth The one and thirtieth day following the Nativity of the child his father sends for the Cohen or Priest as also many other good friends to accompany him before whom he sets the Infant upon a Table and layes down beside him a certain sum of mony or so much goods as can equalise it in value which is the quantity of two Florens of Gold then he saith unto the Priest my wife hath brought forth her first begotten son and the Law requires that I should present him unto thee then the Cohen or Priest answering saith Dost thou give this thy son and leave him unto me To whom the Father shall reply yes upon this the Priest asks his Mother whether she ever had a child before that time or if at any time she proved abortive if the mother say no then the Priest questions the Father which of the two be dearer unto him his first born or his mony then the Father answers that he esteems his first-born babe above all riches in the world then the Priest taking the money and laying it upon the Infants head saith this is thy first begotten son whom the Lord would have redeemed as it is written And those that are to be redeemed from a moneth old thou shalt redeem according to thy estimation for the money of five shekels after the shekel of the Sanctuary which is twenty gerahs Then turning himself unto the child he saith when thou wast in the womb of thy mother thou wast then in the power of thy heavenly Father and they earthly Parents but now thou art in my hand and power who am the Priest thy father and mother desire to redeem thee because thou art the first begotten and holy unto the Lord as it is written Sanctifie unto me all the first-born among the children of Israel that first openeth the womb as well of man as of beast for it is mine Now this mony shall serve in thy stead and be thy redemption seeing thou art the first-born and this shall be given unto the Priest If I have redeemed thee as I ought then shalt thou ' be redeemed if I have failed in the peâ—formance of my office notwithstanding thou being redeemed according to the Law and after the manner of the Jews shalt grow up in the fear of God to Matrimony and the practise of good works Amen If the father chance to die before the one and thirtieth day after the childs Nativity be fully come then the mother is not bound to redeem her child and therefore she puts a scroll or plaâ—e of gold about his neck in which it is written This is the first-born son but not redeemed the son himself being bound to redeem himself out of the hands of the Priest when he shall come to full age Before I conclude this Chapter I will relate a certain History which is recorded in the Gemurah or Talmud concerning a certain stranger or proselyte who by a miraculous kind of Circumcision obtained an inheritance in the other World and departed this a good Jew A certain King of Rome as we read in tract de idolatria c. 1. was sometimes an heavy friend unto the Jews and desiring utterly to put out their name from under heaven and to banish them his Kingdome he calls his counsell and thus bespeaks them suppose a man â—aith he hath an old ulcer in his body in which the â—lesh doth putriâ—ie whether will he chuse to cut away the rotten flesh to regain his health or suffer it to remain there still to his perpetuall grief and torment These thingâ— spoke the King against the jews who had for long time sojouâ—ned in his Kingdome and grievously molested his Subjects One of the Councel by name Ketijah hearing the Kings words and perceiving whether they tended made answer Adoni which is to say my Lord thou art not able to destroy or banish the Jews for of them it is written Ho ho come forth and flie from the Land of the North saith the Lord for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven saith the Lord that is the world may even as possibly subsist and be without winds as without the Jews wherefore thou canst not banish the Jews out of thy Realm and if thou couldest prevail so much as to bring it to passe the common voice of the whole world would proclaim thee being brought to extreme poverty for a tyrannicall King Upon these words the King answered thou hast said that which is right and now seeing it is enacted that whosoever overcomes the King in his answer shall be buried quick in a heap of sand that there he may be choakeda and perish thou who hast put me to a non plus which is a scandall to my person and set at naught and vilified my Kingdome shall taste of the appointed punishment When he was carried away to the place of execution there was a certain Matron seen in Rome of an excellent portraiture crying out Wo unto that ship which is about to strike sail the Custome unpayed by which words the Matron intimated thus much that Ketijah who was ready to suffer death in the Jews cause and so consequently to obtain eternall life in another world had not as yet payed his toll money that is was not made a Jew by Circumcision Upon the instant of this vociferation some say that he snatched a knife and cut off his own foreskin others that he burning with too ardent zeal catched hold of his foreskin bit it off with his teeth and then with
from my bed to rest that I may tender my service and do homage to the King of Kings who hath given me life and nourishment and doth defend me against all mine enemies of what quality soever Whosoever hath in him any relish of godliness ought every morning to entertain the pangs of grief and sorrow for the Temple of Jerusalem praying that that Temple and City may with speed be re-edified And who before the Day star appear or the clouds of night he dispeld by the Suns approach ere that he forsake his pillow shall wash his couch with tears for the desolations of the Temple of Jerusalem and the long captivity shall gain this much that God being mercifull unto him shall not suffer his prayer to be deprived of audience In Maseches Sanedrin the Rabbines upon those words in the Lamentations of Jeremy She weeps in the night without any intermission of weeping dispute and say that if any hear the voice of one weeping upon the night it is so intermixt with the Gall of bitternessi that he must of necessity second the mourner in his dolesull notes The very same which happened to Rabbi Gamaliel who upon the night time hearing the mournfull out cries of a certain woman for the death of her son counted his life bitter unto him and bare a part with her weeping most bitterly Rabbi Jochanan saith that when any one doth lament upon the night time the fixed stars and Planets condole with him Their Chachamim write that he who weepeth ought to let his tears find a current through the narrow â—hâ—ud gates of his eyes because then God will arise and gather them into his bottle And then if there chaâ—ce to be a promulgation of any decree by the enemies of Israel to destroy them God shall remember these godly men who shed â—ears in abundance shall take these boâ—tles full of them pouring them upon and blotting out the hand-writing that was against them that no evil may befall the Jews Hereupon the Prophet David Thou tellest my flittings and putst my tears into thy bottle are not these things written in thy booke By these words David would specifie thus much that God pours out the Vâ—ols of tears upon the writings or books put out against the Jews and so defaceth them that they become canceâ—'d and of no force To the same purpose he speaks in another place He that soweth in tears shall reap in joy The Author of the Book Reschith Chochmah in the 111 pag. saith that he received it by tradition from his Elders that it is very soveraign for a man to sprinkle tears upon his brow and to rub them in because there are some sins written in his brow which by this means may be blotted out according to the words of the Prophet saying Thou shalt set the letter Thau upon the foreheads of the men c. The Cabbalists write that if any have a desire to list up his prayer unto that holy and blessed God that he would vouchsafe to deliver the Jews out of their long continued bondage he ought to do it when it begins to dawn that he ought to weep heartily and send forth strong cries so shall his words enter into the ears of the Lord of Hosts and then chiefly because there is nothing which may disturb him in his prayers none also found who shall move his tongue against the children of Israel We find it recorded by Jeremy The Lord shall roar from on high and utter his voice from his holy habitation The Lord roars in the morning upon his beauty The beauty of the Lord is the Temple of Jerusalem and that is holy which as he hath permitted to be destroyed so is it his pleasure that it shall be built again and that he may be warned unto the enterprise he will be early intreated Hence David saith My voice thou shalt hear betimes O Lord early in the morning I wil direct my prayer unto thee and will look up In the morning that is when it begins to be day I will go into thy house he will not do the same upon the night because in the beginning of the night God causeth all the Gates of Heaven to be shut up and the Angels sit as Porters and are silent God sends away the evil spirits into the world who hurt every one they meet The middle of the night being past a great cry is heard in Heaven and it is commanded that they should set open the Gates the day now approaching to this end that none might wait too long This cry is heard by the houshold Cocks here upon earth who clapping their wings with a shril voice awake us mortals Then these evil spirits lose all their power so that they cannot do any more annoyance for which cause the Rabbines have ordained a certain thanksgiving which they whould have repeated in them morning by them that hear the Cock crow saying Blessed be thou O God who art Lord of the whole world that thou hast given understanding to the Cock To be briefe whosoever fears the Lord wheresoever he live needs not the Cock to awake him He that alwayes in aw the Lord doth keep Needs not to be awaked of his sleep Moreover it is the will of the Chachamim that non presume to raise himself up in his bed or sitting up therin to put on his shirt being naked but lying still should strive to wind himselfe into it with his hands and head lest the wals and beams of the house might behold the secret parts of his naked body Rabbi Jose boasts in Masseches Schabbas Thus long have I lived and yet the beams of the house did never see the hem of my shirt thereby signifying that he never invested himselfe therewith being naked but lying hid in his bed Hereupon it is a position of their grand Sophies that none ought to put on his coat being naked much less is it permitted that he should walk or stand naked in his bedchamber For suppose any sudden fire or some great tumult might arise whose rarity might so affright him that he should run naked out of his bed-chamber with what a countenance can such a one shew himself It is not also lawfull for any one being naked to make water by his bed side for of such men the Prophet Amos speaketh saying They sleep in beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches The Hebrew word Seruchim which signifies to stretch out the Rabbines translate to be resolved into stinking matter as they expound the same Jer. 49. 7. upon which place R. Jose the son of Chaninâ— saith these are they who stand naked before their beds No man ought thus to think with himselfe It is dark I am in my Closet no eye sees me I say every one ought with all diligence to abstain from such cogitations for Gods holy Majesty is above all and present in every place The whole earth is full of
face being washed great curiosity must be used in the drying of it for he who does not take care thereof shall have his face so blossomed with budding Ale pocks so imbroidered with wrinkles that the deformity thereof will become loathsome to the eye of every beholder the face must be wipâ—d with a clean towell not with a woollen cloath which some slothfull persons blush not a whit to do for according to their Doctors this destroys the memory and annihilates the understanding After washing every one ought to give thanks saying Blessed art thou O God our God King of the whole world who hast commanded us to wash our hands In generall they ought continually to wash their hands after these things following In the morning so soon as they are up after their return from the house of office after they come out of the Bath when they pair their nails after that they have drawn their shoes from their feet the hands being ministers when any hath scratched himself upon his naked skin when he hath touched a dead Corps or gone through the middle of dead folks when he hath had carnall copulation with his wife or lastly after the killing of alouse whosoever he be that doth any of the aforesaid things and doth not wash his hands thereupon if he be a learned man he shall forget his learning and turn blockhead if he be not learned he shall lose the use of every one of his senses Now the Jew is sufficiently cleansed and mundified for his morning devotions if two things were not yet wanting which make him and his prayers far more holy concerning which we will adde some few words for the better understanding of what was formerly delivered The Jews have a certain instrument of a foursquare fashion which for the most part they put on together with their other garments at their uprising but some when they are about to pray The parts of this quadrangular garment are two being for the most part made of linnen but often of silk bound and fastened together in the highest part thereof with two little bands yet of a great heighth so that they may put their head in betwixt them so that the one of these foursquare parts may hang upon the breast the other upon the back The Jews in respect of the four angles call this garment Arba Cauphos in every one of these four angles hang certain Ribbands woven of white woollen threads coupled by a certain knot and hanging towards the ground which are four eight or twelve fingers broad these they call Zizim of which they write wonderful and strange matters whereof I will relate a parcel They who would be accounted very sincere and holy are wont dayly to put on this their cloak or garment wearing in it under their long coat but after such a manner that the ends of the forementioned stringes or hangbies may be always in their sight some wear them upon their breasts others not at all but in time of Prayer It is hehoofull that the two foresaid parts together with their appurtenances should hang towards the ground both at the fore and hinder part of their body that they may always be full of the Commandements of the Lord. When they put these on then they say some certain Prayers giving thanks unto God that he hath commanded them to invest themselves with these garments These ought to admonish them always to have before their eyes Gods Commandements that hereby being scared from sin they might be prickt forward to a due performance of them as it is written Speak unto the children of Israel and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and that they put upon the fringe of their borders a ribband of blew And it shall be unto you for a fringe that you may look upon it and remember all the commandements of the Lord and do them and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes after which you are wont to go a whoring that you may remember and do all my Commandements and be holy unto the Lord your God But out of these words their Wise men conclude that the eyes and heart are the mediators for sin In the Tract called Masseches Schabbas we read that Rabh asked Rabbi Joseph what was the first thing his Father admonished him of who answered the Commandement given by God concerning the fringes for upon a time my Father saith he going down a pair of stairs and by chance treading upon his fringes and breaking one of the threads or Ribbands would not move a foot till it was made whole again In a word their great Doctors comparing this commandement with others prefer it before them all and have left in writing that whosoever diligently observes and keeps it keeps and observes the whole Law which thing they thus make manifest In every one of the fringes there are five knots representing the five books of Moses to which if we add 8 Ribbands together with the number contained in the letters of the word tzitzith which signifies fringes and in numeration makes six hundred there ariseth the number of six hundred and thirteen the direct number of the Commandements into which the whole Law is divided and therefore according to this Cabbalistically concluding Arithmetick he that rightly observes and keeps this Commandement concerning the fringes perfectly fulfils the whole Law In the fore mentioned Tract we read of a certain man hindred from commiting sin and a strange woman converted unto Judaism by this Commandement Upon a time a yong man among the Jews very learned and studious but much given to Venery hearing of a famous and beautiful Whore who living in a neighboring City had much trading and yet sold sin at so dear a rate that for one single lascivious abuse of her body she required no less then four hundred pounds sent her the money appointed the time at which she was to expect his lustfull imbracements The day come the yong man according to their Covenant repaired unto her house where he found her in a closet sitting in a chair all imbroydred with gold near unto which stood a bed furnished in the most exact and exquisite fashion that Art could invent which served as fewel to inflame his lust and hastened him to this unlawful act but behold as he went up into the bed his fringes smote him on the face whereat forthwith astonished and put in mind of the Commandement he fell upon the ground represt his fleshy desires and utterly refusing any more to touch or imbrace his formerly admired Mistriss whereupon she demanding of him what defect he had espied in her that he thus refused his purchased pleasure he replies that the Lord God commanded the Jews to do him service and for a more easie performance of the same gave them a sign which when they beheld they might remember his Commandements which sign put me
upon the knot of the Phylacteries for the hands that the name of God Schaddai might be artificially expressed How that four square piece of leather may be so framed and fashioned that in forme it shall represent a Bridge and such like they affirm to have had the original plat-form from Moses who learned it upon Mount Sinai and taught it to the people of Israel after his descent from thence for so much is testified by the Talmudist upon those words of Moses After that I will remove my hand and thou shalt see my back parts but my face shall not be seen and Rabbi Chamma the son of Bitzna affirms it to be the position of Rabbi Chasda that Moses was taught by God himselfe how to make and bind on the Phylacteries Lastly least we should omit the time of their morning Prayer I will only relate one story and that worthy credit out of the Talmud conducible to the matter now in hand and that by reason of a certain miracle of which kind one was formerly registred concerning the Fringes It is written in Masseches Schabbas that these were the words of Rabbi Janna that whosoever had a desire to put on the Phylacteries ought to have as clean a body as Elisha Baal Cappajim or Elisha with wings had And why I pray you is he named Elisha with wings the answer in the Gemara is shaped according to this fashion Upon a certain time the Roman Emperor published a most severe Edict that any Jew should not wear any Phylacteries and that upon pain of losing his head now in ancient times the Jews were accustomed to bind their Phylacterie◠upon their foreheads all the day long To proceed this Elisha being a man of undanted courage and little esteeming the Roman Edict never ceased to tie these parchments about his head But upon a certain time being conscious that the Apparitor saw him he tooke him to his heels and without any delay snatching the Phylacteries from his head hid them in his hand The Apparitor apprehendding him would needs know what he carried in his hand He answered I carry Doves wings then said the Apparitor either let me see them or else thou diest for it whereupon Elisha opened his hands and it was even so as he had spoken and from this very action was he called Elisha with the wings But what reason may be pretended that Elisha should say that he carried Doves wings rather then the wings of a Stork or a Crow or some other bird The Gemara gives this answer saying that the Israelites are like nnto a Dove for as the Dove hath all her strength in her wings with which she doth fortifie and defend her selfe against all other birds of what kind soever being not accustomed to use bill feet or any other member in maintenance of the quarrell so the Israelites also are wont to do for their wings are the Commandements of God which do manage and support them against all evil that there is no possibility of suffering any harme from other Nations This Query is also answered in this maner that as the wings of Doves are more auxiliatory unto them then those of any other bird nnto it for the Dove wearied in flight resting on the one wing flies with the other but other birds in the same case are forced to light upon some tree or rock or upon the earth so the Israelites suffring great persecution for some one of the Commandements by reason where of they cannot fulfill it they fulfill the rest by the merit where of they have help and a strong tower of defence against all their enemies therefore it shal come to pass that if any one do with all diligence observe and keep the Commandements he shall not come within the lists of any evil project but shall in a wonderfull manner be delivered from all his enemies as this winged and penfeatherd Elisha was delivered from the Apparitor who threatned him with cruel death as many of the Rabbines have avouthed being certified of the truth thereof by their toothless Grandames and hereupon have not feared to insert it into the Talmud CHAP. V. Of the form of the Morning Prayer of the Jews and how they behave themselves in their Schoole or Synagogue IT was formerly declared that the Sun-rising was the most fit time for Prayer yet lest the exercise hereof should be omitted by the too too earlines of the time appointed the Rabbines have stretch it upon the tenter-hooks of a dispensation even to the the third hour of the day which is the ninth with us if my Arithmetick fail me not Wheresoever then there are many Jews inhabiting in the same place as at Worms Mentz Frankeford upon the Moene Fridberg in Moravia Bohemia Poland and the territories of the Rutheni and other places where they have Schools and Synagogues for so they call their Temples they always are accustomed to meet together for to pray at the ordinary time appointed and to perform this holy exercise according to the institution thereof set down in their own books which we will shew with the greater brevity seeeing we have been somewhat more prolix in the former Chapter When the Jews are dressed Capa Pee and have washed and cleansed themselves within and without put on their fringed Garments and all this betimes in the morning then arè they not sluggish and slothfull but without delay depart with great speed and alaerity and hasten unto the Synagogue as though they were about to enter some Conflict as the Prophet David hath recorded We will go unto the house of the Lord as though we were to besiege a City for in this manner they interpret the words of the Prophet that is to say we will run into the house of the Lord as though our enemies were following us in flight Rabbi Jona saith in Masseches Berachos that whosoever hath a desire to go into the Synagogue must foot it with expedition Hereupon the Prophet Hosee saith We shall know him and hunt after him for so the Jews render the words of the Prophet that we may follow on to know the Lord that is to say we ought to be pressed and ready as these who follow the chase When any earthly King doth injoyn his Councel and others of his Court that they should appeare before him very early in some place which it shall please His Majesty to designe for the Conventicle then he of purpose rising betimes out of his bed to see whether his Counsellors be diligent and watchfull in the performance of his Command whomsoever he finds first in the place appointed he converses with him in a friendly familiarity yea and vouchsafeth that he shall from thenceforth be his Favourite God is like to such a King for his will and pleasure is that the whole Congregation of Israel should timely appear in the Synagogue and presenting them selves before his face should certifie him in their prayers
they ought to leave their beds and go to prayers Blessed â—e God c. That he created me an Israelite or a Jew or as others render it that he did not make me one of the Gentiles By Gentile they understand Christian which they esteem as Infidels Idolaters and a cursed Nation The woman saith blessed be God c. that he created me a Jewess Blessed be God c. that he hath not created me a servant this also thwarts the profession of Christians whom they account their vassalls who shall sow and plow their ground and shall do all manner of servile imployments for them while in the mean time they shall sit behind a hot fornace rosting apples tossing up whole bowls of wine What kind of Captivity is this They answer if any man rest himself in any place having a huge Bowl of rich wine in his hand then he is free from bondage when on the contrary the Christians are forced to labour and till the Earth in the sweat of their browes and nostrils Blessed c. That he hath not made me a woman the women instead thereof say Blessed c. that he hath created me according to his own good will and pleasure This is done in contempt of the womans sex because they are not comprehended in the Covenant of Circumcision by which God â—eals unto himself his own peculiar people and therefore this Scripture must perforce be hatched in the womans brains that is to say whether they be in the Catalogue of Israelites as their husbands are Blessed c. who exaltest the humble Blessed c. who gives sight unto the blind This Thanksgiving is usuall when they first wake out of their sleep and unshut their eye-lids Blessed c. who makes the crooked straight this they say when lifting themselves up in their bed they go about to attire themselves Blessed c. who clothes the naked this they say when they put on their cloaths Blessed c. who raiseth them that fall Blessed c. who bringeth the prisoners out of Captivity These two severall Thanksgivings are assigned for this reason because God in the time of sleep doth in that manner sustaine and multiply mans spirits that they may again exercise their proper functions the time of their being asleep being like unto prisoners in the pit Blessed c. who stretcheth out the earth above the waters this they say when rising out of their beds they begin to tread upon the ground Blessed c. who directs prepares and governs the wayes of man this he saith so soon as he comes out of his bed-chamber Blessed c. who hath created all things necessary for this life this he utters when he ties his shooes Blessed c. who girdest Israel with the girdle of strength this he saith when he puts on his girdle which every Jew is bound to do as hath been formerly declared Blessed c. who crowns Israel with comelinesse this he saith when he puts his hat upon his head for it is an hainous offence to go out of his Chamber uncovered Blessed c. who refresheth the weary Blessed be thou O God our Lord King of the whole world who removest sleep from mine eyes and slumber from mine eye-lids These prayers ended being so many in number they adde two more wherein they petition God that he would vouchsafe to keep and defend them against sin reprobate angels wicked men and all kind of evil Then humbling themselves before God they confess themselves guilty and relying only upon the mercy of God they comfort themselves again with a certain Prayer beginning Ribbon Col haolamim and with much boasting and many brags in that oath which the Lord sware unto Abraham being about to sacrifice his Son Isaac say yet we are thy people and the children of thy Covenant and O blessed men that we are how goodly is our portion how pleasant our lot how beautifull our Inheritance O blessed men that we are who every morning pronounce this sentence Heare O Israel the Lord our God is one God! Gather us that trust in thee from the four corners of the earth by which action all the Inhabitants of the world shal know that thou art God alone O our Father which art in heaven run after us with thy mercy even for thy names sake because thy name is named upon us and confirm and establish in us that which is written At that time will I bring you back at that time will I gather you and give you a name and renown amongst all the people of the earth when I have turned againyour captivity saith the Lord God After these be ended there follow 2 other short Prayers in which they give thanks for the Law delivered to them from heaven From the Law they proceed to their sacrifices which because they may not offer in these dayes they are banisht out of their own Land their Temple is laid desolate as their Ancestors were accustomed the sacrifice of the lip succeeds in the place thereof and reading only the precepts coÌ„cerning sacrifices as they ought in their appointed times to have been offered they solace themselvs with that saying of the Prophet though in a sense perverted We will sacrifice the calves of our lips After this they ruminate the historical narration about sacrifices as also a certain prayer beginning Rabbi Ismahel concerning the use of the Law and the manifold exposition thereof which being grounded upon the Talmud is so barbarous and difficult that not one Jew amongst an hundred is able to understand it This they read in such a manner as the Vestal Virgins do the Psalter This done they say a Prayer in which they Petition for the re-edification of Jerusalem and the Temple which they daily even unto this day expect and hope for yet this they say with such a fainting voice that none can hear it The words are these Let it be thy good pleasure before thy face O Lord and God the God of our Fathers that the holy house thy Temple may be built again in these our dayes and give unto us a will to abide in thy Law Hereupon rising up with great joy and shouting they chant out another laudatory Prayer or thanksgiving hoping that God will shortly begin to lay the foundation of their new Temple and bring them back again into their own Land Then sitting down they repeat a long Prayer collected out of the Psalms of David reading withall some whole Psalmes and a part of the thirtieth Chapter of the first book of Chronicles and lastly singing the last words of the Prophet Obadiah which are these Saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdome shall be the Lords With attent minds and much rejoycing their hope is that these Saviours of whom the Prophet makes mention shall come quickly and shall go up to Mount Sion that is they shall undertake the quarrel for the Jews and
Jehoschua that the Doctours made these eighteen short petitions having respect unto so many little bones which are in the back bone of a man which bones they ought to bend while they repeat the prayer whereupon the Prophet David saith All my bones shall say c. After these two prayers follows an evil prayer full of accusations against those Iews which have turned Christians and received baptisme as also against all other Christians and their Magistrates which I have written out word for word as it is set down in ancient Manuscripts and in them of Polonia where they dare imprint what they please and that with great audacity all fear of the Christians set aside it was thus They who are blotted out that is to say the Jews who have embraced Baptisme and turned Christians shall never more have any hope left them and all the unbelievers as well as those which have turned Apostates and fallen from the Jewish belief as in generall all other people who adhere not to the faith of the Iews shall perish in the twinckling of an eye and all thine enemies O Lord our God which bear a tyrannous hate against thee shall be suddenly coufounded and the proud and presumptuous Kingdome shall speedily be rooted out break it in pieces that it may become level with the ground and at last be utterly destroyed This particle whether through feaâ—â— or the strict injunction of the Magistracy against whom it was directed in which it was stiled the Kingdome of pride or simply Reschak that is to say impious is omitted in their Common prayer books of the last edition as also in that Copy of mine printed at Venice in the year 1564 and make them without delay obedient unto us in these our dayes Blessed be thou O God which breakest in pieees and subduest those that are rebellious This particle they entitle a prayer against all hereticks because in it is contained a curse against hereticks as Rabbi Alphes recordeth By these hereticks they first and principally understand the baptised Jews for every one that is such they call Meschumad a reprobate and in the plural number Meschumadim are these lost and consumed persons who leaving Iewish superstition have given their names unto Christ and so the Prayer begins Velamâ—eschumadim that is to say to the lost condemned apostate Iews instead of which word they have now inserted Velamaschinin that is to say to these traytors by them also understanding the baptised Iews for these they call traytors because they betray and lay open their wickednesse and treachery to the Christians In very deed a man may easily conjecture by the words of Rabbi Bechai what thing they wish unto the Christians who writes in this manner concerning this prayer This prayer saith he was made against the hereticks against that wicked Kingdome the Romane Empire against all Christian Magistrates that all they might be rooted out which obtain any rnle and authority over the Iews The Kingdome of the Turks they alwayes call the Kingdome of Ismael because they draw their originall from the loins of Ismael They call the Romane Empire The King dome of Edom the Kingdome of Rome the Kingdome of Esau the Kingdome of iniquity the Kingdome of pride a presumptuous also and reproachfull Kingdome yea this is every where imprinted as manifestly in fair Characters in their books as the bright lamp of heaven sends out his light upon the earth concerning which with Gods help more shall be spoken hereafter and to say the very truth this is the more likely because that this prayer was made a long time after Schemane Esre their prayer containing eighteen thanksgivings placed in this order and foisted into their book of Common prayer by Rabbi Samuel hakkaton Rabbi Samuel the little or Sâ—ort who died before the destruction of the second Temple This was done with a singular sleight of hand a little after Christs time the impulsive cause being very base the Doctrine of Christ and his followers the Christians being more hated of the Iewes then they in words were abâ—e To expresse but if I be not deceived this diminutive Samuel composed this prayer in the City Jasna against all the Iews that should cleave unto Christ and against the Romanes who then had Dominion over the Iews some forty years after the destruction of the second Temple at that time when the great Court of the Sanhedrim was removed and banished to Jasna If any reader be skilfull in the holy tongue let him read that book called Sepher Juchasin which is a certain Iewish Chronicle pag. 21. the Talmud printed at Venice in the Tract de benedictionibus the fourth chapter and in the Tract Sanhedrim the first chapter where sufficient is spoken concerning this matter After this execratory prayer followes a benediction and a very seâ—ious prayer in the behalf of all godly and honest livers among the people and all them who out of other Nations have turned to the Jewish Religion as also that God would vouchsafe with all speed to build again the City and Temple in their dayes to make the branch of the root of David to flourish to exalt his horn that is to send the Messias without delay and to restore the Kingdome unto Israel In the conclusion of these their morning prayers they beseech God to keep them in peace and when they pronounce these words He that maketh peace in high places make also peace among all the people of Israel Amen then they go three steps backward and if any sitting upon an horse or an asse be travelling upon the way it is necessary also that his horse or asse should likewise go backward so many paces If it chanee they cannot retire backward by reason of the thronging mul. titude of people in the place then skipping up they leap three times into the air bowing themselves and bending their heads now to the right hand then to the left signifying thereby that they beseech God to give them peace in what place soever they are resident if a Christian chance to be in their presence with a Crucifix or any other image representative of a Deity then ought not the Jew to bow himself but to lift his heart unto the Lord. The three steps which they go backward are done in honour to God himself for when any one departs from some great Potentate he commonly for some space goes backward in his congees blessing his worship honours him by kissing his hand and the complementall bowing of his whole body after the same manner when the Jews depart the presence of the Almighty they go backward and salute him face to face lest he should say My people who have made long prayers unto me are so wearied with the practice that they shew me their back parts The learned Rabbines say that this retrogradation or going back is used in remembrance of a certain miracle which happened in Mount Sinai at that time when God gave them the Law
for the Rabbines in their Masseches Berachos upon those words When all the people saw the thunders and the lightnings and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain burning the people saw and were afraid and stood afar off dispute and say that the people through great fear and amazement was in a moment of time three miles backward from the mountain Sinai The chief Glosse-monger Rabbi Salomon Jarchi writes in his glosse upon this Text that the people kept back twelve miLes of which David spoke saying The Kings of the Armies did flie and sheâ— that tarried at home divided the spoil and then came the good Angels and ministring Spirits and brought the people back unto the Mountain When they are about to depart the Temple or Synagogue then they speaking within themselves quietly and without the least noise they say a certain Prayer beginning Alenulesh abeach It is meet that we should praise the Lord who is above all and in an excellent degree to celebrate him because he hath created all things and not made us like unto the rest of the Nations likewise that he hath not made us as other generations of the World and hath not appointed us an inheritance like unto theirs neither is our lot as their lot neither as the lot of their whole multititude Here are some words omitted in their Books of Common-prayer and that by the Commandement of the Magistrates of Italy where their Books are wont to be and for the most part are at this day imprinted The things omitted were some blasphemous sayings against our Saviour which are found expressed in the ancient copies of which I have one which was imprinted at Augusta by a Jewish Printer called Chajim in the year of Christ 1534. In other copies instead of the words omitted there is left an empty space about the length of one line to this end that the children of the Jews and others who are ignorant may be warned to enquire what saying it is that is there omitted which when they do some relate the words unto them or otherwise write them in the margent of the Book as I have observed them to have practised in many of their Prayer books the words left out are these Who bend their knee and crouch to that which is vanity and foolishness and adore another God who cannot help these words they utter against Christ wherefore they spit upon the earth in the mouthing of them But we bend and bow our knees yea our whole man to that King who is King of Kings to God holy and blessed for ever who stretcheth out the heavens establisheth the earth whose glory and chair of estate is in heaven and the seat of whose power is in the highest heavens he only is our God and there is no other besides him These things thus finished the Jew now going out Of the Synagogue saith O Lord God lead me by thy justice by reason of those that lay wait for me in secret make plain thy way before my face Preserve me in my going out and my comming in from this time forth for evermore They must go out of the Synagogue in the posture of a Crab sish creeping backward through the Gate thereof and that their back part should not be towards the holy Ark in which the book of the Law is laid up to which they ought to exhibit a certain kind of reverence by turning their face thereunto The Rabbines upon those words of the Prophet Ezekiel Who have turned their back unto the Temple of the Lord have delivered thus much in the Talmud that a grievous and heavy punishment was inflcted upon the Priests because in going out of the Temple of the Lord they turned their back parts towards the ark of the Covenant wherefore the case standing thus we ought to depart out of the Temple with all fear and reverence even as a servant being about to take his leave of his Maister doth it with a retrograde crowching submission and submiss lowliness They must not run out of the Synagogue lest some might think him that runneth to be weary with praying and to rejoyce that it is now lawfull for him to depart They must go out with decurtate steps for if any one doth this God numbreth his steps and gives him a great reward as it is written Thou hast numbred my steps c. If any in his going forth chance to meet a woman or a damsel whether she be one of the Jews or Christians he ought to shut his eyeâ— and turn away his face from beholding her he must not afford her the common curtesie of a Complement lest thereby taking occasion of longer discourse he should be woed to the entertainment of lustfull notions and evil cogitations Concerning the serious manner of praying they write that whosoever wil pray attentively ought to have his head and heart covered to incompass his body with a girdle in the middle lest his heart by the sight of the secret part should be inveigled with wicked thoughts He must turn his face towards Canaan and the City Jerusalem his feet equally placed upon the Earth as abovesaid He ought to put his hand upon his heart in that manner that his right hand may rest upon his left withall bowing his head with great humility as it is written Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto the Lord in the heavens and again My life is alwayes in my hand yet do I not forget thy Law In time of prayer none must yawn belch or spit yet if he must spit on necessity then ought he privately to receive it in his Handkerchiff and modestly to cast it behind him or upon his left hand but not before him or upon his right for there stand the Angels invisible whom if any should beray with this excrement he should be guilty of an heynous offence It is not lawfull for any to let a scape in time of Prayer if he do it against his will then ought he to suspend the act of praying until the ill savour thereof be gone If the wind urge him so much and so vehemently that he must of necessity let fly then shall he go some four paces aside set a packing and instantly thereupon saying O Lord of all the earth thou hast created me full of holes Whiâ—h I cannot shut up all our modesty is open and known unto thee our life is full of shame we are nothing but worms and Maggots Sneesing in time of Prayer if it come from the parts below is an ill sign if from above a good one He that beginneth once to pray must not break off in the middle of his Prayer yea although the King of Israel should come and salute him yet he may not answer him though a Serpent took him by the heel and bit him yet ought he to continue in his devotions yet there is a certain dispensation which licenseth a man to give way unto a
churlish Oxe and for fear of him to cease praying til he be gone and past It is not lawfull for him that prayeth to touch his naked body with his hands yet may be touch his hands and neck If in this time he be so necessitated as to scratch his body he must do it upon the garments He that prays must move his whole body hither and thither as it is written All my bones shall say O Lord who is like unto thee The Chanter also of the Synagogue in the time of divine Service ought to pray standing in some hollow low deep place and to read the Prayer distinctly and with as loud a voice as he can possible I have seen with mine eys the Reader fall down upon his knees before the Pulpit because in that place the earth was level and not one place lower then another and to have said Prayers with as shill a voice as he could have done from an higher seat These Prayers they pour out of a collected narrow heart chiefly to this end that they may obtain the remission of their sins and that according to the example of David saying Out of the depth have I called unto thee O Lord and finally which is the perfection of all every one ought to labour with all his strength to answer Amen at the end of every prayer Hence it is written in the Booke Tanchuma that it was the saying of Rabbi Jehuda that whosoever saith Amen in this world shall bee accounted worthy to say Amen in the world to come hence is that of King David Blessed be the Lord God of Israel Amen Amen By which double Amen he notes unto us that one Amen is to be said in this world another in that which is to come The wisest among the Jews say that whosoever shall say Amen with great attention shall bring to pass that thereby their redemption shall appoach with all speed and suddenly be accomplished How I pray you when Amen is pronounced after the manner that it ought to be then God shakes his head and saith Wo unto those children who are banised from their Fathers Table And how much comfort is it to a Father thus to be praised of his children thereupon God begins to think of the deliverance of his people out of their captivity and that he ought not to do otherwise for though he hath put and exiled them out of his sight for their sins yet he suffers with them and the grief of his children vexeth him at the heart Upon which Rabbi Juda hath this simily Even as a Mother having a Daughter who is immodest and disobedient who also hath been got with child by some or other casts her out of her doors for her unchast life and useth much unmerciful carriage towards her yet in the hour of child-birth she suffers and laments with her after a wonderful manner even so God hath sent us into banishment for our sins yet having compassion he will redeem us when we seriously pray unto him It was formerly noted that they ought every day to run over a whole century of prayers and thanksgivings and this they very magisterially demonstrate and that with great subtilty and after the Cabalistical manner and first of all out of those words of Moses Now therefore O Israel hear what the Lord God requireth of thee Here the Rabbines read not the words according to the original Maâ— schoel which is what the Lord requires but Meah schoel that is to say The Lord requires an hundred so that Moses intent in this place was no other then if he had said God every day requires of thee an hundred Prayers But out of what puddle did these skilfull Fishers the Cabalists angle out this exposition the answer is First Moses insinuated so much unto us by putting an hundred letters in this very verse Secondly it is demonstrate by a secret of the Kabala by which is made a certain transposition of the Letters to wit when the first letter of the Alphabet is put in the place of the last and that which is immediatly before the last is put in the place of the second which kind of change the Cabalists cal Athbasch that is when Thau Aleph Beth and Schin are mutually changed one for another So by the benefit of this secret there comeâ— two letters in the place of Mem and He which make the word Mah above mentioned which are Tzadâ— and Jod which in computation make an hundred Thirdly it is read in the Talmud that David appointed these hundred prayers at that time when there dayly died in Israel an hundred men for which cause these hundred petitions are dayly to be repeated This is also evidently proved out of those words which we find thus written in the second Book of Samuel David the son of Ishai saith even the man who was sâ—t up on high the annointed of the God of Jacob and the sweet singer of Israel The man Hukam al der hocherhoben ist for so the Vulgar German â—enders it for Hukam properly signifies one that is exalted Al hight according then to the Cabalistical mysterious Art the letters of the word Al being Lamed and Ajin make in number an hundred and the meaning must be this the man saith by whom these hundred laudatory Petitions were erected and instituted This Interpretation was taken out of the artificial archives of the Jewish Theology into which no Christian may enter Many more such shal hereafter be produced which is the reason that I will trouble the Reader with no more in this place but proceed to declare the carriage of the Jews at home after their return from the Synagogue I will conclude all with the saying of the Prophet Esay When you shall stretch out your hands I will hide mine eyes from you and though you make many Prayers I will not hear for your hands are full of blood Again in another place Your iniquities havâ— seperated betwixt you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he wil not hear for your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity your liâ—â— have spoken lies and your tongue hath murmured iniquity CHAP. VI. How the Jewes after morning prayer behave themselves and prepare themselves to dinner BEfore the men returne home from the Synagogue their wives have swept and made the house very neat and cleanly lest their husbands eies should fasten upon any object which might molest and disturbe them in their pious meditations because these are as yet erected to God who keeps his residence in the highest Heavens Now if every man returning to his own house findes every thing in a decent order then his understanding remains pure and his mind untroubled but if he finde the contrary his understanding becomes muddy and perplext A wife that is honest indeed laies her husband a book upon the table which is either the Pentateâ—ch or some reprehensory
booke directing aright our life and conversation to the end that thence he may learn the feare of God and civility of behaviour and therefore he reads in the same an houre at least before he goes out of doors to performe any other businesse This the Cachamim and wise men among the Jewes conclude from the words of Solomon in his Proverbs saying The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome Hence teaching us that in all our actions we undertake we ought to feare God and learn his word After the same manner might the Rabbines have expounded those words Vehaiah Gnekebh Tismegnun That the Jewes being interpreters they must be rendred thus There shall be a heale or foot you shall beare it and that which followes is this Before you set your heele or foot out of doors you shall learn the law by reading something therein and hearing what God wils and commands to be done It is a good work indeed to learn the law and on the contrary a great sinne for any to be negligent in the reading of the same In the time of the first Temple the peopl of Jerusalem committed many hainous offences as Incest and Idolatry yet the Lord did only in a manner know these and took notice of them untill they despised the law and would take no more paines to learn it Then the Lord banished them out of his sight destroied a great number of them and utterly laid waste their holy Temple Hereupon the Lord cried out by Jeremie the Prophet Who is wise to understand this and to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken he shall declare it Why doth the Land perish and is burnt up like a wildernesse and none passeth thorow And the Lord saith because they have for saken the law which I set before them and have not obeied my word neither walked there after Againe it is written in the first booke of Moses Then shall all nations say wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land how fierce is his great wrath And they shall answer because they have for saken the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt Wherefore a religious Jew must not presently after his comming from morning praier fall to his daily labour and servile emploiments but either retire himselfe to his owne house or in Beth Hammedrasch or the Schoole dedicated to study and there to read and learne somewhat out of the Law which may presse him forward to the feare of God and an honest life and godly conversation with men that by this meanes that may come to passe which the Prophet David makes mention of saying They will goe from strength to strength and unto the God of Gods appeareth every one of them in Sion Which is also very well expounded according to the sagacity of the Jewes in a little book written concerning the feare of God in these words They did goe from one study to another that they might by learning understand the Law When they are returned unto their owne house then laying aside their phylacteries and precatory fardles they put them into a chest First unloosing them of the head then those of the hand to the end they may at any time first take and bind on these of the hand Some also are accustomed to put off their garment of remembrance or their fringed Coat to which the Ribbands are annexed yet in my judgement it were more fitting they should weare it continually that they might not forget the commandements of the Lord but alwaies fulfill his Law They who are godly carry it all the day long under a corselet or cloake but so that the ribbonds may be seen of them that they may bee terrified from committing sin I once saw a crabbed Rabbine of a waiward holinesse who was Master of the Synagogue whose ribbands hanging at his fringes hung so low downe that they did even touch his feet For as some desiring not to be forgetfull of any thing committed to his memory knits a knot in his girdle to the end that he looking thereupon may call to his remembrance what he ought to put in execution So these five knotted fringes in use with the Jewes are as so many memorandums to warne them to avoid the by-paths of sin and iniquity And hence it comes to passe that all the Jewes are of such a sanctified conversation that they fulfill keep and observe every one of Gods commandements They also accounted it very good for the wholsome to eate something before a man in the morning undertake any businesse For there are sixty three diseases of the Gall which may all be cured by the eating of crust and a mornings draught of the blood of the grape Who wants wine he may drink Ale or a cup of cold water as Raschi is of an opinion and so shall he be fitted to undergo any labour They which are honest wives indeed will in the meane time make ready for dinner some boiled meate that their husbands bellies at their return home finding such cleanly provision may not by a long tarrying be occasioned to a thought that their throats are cut In that tract of the Talmud about the Sabbath it is ordained that the Jewes should goe to dinner some five houres after day-break which is about eleven a clock if any over-stay any longer hee may fall into some disease by the vehemence where of he may bee brought upon his knees for at that time the body expects and requires its naturall nourishment which if it have not then it seeds upon its owne members As a Bore in the time of winter is wont to doe for then if it be not possible for him to come by any sustenance hee by sucking his owne feete relieves himselfe The wives also must have an especiall care that they serve in the meate thus cleanly drest in a cleanly manner as it is written You shall not make your soules abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth neither shall you make your selves unclean with them that you should be defiled thereby for I am the Lord your God you shall therefore sanctifie your selves and you shall be holy for I am holy neither shall you defile your selves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth This place the profound Rabbines construe in this manner unto us That they being commanded by God ought to eate meates artificially cooked as men not beasts are accustomed to doe and that if any one do not eate such viandes he polluting himselfe without fall becomes unsanctified in the eies of the Lord. The table is to be spread with clean linnen bread in whole loaves pure well baked and not burn'd is to be set thereupon then Grate must be said and â—a blessing conserred upon the meat to be received If the good wives of the house have any pullen or other cattell which are to be fed
and nourished they ought first to serve them before they presume to sit downe to table as Rabbi Juda in the Talmud hath taught and commanded grounding upon those words I will send grasse in thy fields for thy cattell that thou maiest eat and bèe full For there the Law in the first place making mention of Cattell gives us to understand that a man ought first to shew mercy and care for the soule of his beast then to refresh himselfe that in so doing his meat may be wholsome unto him and he by feeding thereupon may be full In the book called Sepher Mitznos Naschim or the booke of womens conditions it is registred to be the dutie of women presently after the ending of morning prayer to fodder their Cattell yea before they take their children out of bed and put on their clothes because it is written A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruell Therefore if the good wife of the house doe earely feed her flock she gaines from thence a name graced with the addition of just and honest It is read in the same place that it is good and praise-worthy to breed up young Cattell in the house because the stars and celestiall planets doe often prognosticate by their aspects some misfortune about to happen unto the Master or Mistrisse of the family Now if in the mean time the husband or wife have been pious in the distribution of almes and done many good workes of the same nature then the Lord chiefe Chancel our some Angell is hereby understood who is overseer of the good deeds of men here on earth presently enroles them in his table-book by which means they come unto the fight of the Almighty unto whom the foresaid publike notary delivers this petition O Lord of the whole universe avert the unfortunate influence of the starres from this man and his fimily for they have done these and these good works Then the misfortune seiseth upon some wicked person or other for the heaven being a naturall agent doth of necessity keep his course as it is written The righteous is delivered out of trouble and the wicked commeth in his stead If there be no ungodly sinner in the house then the influentiall miâ—chiefe lights upon the head of some of his Cattell This matter is too prolixe and cannot be comprehended by the shallow capacity of many women It is necessary that before any presume to set downe to dinner he should go and unload his belly in some secret place that he fall to his victuals with an empty stomack and purified body for if he come to the table with a full stomack he shall depart from it with a body stuft with diseases This the Jewish Doctors gather out of that verse bring forth the old because of the new Hence concluding that a man ought first to empty his stomacke of the meat formerly received before he take in any more It is also necessary that a man should wash his hands before he go to dinner to this end he ought to have fresh and clean water not that which is any way troubled and that is accounted for cleane water which hath not formerly been transferred to any other use that is accounted uncleane in which any kind of wine hath been cooled in the former time in which cups or drinking glasses have been washed or out of which hens or dogs have drunk Ordinarily the houshold servants wash first then the Mistrisse and last of all the Master of the family that he being cleane every whit may instantly beflow a blessing upon the creatures provided for their daily food and nourishment the form of which I will here after delineate Furthermore it is a position of the Rabbines that any Master of a family being exquisite in the performance of this ceremony which is as an usheting prologue to the filling of his paunch cannot come within the reach of any evill The hands being washed are to be cleanly wiped Hence it is recorded in the Talmud that Rabbi Ahbahu was wont to affirm that whosoever eates his bread with wet and undried hands his fact is no lesse hainous then if he had eaten that bread which by the law was accounted uncleane unto the Israelites as it is written So shall the children of Israel eate their defiled bread among the Gentiles whither I will cast them In the Originall the words signifying defiled bread are lachmam Tame which comprehend according to the Hebrew Cabbalisticall computation 168. Which number the letters of these three words Belo Niggubh Jadaiim doe likewise specifie which do signify being construed without the washing of the hands So then the Cabbalisticall meaning must bee this The Israelites shall eate their bread with unwashen hands that is they shall eat it defiled Rabbi Jose saith that whosoever eates bread with unwashen hands commits as grievous a sinne as if he had laien with a whore And this he sifts out of those words of Solomon For a whorish woman a man shall be brought to a morsell of bread This then is so slrictly observed of the Jews both before and after meat that you shal not sind one amongst a million that is forgetfull or negligent in the performance thereof yea so curious are they therein that when they wash they will not suffer a ring to stay on their finger left some filth might be sheltered under the same and the observation of drawing off the ring is so accurate that he who in time of washing doth not draw it off is accounted as unclean as if he had not washed at all It is written in the Talmud that Rabbi Akibha was once for a long time imprisoned by the Gentiles or Christians To whom Rabbi Jehoshua Garsites brought every day so much water as might serve for to quench his thirst and wash his hands At a certaine time the keeper of the prison tooke the water from him and poured halfe thereof upon the ground which Rabbi Akibha seeing and perceiving that there was not water sufficient said unto Rubbi Jehoshua reach me the water that I may wash my hands who replyed Sir here is not enough for you to drink Rabbi Akibha answeres whosoever eates meate with unwashen hands is guilty of death It is better therefore that I should dye by thirst then that I should despise and set nothing by the traditions of my Ancestours There is also another story in the Talmud to this purpose Rabbi Meir Rabbi Josa Rabbi Juda upon a certaine time were travelling together and comming to a certaine Inne where mine Osle was a Jew they required lodging for the Sabbath drew on when it is not lawfull for the Jewes to travell Rabbi Meir asked the In-keeper what his name was who answered and said his name was Kiddori Whereupon Rabbi Meir began to think with himselfe that his Oste must needes be a wicked man who had such an ill
their command and a hainous offence it is to foster such meditations to poure out such prayers upon a defiled couch It is written in the Talmud that the Schoolars of Rabbi Sira upon a time demanding the reason why hee lived so long his answer was that hee never learned named nay which is more did not at any time thinke of the Name of God in an uncleane place Their bed is commonly so scituated that their head lies toward the South their feet toward the north The reason is by this meanes it comes to passe they beget many male children as it is proved out of the Talmud Rabbi Alphes and the Psalmes of David The North as also the Northern wind is called in the Hebrew Tzaphon and it is written in the 17 Psalme â—zphoneca temalle bitnam which the Rabbines render The North wind shall fill their bellies and they shall have children at their desire The interpretation indeed is agreeable to the words of the Text And though the Rabbines know that the sense or glosse which they put upon them is not proper and correspondent yet it is doctor-like in their esteem to put such subtile interpretations upon the severall parcels of holy writ And now because this demonstration was deprehended to bee of small force therefore a philosophicall Rabbine or a Rabbinicall Philosopher call him what you please in his booke entituled Reschis chochmaâ— The beginning of wisedome hath otherwise expounded it which exposition it is not needfull here to enroll Moreover the Jewes have bed-chamber Ethicks The first and chieâ—e point handled therein is how the man ought to behave himselfe towards his wife when they are in bed together which is there most subtilly disputed and handled as they are perswaded Which for the reverence I bear to a chaste and circumcised eare I will neither say it is laudable nor shall my pen expose it to the offence of chaste or the temptation of loose livers If any lustfull monkey have some itching desire to read such baudy morals let him peruse the booke called Orach Chajim As for me my modesty shall bridle it and leaving the Jew in the bed with his wife suffering him to take his rest we will proceed to a further narration of their sanctity and holinesse CHAP. IX How the Jewes doe cease from their labours every Munday and Thursday IT is registred in the Talmud as also in the writings of Rabbi Alphes that Ezra the Prophet did command the Jewes in that time when they were in captivity at Babylon to observe these ten things First that upon the Sabbath day Secondly that upon every Munday and Thursday in every week they should repaire to the Synagogue and read some certaine Chapters or Sections out of the booke of the law and that publikely some peculiar Ceremonies and a more then vulgar holinesse being conjoyned with the practise of the same Thirdly that upon every Munday and Tuesday they should sit in judgment deciding the causes betwixt man and man that according to the rule of justice every one may have his owne Fourthly that upon Thursday they should wash all uncleane clothes and vessels sweepe the house and make every corner thereof very handsome in honour of the holy Sabbath Fifthly that every Thursday the men should eat leekes Sixthly that the women rising early in the morning should bake their bread to the end that they may have in readinesse a morsell to relieve the poor when he commeth to their doore Seventhly that the women should weare a vaile or maske for modesties sake Eighthly that the women entring into the bath ought to combe their haire in an accurate manner even so that one hair may be parted from another Ninthly that it shall bee lawfull for all Chapmen and Merchants travelling from Faire to Faire to sell their wares that by this meanes the women may furnish themselves with all things of fragrant smell and gay attire both for the better celebration of the Sabbath and for the pleasing of their husbands Lastly that those who were troubled in the night time with the efflux of seed out of their genitals and so became uncleane should purge themselves by washing Hence it appeares that although the Prophets who were before Ezra's time did institute and ordaine that the people should every Sabbath day be taught out of the Law of Moses yet was it meet that Ezra to inâ—ite and prick Israel forwards to a higher degree of godlinesse should enact it for a perpetuall decree that three daies in any weeke should not passe but in one of them some thing should be rehearsed out of the Law of Moses by which the people being auditors might receive instruction This Edict of Ezra his learned successors did teach and expound and also ratifie and confirme out of those words in Exodus They went out into the wildernesse of Sur and they went three daies and found no water By water in this place understanding the Law because it is called by the name of water by the Prophet Hoe every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and he that hath no money come yee buy and eate yea come buy wine and milke without money and without price that is to say Come ye unto the Law and word of God Without which when they had walked three dayes in the desart they divided the weeke in such a manner that once in three dayes they ought alwaies to heare and learne somewhat out of the law This custome is also practised upon Mundayes and Thursdayes in remembrance of Moses who upon Thursdaies went up into Mount Sinai brought from thence the two Tables of the Law made of Cedar intreated a pardon for the sinne of the Jewes in making the golden calfe and upon Munday came downe from the Mount againe Hereupon also those which are most puritanically straight-laced among the Jewes at this day use to fast upon Mundayes and Fridayes as that Pharisee did in the time of our Saviour boasting thereof in this supercilious manner I give thee thanks O God that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers nor as this Publican I fast twice a weeke and pay tithes of all that I have Thirdly it is necessary that upon these daies a singular care be had of hearing and meditating the word of God in respect that they are dayes appointed for judicature Hence also it is that the halfe of them to this very day are festivall among the Jewes For in the mornings of them they repaire very timely unto the Synagogue where besides their ordinary prayers they sing or say many other which are extant in their Minhagin and their manuals of prayer Moreover they are wont to boast in a very swaggering stile of their taking out and putting in the booke of the Law into the Arke of which more anon Concerning their usuall prayers upon these dayes they add one more then ordinary to those in the morning beginning Vehu racham to
which they attribute great vertue and strange operations hidden ones surely for they have not made their appearance for one thousand six hundred and odd yeares This they use to say standing and that with great devotion There is a certaine story very pat to this purpose When the Jewes were banished out of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian the Roman Emperour The Emperour commanded that three ships filled with Jewes should be set to float upon the sea having neither mast nor sailes This his command being put in execution the ships being tost with a most violent tempest were parted asunder and cast upon the shore of three divers countries the names whereof were Lovanda Arlado and Burdeli which are now worne out of remembrance All the Jewes in one of those ships were very courteously entertained by the Lord of that country in which they landed who in a most bountifull manner gave them land to till and Vineyards After his death there arose another King who handled and vexed the Jewes most inhumanely even as Pharaoh did their Ancestours saying unto them that he would try whether they were true Jewes or not after the same manner that Nebuchadnezzar tryed Hananias Misael and Azarias and if you can walke without hurt in the middle of the fiery furnace as they did then will I confesse that you are true Jewes indeed To whom the Jewes made answer entreating him that he would doe unto them as Nebuchadnezzar did to the three former which was to grant them three dayes respite that they might pray unto God to deliver them Which when he had granted two brothers called Joseph and Benjamin and their Couzen Samuel came together to consult what was best to be done who determined neither to eat or drinke for three dayes together Which while they put in practise every one having a severall prayer which they joined in one and repeated it without intermission night and day untill their allotted time was ended In the morning of the third day one of them said he had dreamed that he heard one read a verse out of the Bible in which Kt was twice and Lo three times reiterated but what it meant or where it was he was altogether ignorant Then answered one of the other two and said this verse will be a helpe and comfort unto thee for hereby is signified that God will send thee help from heaven and it is written in the forty third chapter of Isaiah and the second verse the words wherof are these Kâ— when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall Lo not overflow thee Ki when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt Lo not bee burnt Lo neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Upon the third day a huge fire was provided earely in the morning an immense number of people flocking to the execution who were very desirous to be present at the burning The congregation being compleate these three men did commend their bodies to the mercy of the fire singing and praying untill all the wood being consumed they came out of the fire without the least touch thereof This miracle the foresaid men divulged in what place soever they came whereupon it was ordained and commanded that this prayer should bee said every Munday and Thursday morning in every Synagogue and place of publike prayer which the Jewes observe and keepe unto this very day hoping that by the power of this prayer they shall be delivered from their long continued captivity and tedious exile But alas their hopes will be frustrate so long as they despise and set at nought the Saviour of their soules Christ Jesus and persevere in their horrible superstition This Fable is here related more at large then it is by Antonius Margarita out of the booke Colbo The prayer beginning Vehu racham so much esteemed of them is written in the forme following He is mercifull forgiving iniquity and not destroying the sinner He oftentimes turns his anger from us and suffers not his fury to arise O God I beseech thee take not thy mercy from me let thy meeknesse and truth alwaies preserve me Help us O God our God and gather us from among the Gentiles c. In briefe the sum of this prayer is this They beg of God that hee would vouchsafe to pardon their sinnes take pity upon the desolations of their City and Temple to gather them from the foure corners of the earth and never suffer his inheritance to bee ashamed In this prayer they are also mindefull of us Christians against whom they thus petition O God how long shall thy strength remaine in captivity and thy beauty in thy enemies hand O Lord God stirre up thy strength and revenge us upon all our enemies so shall their might be turned into weaknesse and they shall be ashamed and perish These last words are in many Copies left out by reason of an injunction laide upon the Printers by the Christian Magistrate an empty space being left that they may either write them or eâ—se inquire what is wanting These things thus finished they fall the second time upon their faces and saying many other prayers as was declared in the former Chapter they beseech God that hee would remove his anger farre from them and not deliver them into the hands of their enemies but being mindefull of the Covenant that hee made with their fathers would make their seed like unto the starres of Heaven for multitude After that they have for such a space either kneeling or standing poured out their souls in prayer unto God then followes the narration of that pompe and state which they exhibite to the booke of the Law they reade weekly Lectures out of it according as they were enjoyned by Ezra the scribe The manner followeth In every Synagogue they have the booke of the Law to wit the Pentateuch written in long schroles of parchment sewed together at the ends thereof are fastned certaine pieces of wood for the safer keeping and more easie carriage of the booke of the Law This book is kept in a certaine Arke or Chest standing continually against some wall of the Synagogue Before the Ark is a little doore and before it a hanging made by the Art of the embroiderer This is of divers sorts and the more solemnn the festivall is the richer are the hangings Those are had in greatest esteeme with them whose outside is adorned and wrought with the shapes of divers birds for such were alwaies an ornament upon the old Arke of the Covenant The booke is alwaies wrapt up in a linnen cloth in which are characterised some Hebrew words and divers names That which is the most outward of all is oftentimes a linnen cloth much like unto a little coat or cloake made of silke but sometimes of puregold upon which they hang some silver plates fastned to a golden chaine in which is written Kether thorah that is to say the crowne of the Law or Kodesch adonai
a certaine shadow upon the palme after this he stretcheth forth his hand the second time so that he may know by the candle light that his nailes are whiter then his fingers which he perceiving saith Blessed be thou O God our God King of the world who hast created such a resplendent candle Then he takes the cup againe into his left hand looking in the like manner upon the nailes thereof Then by and by he transfers the cup into the right hand and saith Blessed be thou O Lord our God King of the world who hast put a difference between the holy and unholy between light and darknesse between Israel and the Gentiles between the seventh day and the other six dayes of the weeke destinated for labour While hee is a repeating this prayer he poures a little of the wine out of the cup upon the earth Then he drinks a little of it himselfe reaching it unto others that they may sup of the same Amongst these nocturnall petitions there is one which begins Vaiehi Noam in which the letter zaijn is not found which signifies weapons whosoever therefore shall say this prayer with a devoâ—t minde hee shall bee safe and secure that whole night following from any kinde of weapon so that he shall neither be killed nor have the least scratch given him In the the like manner he shall besafe from the devill when he devoutly faith that prayer beginning Schema Israel Heare O Israel c. For the first verse begins with the letter Schin and ends with the letter Daleth which two joined together make Scheds which word signifies a Devill This distinction of the Sabbath they prove from those words that you may discern between the holy and profane and those Godseparated the light from the darknesse Some take of the consecrated wine and anoint their eies therewithall others wash their face in it thinking it a wholsome medicine against the fluxes of the eye others bath their arteries therewith because it is a meanes to length 〈◊〉 their dayes others sprinkle it in every corner of the hoâ—â—ri about the beds and cradles of infants dreaming that it is soveraign against enchantments and witchcraft The truth is this wine is of so high esteeme amongst them as that other also wherewith they initiate the Sabbath They smell the perfumes lest they should fall into a swoon while one of their soules departs out of the body For upon the Sabbathday they have another soule besides that which they live by at other times Concerning this matter Antonius Margarita in his booke of the faith of the Jewes writes in this manner It is written in the Jewish Talmud saith he that every man hath three soules and it is proved out of these following words of the Prophet Isaiah Thus saith the Lord who created the heaven and stretched it out who made the earth and whatsoever groweth thereon who giveth life and breath unto the inhabitants of it According to the letter of this text they find two soules in man to which if we add the naturall soule there ariseth three Whereupon they also write that two soules depart out of a man sleeping the one of which goes upward unto God to learne things to come the other goes downward into the earth and running to and fro contemplates nothing else but injustice sinne foolishnesse or vanity The third they call Ruach Behemoth the irreasonable soule which being the first of all received by man is seated neare unto his heart and sees all things whatsoever the other two soules in their absence from the body have heard seen or done and hence proceed and issue all our dreames which therefore are not alwaies to be contemned They say moreover that upon the Sabbath a man hath another soule besides these which enlarges his heart that he may keep the Sabbath more honourably and exhilarate himselfe in a higher straine of mirth then it were possible for him to doe if hee were destitute of the same But the Sabbath once being ended this soule departs and the man becomes weake thereupon against which his faintnesse hee may prosperously use these sweet smelling odours that the body may have wherewith to recover its former strength Hitherto Margarita but whence he had these words I cannot as yet finde Concerning this superfluous soule 〈◊〉 remember I have read this in the Talmud Rabbi Jose said 〈◊〉 the name of Rabbi Simeon who was the sonne of Jochai that all the commandements that God gave unto the Israelites he gave them in publike except the Sabbath which he gave in private as it is recorded The Sabbath shall be an everlasting signe between me and the children of Israel Where the Jewes by an everlasting signe would understand a secret token willing that the Sabbath should be hid from all other nations and onely manifested to the Jewes Therefore marke diligently Christian Reader how the Hebrew word leolam signifying everlasting any reasonable soule being judge must according to the Jewish interpretation signifie hidden and concealed Hence the Rabbines in their Gemarah ask the question that if the Christians and other people do not know that we have a Sabbath how comes it to passe that they in time to come shall be punished for the contempt of the Sabbath and for the not keeping thereof They make answer to themselves saying they know well enough that wee keep the Sabbath this is not hidden from their eyes and therefore they are to be punished because they will not keepe it But the reward due unto the observance thereof is hidden from them and this they know not yet if they would rightlly celebrate the Sabbath they should also know thereward But this is a thing impossible for them to put in execution seeing they are destitute of the superfluous soule because it being given to men rather upon that day then others and that more abundantly doth enlarge their hearts that in the time of the Sabbath they may take their rest with ease eat and drinke well and merrily and set all care and sorrow a packing from their breasts Hereupon Rabbi Simeon the sonne of Lakis affirmed that God gave this soule to man upon the Sabbath about eventide and tooke it from him again at the end of the Sabbath as it is written When he had taken rest evâ—n to satiety the Sabâ—ath remaining then was he deprived of his soule to wit the superfluous one Where againe note how neatly the Jewes interpret the holy Scriptures for the verbe jinnâ—phsch in that place is rendred by the Rabbines to want or bee deprived of a soule whereas it hath a clean contrary signification to cherish recollect recreate stirre up the spirits and most properly to breath which after the manner of men we ascribe unto God concerning whom it cannot be said nor understood that he hath lost a soule In this their blindnesse the Jewes blush not to place their chiefe wisdome and knowledge Concerning this superfluous soule Rabbi Abraham also
some resemblance and analogy with their head though oftentimes they lose their naturall taste and qualities by reason of the places and channels in which they keep their course Even so out of those chiefe Articles concerning the labours of the Jewes many moe labours arise and issue as the River from the fountaine which labours seem to differ much from the other yet they alwaies doe correspond in some similitude for example The first and chiefe Article is to till plow or sowe the ground to this Article these are reducible To dig fill up dâ—tches dresse the garden with shovels transplant herbes plant vines inoculate loppe to water herbes and young plants or cyens and if there bee any other kind of worke to be done by which any thing may be furthered in his growth Hereupon the Rabbines for feâ—re of filling up of ditches have permitted it is lawfull to spriâ—kie a chamber with water upon the Sabbath day to avoid the rising of the dust but by no meanes to sweep it with a besome lest some chinke or other should be filled thereby And for the same reason they have interdicted the casting of nuts little stones oâ— such like into a ditch as at a certaine marke It is also prohibited that any one should walke upon new plowed â—land lest by hard treading hee might either make a ditch or fill one The second Article is concerning the cutting down and reaping of corn To which are reâ—erred the plucking of dates grapes olives olive berries the gathering of figs and apples the taking of honey out of the Bee hive and many moe of the same nature Hence it is permitted to taste or eate an apple hanging upon the bough or branch upon the Sabbath day but by no meanes to pluck it off It is unlawfull to goe through a field of corne especially if the weather be rainy for the seed may be rooted up by the heele which is all one as if it were cut with the sickle Hence it was that the Jewes reprehended the Disciples of our Saviour for pulling the eares of corne upon the Sabbath To the Article of threshing are referred the peeling renting shaking of hempe or flax the spinning of wooll the straining of any fruits which are full of moisture as olives orenges apples grapes the wringing of any wet cloth and such like The giving of sucke is also to be referred to this Article yet the Rabbines do not agree in opinion concerning this matter Hereupon it is much questioned whether a Nurse being bewraied by a child upon the Sabbath day may lawfully make her selfe cleane Many hold that shee ought to wash her hands by the meanes whereof the filth may by little and little bee done away But Rabbi Jose dislikes the opinion and prohibits the doing of it seeing such a washing cannot goe in the number of ordinary ones Thus I have showne you three of their Articles which in the Talmud are called the fathers of labour by which you may easily know how to judge of the rest only I will add that the offences committed against both kinds are accounted equall The Articles which arise from the first are called by the Jewes Tole doth Generations or off-springs in the relation to the former appellation of fathers He that offends against either is esteemed to deserâ—e stoning but who out of deliberate malice transgresseth the least of them God will blot his name out of the booke of life These things are more at large commented upon in the Talmud the full description whereof as it is there set downe many volumes are not large enough to comprehend Now although the Jewes in their owne foolish conâ—eits perswade themselves that they rightly observe and keepe the Sabbath omitting nothing which appertaâ—â—es to the honouring and sanctifying thereof yet experience it selfe to which both their consciences and doctrine give witnesse cries out that they not at any time kept and sanctified it as they ought Rabbi Jochanan in that treatise of the Talmud about the Sabbath in the sixteenth Chapter and the hundred and eighteenth page affirms That whosoever keeps the Sabbath as he ought and as the strict rule there of requires and abstaines from Idolatry shall have remission of all his sâ—ns which he proves out of the fifty sixt Chapter of Isaiah and the second verse where it is thus written Blessed is the man who doth this and the sonne of man who laies hold upon it and who keeps the Sabbath and pollutes it not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mechallelo and profanes it not for so the word in the originall most properly signifies Yet the skilfull rabbines will not have written Mechallelo but Machollo which signifies he hath obtained remission Rabbi Jehuda saith that if the people of Israel had sanctified the first Sabbath after the giving of the Law in that manner which they ought there had never any strange nation borne rule over them For as it is recorded upon the seventh day after the giving of the Law some of the people went out to gather manna and found it not for which sinne of theirs Amalâ—k came and fought against Israel as it is written in the next Chapter Rabbi Jochanan in the name of Rabbi Simeon who was the sonne of Jochai saith that if Israel at this day could but rightly keep two Sabbaths one immediately following the other they should be presently delivered out of their bondage as it is written Thus saith the Lord they that keep my Sabbaths c. Even unto them will I give within my house and within my wals a place and a name better then of sonnes and daughters I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be cut off Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer Because therefore the Jewes are not delivered unto this day yea are almost past hopes of a future deliverance it must necessarily follow that as yet they have not sanctifyed the Sabbath as they ought Yea they themselves confess so much saying that they were deficient herein in the times foregoing the destruction of the second Temple and that this was the reason why Jerusalem was laid waste for thus they hold on in the Talmud Abhai saith that Jerusalem was destroied by reason her inhabitants profaned the Sabbath as it is written Her Priests have violated my Law and have profaned my holy things They have put no difference between the holy and the profane neither have they shewed difference between the clean and the unclean they have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths and I am profaned among them Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them And even so do the Jewes at this day for they observe and keep the Sabbath onely with a good cup of wine some dainty dishes of flesh and fish and al kind of pleasures to the utmost reach of their abilitie They abstaine from all outward workes yea they will not have
the least finger in any thing which may carry any shew of labour with it or which may administer any occasion which may become a provocation to some worke or other So often as they are necessitated as in the winter time to the making of fires at sundry times to the snuffing of candles putting out of their lampes laying their meate to the fire milking their kine and such like they hire some poore serving man who is a Christian to do the same Hence they are wont to glory that they are the sole Lords Masters and Free-men of the Christians vassals and bond-slaves and they who sitting behind a hot furnace shall doe all their workes for them It were therefore in my opinion very meet and convenient that the Christian Magistrates should interdict all those that are their subjects to do any such servile workes for the Jewes either upon the Sabbath or at any other time I should have brought some certaine of their prayers for a conclusion of this Chapter in the most of which they re-member to pray against the Christians Wherein they beseech God that hee would vouchsafe to give unto the Jewes the riches of the Gentiles that he would utterly confound the Ammonites Moabites and Edomites for by this meanes they Christen us at this day that he would smite all people with great feare and vexation and stirre up great warres and tumults among the nations even from the East unto the west But because I have decreed to reserve these and many others for another tract I here omit them and conclude with the saying of the Prophet Isaiah Bring no more vain oblations CHAP. XII How the Jewes prepare themselves to celebrate the Passeover and of the celebration of it HOW the Jewes carry themselves all the weeke long daily practising the duties of modesty and godlinesse hath been hitherto declared Now it followes that wee should speake some things of those solemnities and rites wherewith they are wont to celebrate their Festivals Their feasts are of two sorts some great and famous such as those were which their Ancestours kept and held once every year comming from all quarters to the celebration of it even to Jerusalem and their appearing before the Lord Of this sort was the Feast of the Passeover the Feast of weekes or Pentecost the Feast of Tabernacles which three were commonly called Schelasch Regalim out of the booke of Exodus Other Feasts they use which they keep in those Cities wherein they dwell and inhabite which they call Jomim toâ—im that is to say good dayes The chiefe Feast among them of the first sort is the Passeover which they call by the name of Pesach and is also the first in order for from the moneth in which it is celebrated they begin to reckon their annuall Festivals and that according to the commandement of God in the Law of Moses saying This month shall bee unto you the beginning of months it shall be the first month in the yeare to you Lo the first day of the month Nisan is wherein the New Moone begins her course is the beginning of the yeare from which they begin to reckon and order aright their solemnities Their common yeare takes its beginning from the first of September by them called Tisri in the time of the new moon Hence we read of a foure-fold new yeare in the Talmud The first begins upon the first day of Nisan or March it is the new yeare wherein begins the computation of the reigns of their Kings and celebration of their Feasts The second begins upon the first day of the month Elul or August and is called the new yeare of the bringing up of cattell The third takes its beginning from the first day of Schebeth or January and it is called the new yeare for trees Rabbi Hillel saith that this year begins on the fifteenth day of the foresaid moneth The last is called the New yeare of yeares to wit of the yeare of remission of Jubilee of the planting of trees and herbes and it begin upon the first of Tisri or September So much the Talmud Which is thus to bee understood The yeare of Kings is that yeare according to which they reckon the yeares of their reigne in all Contracts Indentures Bils and Bonds made in the yeare of such or such a King so that though any King do begin his reigne a month onely or a weeke yea but a day before the first of March yet is time reckoned unto him for a whole yeare and the first of March next ensuing they begin to write the second year of his reign In the same manner the first day of March is the time from whence they begin to number their annuall Feasts and holidaies So the Feast of the Passeover is kept in the first moneth the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh moneth and so forth 2. The beginning of August begins the yeare of the bringing up of their cattell from whence they begin to reckon the yeare and moneth in which such and such a beast was brought forth so that by this meanes they more easily pay tithe unto the Lord. 3. The first day of the new Moon in September is the beginning of yeares because from this day they have alwaies begun the computation of years from the Creation of the world to this present time The yeare of rest or remission which was the seventh yeare or Sabbaticall yeare when their fields and vines were suffered to keepe holiday took its beginning from the first day of this month as also the yeare of Jubilee which was every fiftieth yeare celebrated of which you may read in the twenty fifth Chapter of the third book of Moses From this also they began to account the times wherein they planted or grafted trees or herbes So when any tree was planted in the moneth of June then the first yeare of its planting ended in August and the second began in September c. the tree being accounted as uncleane and uncirâ—umâ—ised untill three yeares were past and gone Lastly The first day or according to Rabbi Hillel the fifteenth of January did begin the new yeare of trees and fruits for according to the time that the trees before or after this day did bring forth their fruits so were they permitted or not permitted to be eaten and according to this supputation they payed their tiâ—hes also The fruits ripening before the beginning of this month are dates and orenges and such like which were lawfull to bee eaten the yeare not run out But they which brought forth fruit which was not come to its full growth the yeare not yet ended it was not permitted unto any to eat thereof before the fifteenth day of January They payed tithes in like manner of the former sort but not of these This is at large handled in the fore-cited place of the Talmud Antonius Margarita in his booke of the faith of the Jewes saith that
the Jewes write that the trees first become sappy upon the fifteenth of January and that the pippins in peares or apples then doe turne themselves therein which experience teacheth for a truth In the Germane Minhagin it is recorded that none ought to kill a Goose in January because there is one fatall houre in this moneth in which if any man chance to kill this kind of creature hee shall surely dye a sudden death Yet if any doe it out of ignorance let him take the liver of the Goose and eat it and no danger wil ensue upon the act which Rabbi Juda Chasid confirms for a truth So much by way of digression shal suffice to be spoken of the yeares in use among the Jewes Wee now return to treat of that which was first proposed How the Jews prepare themselves to the celebration of the passeover They of the riâ—her sort among the Jewes sitting themselves for the celebration of this Feast by a thirty dayes preparation buy wheat to make unleavened bread whereof they may eat in the time of the Festivall They bestow also somewhat upon the poorer sort who cannot buy where withall to make unleavened cakes The Sabbath immediately foregoing the Feast of the passeover is among the Jewes an high and great day In this the Rabbines make an Oration to the people in which they give a tedious instruction unto the people concerning the paschall lamb and the use thereof This Sabbath they call the great Sabbath a great miracle hapning upon the same being godfather thereunto It is written in the second book of Moses the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lambe according to the house of their fathers a lambe for an house And yee shall keep it up untill the fourteenth day of the same month and the whole congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening Upon which words the Rabbines write as followeth Our fathers say they taking up their lambes upon the tenth day bound them in their foulds that they might keepe them unto the foureteenth Which the Egyptians seeing made enquiry what they meant to doe with them to whom the Israelites answered that they would kill them against the Feast of the passeover The Egyptians perceiving that they were about to slaughter and sacrifice that creature which they worshipped as a creating god for the Ram is a signe of the Zodiacke were greatly perplexed and began to imagine evill against Israel Then God wrought a miracle smiting the minds of the Egyptians with feare and amazement yea with such an agony that they were not able to wag their tongue against the children of Israel nor to afflict them with the smallest annoyance of a mischiefe Hence was say they that answer of Moses to Pharaoh It is not meet to doe so for then wee should offer unto the Lord our God that which is an abomination unto the Egyptians Loe can we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes and they not stone us Abomination that is that Lambe the killing whereof will be in the eies of the Egyptians an abominable and hainous offence seeing they adore him as a God Insomuch also as it pleased the Lord so to worke with the Egyptians that they had neither strength nor power to doe any harme unto the children of Israel and that in such a miraculous manner therefore they stile this Sabbath which is the harbinger to the passeover and ushereth in the celebration by the name of the great Sabbath Againe it is written Unleavened bread shall bee eaten seven daies and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee nor yet leaven be seen with thee in all thy quarters Out of which words they gather thus much that when the time of the Feast approacheth they ought with all diligence to seek out all the leavened bread in their houses and every parcell of leaven that may be found to wash with water all their kneading troughes and other vessels and in the second place to have in a readinesse new dough for to make unleavened bread against the Passeover Therefore two or three daies at least before the Feast they begin to brush up and make handsome all their houshold stuffe in that forme and manner which decency perswades and necessity requires In the first place they take a great Caldron used for the celebration of Festivals which they fill full of water and hanging it over the fire cause it to boile Into this they cast all their woodden and pewter vessels and after the scalding water hath sufficiently loosed the adherent filth they take them out and wash them in cold water which done every vessell is held for pure and undefiled If any thing or other by reason of the bignesse thereof cannot be put into the foresaid Caldron as a chaire stoole table or such like then they take a red hot iron or stone holding it in a paire of tongs over the table pouring water in great abundance thereupon whereby the table chaire or stoole may be washed They make no spare of water for if any part of the foresaid things be untouched therewith they remaine undefiled They daube with clay the kneading trough after it bee throughly washed and set it aside in some corner of the house They fill their great Caldrons being formerly cleansed with hot water which done they cast three live coales thereinto so fierce that they make the water to hisse againe and then wash them in cold water For the more easie cleansing of pewter and leaden vessels they use two paire of tongs with the one putting them into the Caldron and with the other taking them out to this end that by this mutuall change the vessels may bee made cleane They cast their vessels of iron as little pots dripping pans broiling irons and such like into the fire where they let them remaine untill they sparkle with heat and then they are clean in estimation They fill their brasse and iron mortars with coales binding a thread about them which by the vehemency of the heat being burnt asunder showes the purification to be perfect A mortar of stone ought to be new cut or engraven Briefly it is necessarily required that all vessels of what sort soever be in every part so exactly cleansed and purified that not the smallest signe or token of that unâ—leannesse signified by the leaven may be really extant or obvious to the sense for whosoever eates meat out of any dish or platter in the time of the passeover that dish or platter being unclean he commits as hainous a sin as if hee had slept with a menstruous woman Just then was that reprehension given by our Saviour unto the Pharisees Ye lay the commandement of God apart and observe the traditions of men as the washing of pots and of cups and many other such like things you doe And he said unto them well you reject the commandements of God that you may
by them blessed and consecrated At length thanks being given the cups are filled the fourth time and the good man of the house taking his cup into his hands saith poure out thy wrath upon the Gentiles and upon the Kingdomes that have not knowne thy name poure out thine indignation upon them and let thy wrathfull displeasure take hold on them In the mean time one running to the doore unlocks it and sets it open thereby willing to shew their great security In this saying they curse all people which are not of Israel more especially the Christians hoping that Elias will come that very night and declare unto them the comming of their Saviour and deliverer the Messias as they also brag and boast in that prayer called Azrob nissim their reason is because all those famous deliverances so full of wonder which God wrought for the Patriarches Prophets and people of Israel hapned as upon this night They pray therefore that God would come againe and deliver them out of this their calamity and punish the Christians in the same manner that he did the Egyptians Hence it comes to pâ—sse that so soone as the gates are opened and the execeration is pronounced one of the houshold invested with a white linnen garment runs into the nurâ—ery that the infants may thinke that Elias is come indeed and is about to take vengean e on the Christians For a conclusion of all the Master of the family saies certaine table-prayers at the period of the supper which he closeth up in this manner Almighty God build againe thy Temple and that shortly very quickly in these our daies very quickly now build againe and that shortly thy holy Temple Omercifull God O great God O bountifull God O thou God that art highly exalted O beautifull God O sweet God O vertuous God O God of the Jewes now build up thy Temple very quickly and with great expedition in these our dayes very quickly very quickly now build up now build up now build up now build now build up thy Temple quickly O strong and powerfull God living God mighty God O God worthy of all honour O God of meeknesse O eternall God a God that art to be feared O God of comelinesse God of majesty God of infinite riches God of surpassing beauty O faithfull God now build up thy Temple shortly very quickly very quickly in these our daies shortly very quickly now build up now build up now build up now build up now build up thy Temple speedily The Orizons ended they betake themselves to rest and sleep in great security for they perswade themselves that this night neither man nor devil can approach to doe them any hurt This night is called in the second book of Moses and the 12 Chapter Lel Schemarim the night of observation or preservation Hereup on their minds being fraughted with such a conceit they abandon feare leave open their gates and doors all the night over to give an entrance to Elias the Prophet who as they assure themselves will come and deliver them out of this their misery Thus the poor blirdfolded Jewes trouble and vex themselves with this their vaine pompe and pompous vanity for two nights together instead of that paschall lambe which they ought to have eaten using no other ceremonies then Moses in the institution thereof hath described It being the position of their Rabbines that it was not required at their hands after the destruction of their City and Temple to Kill and eat the paschall lambe according to the ceremonial prescription of Meses and that they are not tyed to observe these or any others by him enjoined unlesse they were in the promised land of Canaan which land alone is to be accounted pure and holy all others defiled and profane Now from these premises every one may infer thus much that seeing the Jewes have not srom that time wherein the true paschall lambe Christ Jesus was offered eaten the posseover in any place according to the right prescription and also seeing the Jewes at this day so journing in Jerusalem and the land of Canaan do not eat the paschall lamb in the manner that they ought neither doe they offer any sacrifice it must necessarily follow that there is some other cause why their sacrifices are ceased and all other their Mosaicall Rites and Ceremonies are abrogated which certainly they might have found out in the space of 1631 yeares had they not been smitten with blindnesse from above So that now we may say with the Prophet David This their may uttereth foolishnesse yet their posterity delight in their talke But my people would not hear my voice and Israel would have none of me so I gave them up to their owne hearts lusts and they have walked in their counsels The Rabbines establish this their opinion out of the words following Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passeover unto the Lord thy God of the flocke and the herd in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there Now seeing God enjoins them according to their ordinary glosse that they should not celebrate this Feast in any other place but in the promised land they doe inferre that now being dispersed among the Nations they are not lyable to the observation of the same But the true sence of the words is this That when God had put a period to Israels captivity and brought them into the land of promise the land of Canaan and having given unto them a setled kind of regiment a City and a Temple in which it pleased him to place his name then they should repaire to Jerusalem to eate the pasâ—hall lambe for the better preservation of the unity of faith among them as to the Metropolis and chiefe City of Israel But when the scepter was in a manner taken â—rom them by reason of inâ—essâ—nt wâ—â—rs and tumults so that they could not come unto Jerusalem then did every family kill and eate the passeover in their owne gates as it is recorded in the second book of Kings And so soon as they were delivered out of these their troubles they celebrated the said Feast againe in the place appointed with great solemnity and rejoicing as good Josial is recorded to have done in the sore-cited place Now that for the space of 1631 yeares they could not kill nor eat the paschall lambeâ— right none must seeke for another cause then that of the departure of the Scepter from Juda the desolation of Jerusalem and their long continued exile For why did not Jerusalem remain unto this day why is not the Temple built againe The sacrifices and ceremonies delivered by Moses why are they not re-established The Jewes cannot see the reason hereof because Moses his vaile is as yet before their eies It was formerly mentioned that the Jewes at the supper of the paschall Lambe use to carouse foure cups of wine two before supper two after which foure consecrated cups every one
solemnity cut their beards bath themselves feast and make merry because the daies of mourning for Akibha ' s schollers are now ended So much concerning the Feast of the passover I conclude all with the saying of Isaiah They have not known nor understood for he hath shut their eles that they cannot see and their hearts that they cannot understand Therefore with my Saviour I say let them alone They be blind leaders of the blind and if the blinde lead the blinde both shall fall into the ditch CHAP. XV. Of their Pentecost THE next Feast of the Jewes which is also one of their chiefest is that which Moses cals Chag Schebhnos the Feast of weeks because before the celebration thereof they are to number seven weeks from the passeover which containe 49 daies so that they held the Feast of Pentecost alwaies upon the fiftieth day after the passeover according to the injunction of Moses saying Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee begin to number the seven weekes from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corne And thou shalt keep the feast of weekes unto the Lord thy God with atribute of a free-will offering of thy hand which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God thou and thy sonne and thy daughter thy man-servant and thy maid-servant and the Levite that is within thy gates and the stranger and the fatherlesse and the widdow that is among you in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there It is also called the Feast of harvest because harvest begins about the time of the celebration hereof as also the Feast of the first fruits because at this Feast they offered their first fruites unto the Lord in signe of thankfulnesse as we may read in the fourth book of Moses In the New Testament it is called Pentecost as in the acts of the Apostles and other places Their computation of the time is very accurate They begin to reckon from the second night of the Feast of the Passeover when the stars begin to appear saying this prayer Blessed be thou O Lord our God King of the world who hast sanctified us by thy commandements and hast commanded us to count the daies between the Passeover and beginning of harvest of which this is the first holding on untill they come to the seventh day when they say seven daies are gone which make up a weeke at the end of their prayer see upon the eighth day now a weeke and one day is past and so hold on in the same manner untill the thirty nine daies be fully expired that is to say untill they come to Whitson Eve While their account is in making they must stand according to the injunction of the Rabbines The time of the Feast being come and they not able to observe it according to the prescript of the Law therefore every day they lift up their hands unto God that he would vouchsafe to build up Jerusalem and restore their Temple as at the first promising unto God that upon the grant hereof they will duely celebrate this Festivall and all other using all the sacrifices and ceremonies required as necessary and prescribed in the Law of Moses That they should take such an exact account of the number of these daies or the Feast of seven weeks or harvest according as they write was the command of God himselfe lest his children should forget this Feast and so neglect the payment of their first sruits to God at Jerusalem which might easily come to passe seeing while they were yet in their owne land about or in the time of the celebration of this Festivall every one was busied about his rurall affaires and compelled to looke about his harvest businesse This Feast of weekes is by them compared to a certaine King who comming into a City where some Prince or Noble Peere is fettered in the prison-house entreats the Magistrate for his release which is granted accordingly so many weeks being past and gone And moreover hath this added unto his liberty that this time being past he will also give him his daughter in marriage Then the Captaine begins to reckon every houre day and week which the King hath designed unto him So God dealt with the Israelites while they were yet in bondage to the Egyptians saying unto them I will bring you out of Egypt with a stretched out arme therefore you shall number uunto your selves seven weeks aster the Feast of the Passeover which time being fully past I will give you my holy daughter the Law to wife But from which the Jewes have now gone a whoring and are become most vile adulterers as Moses and the rest of the Prophets complaine The Jewish women are not bound to this computation as also they are not to many other precepts to which the men are lyable Upon the evening of this Festivall it is not lawfull for any man to use phlebotomy for they write in their Minhagin or Talmud that on the eve of this Feast in time past there blowed a certaine evill and pestilent winde which they call Tabhoach which signifies a robber or butcher which had destroied all the children of Israel had they not been willing to have received the Law which God was about to deliver unto them the day following They keep this Feast for two daies together by reason of the same doubt which was frmerly inserted in their minds about the celebration of the Passeover In the celebration hereof they use not many ceremonies because it is not lawfull for them to sacrifice They take the book of the Law twice our of the Arke calling out five men who reade some certaine Chapters and Sections of the Law the contents whereof are concerning the sacrifices and other rites which were in use with their Ancestours in the time of this Festivall Furthermore they straw their pavements and floores of their houses streets and Synag ogues with rushes in remembrance of the Law which was given as upon this day Sticking also every corner of the house with green houghes enriching their browes with crowns of ivy hereby signifying that all the places about mount Sinai were greene when the Law was given Moreover they eat many dishes made with milke as custards and fritters or such like either baked or fryed and that because the Law upon the day when it was given was as white pure and sweet as any milk Among the rest they make one principall wafer or junket deep and thick with seven severall partitions calling it the custard or junket of mount Sinai This same is to put them in remembrance of the seventh heaven into which the Lord ascended from mount Sinai Lastly every one is bound to have his table well furnished with platters â—raught with delicate bits of meat and his goblets overflowing with the choisest wine
three times towards the North three times towards the South heaving it also in the last place over his head then suffering it to becke unto the ground In all these severall postures carrying himselfe much like unto a fencer in the tossing advancing and shouldering of his pike Then they pray againe and againe begin to shake their bundle of boughes thereby giving to understand that they are triumphant conquerours of all sinne and inquity having a conceit that by the noise of their branches they have so lashed whipped away and terrifyed the devill that hee dare never any more presume to accuse them before God for their sinnes and offences The next thing they put in practice is concerning the Book of the Law which some or other goes and takes out of the Arke and laies it upona Deske and instantly thereupon every one in the Synagogue circles about the pew or desk with the bundle of branches and orenges in his hand This they dâ—efor seven daies together in remembranâ—e that the wals of Jericho being by their fathers compâ—ssed about sseven daies fell flat unto the ground and the men thereof subdued unto Israel hoping withall that the wals of the Roman Empire shall likewise be demolished and the Jewes become the conquerours Lords and Masters of the Christians which Rabbi Bechai affirms in expresse words saying This our enâ—ircling or compassing used by us at this day upon this Festivall is a certaine sign unto us of the state of the time to come wherein the wall of Edom that of the Romane Monarchy shall be throwne downe and all the Edomites shall bee destroied and rooted out according to that of Daniel which he delivers concerning the fourth beast which shaddowes out unto us the Roman Monarchy in these words I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horne spake I beheld even till the beast was slaine and his body destroied and given to the burning flame In that day shall the mount Sion and Jerusalem rejoice which were formerly called Midbar or a desart as it is written Thy holy Cities are a wildernesse Sion is a wildernesse Jerusalem a desolation The same Prophet saying also in another place That Sion ought to rejoice and Jerusalem to be glad and clap her haâ—ds because the Lord will take vengeance upon Edom that is upon the Roman Empire as it it written The desart and wildernesse shall rejoice So much Rabbi Bechai out of which we may easily gather how much good the Jewes wish unto us Christians in the time of this their Festivall Yet in their books of Common Prayers it appeares that in former times they have been more invective against us then they are at this day for there they pray that God would smite us after the manner that hee smote the first born in the land of Egypt And that in a prayer which begins Ana hoschiana where the expresse words are Smite our enemies as thou smotest the first born in Egypt and make them subject unto us c. Where by their enemies they understand us Christians to whom they are now in bondage The first shaking of these Festivall branches being ended they shake them very often in the processe of their prayers taking two bookes of the Law out of the Arke out of which they read certaine sections with a bawâ—ing ostentation but very little attention and lesse devotion The second day they hallow equally as the first not that they are enjoined thereunto by the command and law of God but by reason they are not assured what day of September may precisely be accounted for the fifteenth and hence it is that they make two holidaies when one onely is required Eâ—ery evening so long as the Feast endures the Master of the family repeats a certaine prayer whereby hee makes the daies of the Feast to be discerned and differenced from those which are appointed for labour and travell in our ordinary vocation giving thanks unto God that the Feast hath been celebrated in such a good manner The foure daies following are onely esteemed holy in part but upon these also they sing and pray very much shaking their palm branches If any one of these foure daies chance to be the day of the Sabbath then among other things they read a certaine Chapter out of the Prophesie of Ezekiel concerning the dreadfull war of Gog and Magog beleeving and writing that Gog shall be slaine in this month and they delivered out of bondage shall be brought back into their owne land there for ever to have a peaceable habitation The seventh day is likewise by them kept holy whereon they say the prayer called Hosanna Rabba Helpe O Lord our strength because therein they intreat the Lord for to help them against all their enemies and to send them a good and fruitfull yeare For the first day of this month is the first day of the new yeare of yeares properly so called according to which they frame the computation of their yeares In the morning of every one of these daies they early wash themselves in hot or cold water goe into the School or Synagogue light many candles sing and pray â—ervently and with a great deale of ostentation take seven books of the Law out of the Arke and lay them upon the pew or deske which as was formerly related they compasse about seven times having their bundles of palme branches in their hands which are knit together with willow After every severall encompassing putting one of the seven books of the Law into the Arke againe Rambam Rakanat and Bechai with many other of the Rabbines Commenting upon the 14 Chapter of the 4 book of Moses blush not to affirm that God upon the seventh day at night reveales unto them by the moone what thing soever shall befall them the yeare following and that in this manner Upon this night they goe out into the fields by moone-shine some with their heads uncovered other having onely a linnen cloth tied about them or a vaile upon them which they suffering to fall upon the earth stretch out their armes and hands If any mans shadow in the moon-shine seem to want an head it is a certaine signe and token that such a one shall that yeare either lose his head or dye some other death If any seem to want a singer it presages the death of some of his friends if his right hand of his son if his left of his daughter But if no shadow at all appeare then that man shall undoubtedly dye and therefore if he have appointed a journey hee should hereby bee warned to let it alone lest he should not returne in safety This the Rabbines prove from those words of Moses Their shadow is departed from them Num. 14. 9. The Rabbines interpreting that a shadow which properly signifies a defence Yet they say that though a man cannot behold his shadow as upon this night that for this reason he should not
fills their hearts with sorrow being a very probable token of an unfruitful and dangerous season When the trumpeter hath done his office the whole Synagogue trumptes out those words of David Blessed is the people O Lord that can rejoyce in thee they shall walk in the light of thy countenance Morning prayer ended they return again to their houses where they eat and drink and sound upon their Rams-horns For it is a position of the Rabbines that at this time every one ought to be merry and jocund being assured that God hath been gracious unto him in pardoning his sins and offences and not because he hath fill'd his panch and liquored his throat for this would God rather impute unto them as a sin then recompense as a good work After this their repast every one man woman and child hasten to the water or to some Bridge thereupon to make Taschlich that is to say to cast their sins into the water and the ground of the practise is that of the Prophet He will turn again and have mercy upon us be will subdue our iniquities and cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea The Jews thus gathered together upon the Bridge so soon as they behold the fishes accounting the sight as a prosperous signe and token they caper alost and shake their garments over the â—ishes dreaming and vainly conceiting that by this their foolery they have shaked off all their sinnes upon the fishes backs which swim away with them even as the scape-Goat which carried away the sinnes of their ancestors into the wilderness Others write that they do it in remembrance of Abraham who travelling to sacrifice his son Isaac upon Mount Meriah which was upon the first day of September Satan met him and turned himself into a great River which at the first took him only to the knees but by and by it reacht his neck Abraham perceiving himself to be in such a distresse and that he was in danger of drowning cried mightily unto God who heard his prayer and turned the water into dry ground as it is recorded in the tract Medrasch rotosoha Evening being come they fall again to eat and drink and make merry as they were wont and in this manner they celebrate the feast of the New-year in great security with much mirth and jollity for the space of two dayes together I conclude with that of the Prophet If a man walk in the spirit and would lie falsly saying I will prophesie unto thee of wine and of strong drink he shall even be the prophet of this people To which alludes that of Sophonie Her Prophets are light and wicked persons her Priests have polluted the Sanctuary they have polluted the Law CHAP. XX. How they prepare themselves to the Feast of Reconciliation and the celebration thereof THe time between New-years-day and the tenth of the same moneth upon which they keep the feast of Reconciliation is called by Jews the ten penitential dayes for which space they fast and pray very much and are wonderful desirous to become holy and religious that if God should have written any of their names in the book of death and determined to afflict their souls with an unfortunate year he might at the contemplation and sight of their penitent life and practise of good works repent him of the evil and have mercy upon them transcribing their names in the book of life and sealing the judgement Every morning so long as these dayes endure while it is as yet very early they confesse their sins three several times do not proceed to the excommunication of any one neither do they call any man into judgement or force any one to take an Oath Upon the ninth day they forsake their beds betimes in the morning frequent the Synagogue sing and pray So soon as they return home every male old and young takes a Cock and every woman a Hen into their hands the master of the family doing likewise and saying these words Foolish men are plagued for their offence and because of theâ—r wickednesse Their soul abhorred all manner of meat and they were even at deaths door So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble he delivered them out of their distresse He sent forth his word and healed them and they were saved from their destruction O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men that they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving and tell out his works with gladnesse And again If there be a messenger with him or an interpreter one of a thousand to declare unto man his righteousnesse then will he have mercy upon him and will say Deliver him that he go not down into the pit for I have received a reconciliation that is a Cock which shall be a reconciliation unto me When he hath ended this his repetition he finisheth the reconciliation waving the Cock three times about his head and saying at every time This Cock shall serve instead of me he shall succeed in my stead who deserve death he shall be my reconciliation he shall die for me but I shall enter into life and blisse with them that are righteous in Israel Amen This he doth three times as was said before once for himself once for his children and once for strangers which sojourn with him according to the custome of the high Priest in ancient dayes as it is recorded in the third book of Moses In the next place he takes the Cock and kills him and drawing and gathering the skin together about his neck first meditates with himself that he is worthy to have his own throat cut for his sinnes and offences and then cutting the Cocks throat thinks himself worthy to be punished with the sword After this he takes the cock and with all his might throws him upon the ground thereby signifying that he deserves to be stoned to death for his sins and wickedness lastly he puts him upon the spit and roasts him thereby giving others to understand that to be burnt in a fiery furnace doth not equalize his desert These four kindes of death the poor Cock undergoes for his Master The intrals out of commiseration they commonly cast upon the house top that it may also be partaker of such a sacrifice Others say that they do it because sin is rather an internal then an external thing and that it cleaves fast to the bowels of the Cock some Crows coming by may claw them up and flee away with them into the wildernesse even as the scape-Goat in the Old Testament ran away with the sins of the people into the Desert They take all possible pains and care to procure a white Cock for the sacrifice They will by no means admit of a red one because such an one is full of sins seeing sin it self is red also as it is written Come now
it not Behold in the day of your fast you will seek your will and require all your debts Behold youâ— fast to strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednesse ye shall not fast as you do to day to make your voice to be heard above Is it such a fast that I have chosen that a man should afflict his soul for a day and to bow down his head as a bulrush and to lie down in sackcloth and ashes wilt thou call this a fasting or an acceptable day unto the Lord CHAP. XXII Of the Feast of joy and gladnesse for that they have read over the book of the Law And of the manner how they distribute their Ecclesiastical Offices THere is no mention made of this Feast in holy writ The Rabbines instituted it as a day of rejoycing in that God had given them so much as to spend a whole year in the reading of his Law and exercise thereof in that upon this day they have finished accomplished and brought to an end the lecture and exposition of the of the text thereof in their Church or Synagogue in that he hath in great clemency granted them power and faculty to perform the same They distribute and part the five books of Moses into fifty two Chapters of Sections whereof they read one every Sabbath day so that the last Section is read upon the first day after the Feast of tabernacles which commonly falls upon the twenty third day of September It is recorded in the Talmud that the Priests were wont to skip caper and dance using all kinde of musical instruments upon this day practising among the vulgar many incredâ—ble and skittish fooleries which here to set down would be rather a wearinesse then either pleasure or profit to the reader Upon this day they repair to the Synagogue and in a solemn procession take all the books of the Law out of the Ark reading the first and last Section leaping about the Ark with the books in their hands and when they are weary in great pomp putting them into the Ark again So long as the books are out of the Ark a burning Lamp shines therein for the Ark must not at any time be found empty whereupon it necessarily follows that the Lamp supplying the place of the books avails as much as the books themselves for the Law is called a Lamp or light as it is written The Command is a Lantern and instruction a light Furthermore they scatter Apples Plums and Pears among the younger sort that they also may take occasion to expresse the utmost of their mirth and jollity Yet it often falls out that that hereby is occasioned a greater deal of grief and melancholy in the hearts of these nonaged striplings in that they often in scambling for these fruits fall into strife contention and brawling and at last make trial which among them have the most patient stretching ears Now because upon this day the reading of the Law is finished in a second place they go Ã¥bout the distribution of Ecclesiastical functions and offices and in â—he first place them that belong to the Lecturers of the Law These their offices or functions are sold by open sale in their Synagogue and he that at the third asking offers the most money for them hath them assured unto him and is bound to keep them And in the first place the Clerk or Sexton of the Synagogue proclaims the office of them who are to light candles all the year following as also that of the Cup-bearers who carry the wine wherewith they begin and end their Sabbaths and other Festivals For though the Master of every family be bound to give a beginning to the Sabbath by the consecration of a cup of wine yet that this ceremony is also performed in the Synagogue and that publickly before the whole Congregation by reason of the poorer sort who for want of means cannot procure wine at home for the initiation of the Sabbath And moreover it is not to be neglected because the Boyes and children that drink thereof become religious and godly Jews Thirdly the Clerk proclaims that if any man will buy Gelilah let him come forth which is an office of unfolding and folding up again the book of the Law Fourthly it is demanded if any one will buy Hagbohah He that hath this office is busied in a speedy lifting up of the book of the Law carrying it about the Pew or Desk that any one may read thereupon It is necessarily required that he that carries it be strong and of an able body that he may without stumbling carry the book unfolded with stretched out arms for if he chance to faulter and slip but with one foot not bearing it in that manner which is required the whole Congregation is enjoyned to fast which is reputed as a very bad signe of some ensuing misfortune Fifthly it is demanded who purchase Etz Chajim for money He that hath this office is allowed to touch the two pieces of wood to which the Law is fastened by long skins or Parchments as also to carry and administer the little Bag Coat or Sachel in which the book of the Law after the ending of the Lecture is with all speed to be wrapt up Young men and striplings commonly buy this office perswading themselves that by touching those forementioned pieces of wood their honesty shall be improved and their understanding bettered hoping that thereby their life shall be prolonged seeing these pieces of wood are called Etz Chajim which by interpretation signifieth the trees of life as it is written She is a tree of life meaning the Law to them that lay hold on her and blessed is he that retaineth her These are touched and handled when the book of the Law is wrapped up where a special heed must be taken and care had that they touch not the Parchments with their naked hands for this is a hainous offence Sixthly it is demanded who will buy Acheron which is an office that whosoever in the whole congregation is the last called out upon any Festival he must read somewhat out of the book of the Law Seventhly it is demanded who will buy Shehia He that hath this office is a kinde of overseer who looks unto the rest that they be not negligent in their charge and place and if he finde them so he may put them out and himself in All the money which they get for these places and offices they bestow in the reparation of the Synagogue and maintenance of the poor From this open sale of Ecclesiastical functions often proceed as from a Fountain envies brawlings contentions and evil surmisings Yea God himself is often blasphemed because the favour and countenance and respect of persons bears a greater sway in sharing then Justice while the rich is preferred before the poor a stripling sooner admitted into holy Orders then one of riper years an illiterate Asse sooner then a learned Doctor and an
MAny among the Jews are forced to learn the Butchers trade which they call Scachten He that learns it is bound Apprentice to some skilful Butcher for term of yeers and those not a few for there are so many precepts constitutions caveats axiomeâ— belonging thereunto that it is very difficult for any man in a short time to be cunning and expert therein he must therefore bestow great paines and study in seeking the rules appertaning thereunto out of the books of the Rabbines that thereby he may gain a perfect and sound knowledge therein There is extant a certain smal Pamphlet which is called Schochitos and Bed kos the Butchers book in which are contained the principal Rules and Canons belonging to this Art according to the tenor whereof the Jews at this day kill and slaughter their beasts and other cattel If they meet with any difficult place whose true meaning cannot be comprehended by the brains of a Butcher they repair to some Rabbine for the exposition thereof He therefore who hath diligently perused this little book and hath been long time a spectator of another mans labours in this kinde and can rightly judge of them is made by some of the Rabbines Freeman of the Company who also makes him a testimonial Letter under hand and seal of his skil and ability Wherein he certifies that he is expert and skilful in the Butchers trade and therefore gives him full power and license to kill and slay any Ox Sheep or such like kinde of Beast when and wheresoever it pleaseth him Not long since it was my chance to see one of these testimonials which was writ in manner and form following This day being such a day of the moneth in such and such a yeer I have examined and in examining found N. the son of N. to be skilful and expert in the Butchers trade and that as well to teach by mouth as to practise with hand Which things weighed and rightly by me considered I have granted him a license to kill and slaughter and being killed and slaughtered to search all kinde of cattel And furthermore it shall be lawful for him to eat whatsoever shall be by him in this case searched and slaughtered Alwayes provided for a space of a whole year ensuing the date hereof once a week the next year every moneth once and after that every quarter of a year for the space of his whole life he do diligeâ—tly peruse all the Rules and Canons belonging to the Butchers trade Witness Rabbi N. Butcher A Butcher is called in the Hebrew tongue Schochet the Butchers trade Schacten The searcher or overseer who looks whether they be sound or not Bodek and the action of searching Badken In the exercise of this their trade they use knives of divers sorts proportioning them according to the quantity and bigness of the beast that is to be slaughtered Their knives of a greater size have commonly broad and blunt edges yet apt enough to cut if they have any gap in them if it be never so little it is not lawful to use them The greater sort of beasts being ready to undergo the knife have their feet tied by the Butcher in imitation of Abraham who bound his son hand and foot when he was about to sacrifice him Afterwards he cuts the weesil of the beast at one cut Then he looks upon his knife to see whether there be any flaws or gaps therein which action of his is very necessary seeing a gap in the edge of the knife doth in such manner terrifie the poor beast that the blood runs unto the heart to comfort it so that the knife cannot make a passage for it by which means the beast becomes unfit to be eaten When he hath cut deep enough he hangs the beast upon the Cammerel unbowels it and making a couple of holes one upon the right another upon the left side of the heart he or any other who is skilful in searching thrusts his hand through these holes into the body of the beast with an intent to know certainly whether any blood or little Bladders full of blood clag or cleave unto the heart or liver Which if he perceive any other fault be it never so little then it is not lawful for any Jew to eat thereof as it is written Ye shall be an holy people unto me neither shall you eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field ye shall cast it to the Dog And again Of a beast defiled or rent with beasts whereby he may be defiled ye shall not eat I am the Lord. Out of these words the lews draw this conclusion That it is not lawful to eat the flesh of any beast which is not without taint spot or blemish when the Text it self speaks not of the living creature but of a dead carkase a beast that hath died of it self or hath been torn in pieces by another Birds and all kindes of fowl the Jews do kill and slaughter in the same manner that they do their beasts cutting their throats and letting the blood drop down into a heap of ashes covering it therewith This their practise they ground upon that action of Rebecca who when she saw Isâ—â—c ligâ—hted down from the Camel Upon which words the Rabbines in the Schechitos or Butchers book have left in writing that at that time it was with Rebecca after the manner of women whose virgin or menstruous blood the Birds came and covered after that she had risen from the carth and therefore they say that God commanded them in lieu of this to cover and hide the blood of Birds when they slaughter them They cover also the blood of other Beasts with earth because the earth opened and swallowed up the blood of righteous Abel when Cain slew him I also saith the Author of the Butchers book have seen it recorded in the book Chasidâ—m that the blood is therefore to be hid in the earth lest Satan coming and finding it uncovered should accuse us before God of great injustice because it would seem a very unjust and cruel act miserably to kill and slaughter a poor innocent and unreasonable creature in such a tyrannical manner which hath committed no sin or offence against us and therefore is not lyable to punishment Surely the Iews would make the Devil a very sottish Fool and shallow brain'd Asse who cannot know thus much and themselves very cunning and crafty in such a circumvention of him After that they have killed a great beast they take all the veins and nerves out of his body picking away the fat which cleaves unto them then putting them in water to mollifie and soften them after a certain space taking them out again and washing them in clear water so that no drop of blood remain in them then they lay them upon a shingle or cloven that the water may drop from them then they put them into a vessel and salt them which vessel is full of holes to this
hair of their head be seen without the water and in the mean time it is not permitted that they should altogether close either their eyes or their mouth that the water may enter into both They ought also to stretch out their fingers bend their body that their Paps do not touch it to â—ishevel their hair by combing of it to have no rings upon their fingers lest there should be any place in the body which might not be drencht in the water Some of them upon the washing day eat not until they have bathed themselves others will not eat any flesh lest any thing should stick within their teeth and hinder the water to come in betwixt them If any of them have a playster upon a wound they ought to remove it as also to cut their nailes None must preâ—ume to touch the woman while she is in the water yea though she fall into a swoon unâ—esse with hands first washed If after her washing any thing stick between her teeth she must into the water again Many things more might be spoken concerning this matter if it were lawful to discover the secrets of women The Jews themselves have written a certain little book in the German tongue and Hebrew character touching the manners of women and they call it the book of women He that can get it let him read it without all doubt it may be had among the Jews dwelling at Frankford upon the Maene CHAP. XXXII Of the poverty of the Jews and their manner of begging IT is a common report that the Jews will not suffer that any of their nation should beg their bread which experience proclaims fabulous for the poor are often times relieved by the rich Upon the Friday at Eve as also upon the Eves of every Festival the poor go unto the houses of the richer sort to beg an almes that upon the Sabbath or Festival which by an especial command they are duly to sanctifie they may cease from begging If there be any one among them who in particular is vexed with some extream want the Rabbines having knowledge of it grant him a license for begging In which they declare his necessity his honesty and witnesse him to be a stout professor of the Jewish faith and other such circumstances This Letter or testimonial they call Ribbutz an Epistle or Letter of collection and the begger himself they call Rabzan which signifies a gatherer This Letter being granted and given unto him he travels through the whole Region visiting all the Jews he can light upon and requesting some gift of them If he come into any place where there are many Jews inhabiting he delivers this his Petition to the chief Rabbine or to him who beates the posts of the houses with an hammer and warns them to the Synagogue or to the Senators or the chief among them or to the Ruler of the SynaSynagogue not unlike a Consul or to the overseers of the poor or to the distributers of alms or to the Collectors for the poor mans Box such are they who gather money among the Christians going hither and thither through the Temple having a certain bag with a Cymbal hanging at the end of a staff he delivering it unto them he intreats them that by their leave it may be lawful for him to beg in their quarters This being granted he together with two more stands at the gate of the Synagogue and desires that some money may be given him or otherwise the foreâ€mentioned couple take his Letter and gather for him from house to house so much as they can get When one of the poorer sort hath a daughter mariageable and cannot give her any dowry then the Father thus miserable wanders up and down with a Letter of the same sort until he gather so much as will be the means to bestow her otherwise he shall hardly procure her a husband When the poor Jewes go thus on pilgrimage and turn aside unto other Jewes they aae by them for a day or two so freely made welcome that they pay nothing for their entertainment But the second day being past they begin to be weary of their presence Hereupon this sentence is proposed to the publick view of travellers in some place of their house The first day he is a guest the second day a burden the third day a Fugitive and stinketh CHAP. XXXIII Of the diseases incident to the Jews MAny are of opinion that the Jews are more lively then the Christians and not obnoxious to so many diseases But experience speaks the contrary and their often funerals even incident unto them in their younger years confirmes it for a tale Yea every man daily sees how they are lyable to the Mezels Botches to the frail disease Plague and other Maladies no less then other people The frail disease they name Choli nophel which disease as it is very common among them so are they wont to wish it to another saying God give thee Choli nophel or Tippul They call the Plague Hilluch hence in their execrations they say Corripiat te hilluch the Plague take thee In the time of any spreading Pestilence they writing certain unusual Characters and wonderful names upon the doors of their Houses Chambers Bedâ€chambers Stoves affirm them to be the names of those holy Angels which are set over the Pestilence I have seen written upon their doors Adiridon Bediridon and so forth annexing diridon to every Letter in the Alphabet which they think to be a present remedy against the Plague The Leprosie is not so frequent among them as among the Christians both because they are fewer in number then the Christians and also because they are more temperate in meats and drinks and other kinde of things which cause this disease For in their meats as much as in them lies they endeavour to fulfil the law of Moses They are not so obstinately abstinent from any kinde of meat as Swines flesh they cannot endure to hear of it Yea they will rather suffer death then eat it Yet some of them have been troubled with this disease as Antonius Margarita witnesseth who in his time saw some leprous Jews at Prague The Old Testament also hath recorded this malady to have been very frequent among them They call it Nega and in their cursings say I wish Nega may fall upon thee CHAP. XXXIV Of the punishments for offences among the Jews SEeing the Jews have for a long time been without a King and Scepter and have lost all power and authority of passing sentence of life and death they enjoyn at this day a certain kinde of penance to him that offendeth which he must of duty undergo and perform The adulterer is bound to divers sorts of penance according to the nature of the fact committed In the Winter time he is compelled to stand for certain dayes in the water of some River or running Brook If there be Ice upon the water then they cut and hew
to return to the place where he gave up the ghost and dolefully to lament over his dear consort the body So soon as the man is dead they cast all the water in the house out of doors that they who pass by may be warned of the decease of some person there Others have recorded that they do this thing in memory of the Prophetess Miriam of whom it is written All the Congregation of Israel came into the wilderness of Sin in the first moneth and the people remainâ—d in Cades where Miriam died and was buried there And when there was no water for the Congregation they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron The Talmudists say that the occasion hereof is this the Angel of death who hath deprived the man of life washing his knife or sword in the water poisons it for they write that Satan or the messenger of death standing at the beds-head with a drawen sword in his hand upon which sword hang three drops of gall which as soon as the sick man beholds being terrified at the sight he opens his mouth whereupon these three drops fall into it By reason of the first he gives up the ghost the second makes him become yellow and pale the last causeth him to putrifie So soon as the sick man dieth the Angel runs to the waters washeth his sword in them by which means they being infected with poison are to be powred out Again this is one of the best grounds of the Jewish faith Antonius Margarita in his tract of Tabernacles or Booths writes that the Jews in ancient times were accustomed to pray unto God that he would not suffer the Angel of death any longer to appear in such a fearful shape at their bedsheads and that also they had their request granted and that they their ancestors put out his left eye conjuring and binding him by the holy names of God It is also recorded in the Talmud that great honour ought to be given unto them who have departed this life because they in the other world have perfect knowledge of all occurrences in this They write also that the soule doth not presently upon the dissolution return into heaven from whence it came but that for twelve moneths space it becomes a vagabond through the earth returns into the Sepulchre suffers many torments in purgatory and then twelve moneths fully expired it ascends up into heaven there taking its rest The question being proposed in the book called Schebhet Jehudah in a certain disputation betwixt a Jew and a Christian How it came to pass that the dead should know all things that are done here upon earth It is answered that the soule doth not gain an entrance into heaven untill the body that was buried be turned into dust and therefore it remaining so long a time upon the earth may without contradiction know the things which are done here below That the soule doth not presently goe into heaven is manifest out of the words of Solomon The dust shall return unto the earth from whence it was and the spirit to God that gave it In this place they say that by the dust is meant our bodie which of necessity returns unto the earth out of which it was taken and by the Spirit our soule which returns to God that gave it now then to conclude the body must first be made dust and ashes and then the Spirit shall return unto the Creator which if it were otherwise certainly Solomon had inverted his words and propounded them thus The Spirit shall return unto God that gave it and the body to the earth Elias the famous Grammarian in his dictionary called Tisbi expounding the word Chabat hath left it in record that it was the opinion of their Rabbines that so soon as any of the Jews do take their farewell of this tâ—r restrial paradise and the chamberlain death hath furnished him with a lodging in the lower parts of the earth that the Angel of death comes and sits upon his sepulchre and that at the same time the soule returns into the body reanimates and erects it Whereupon the Angel takes an iron chain the one part of which is hot the other cold with which he smites the dead corpes two times or more At the first stroke all the members of the body are torn one from another At the second all the bones are dispersed abroad at the third flesh and bones yea the whole carcass is turned into dust and ashes Then come the good Angels and gather the bones together honouring them with a second burial This punishment the Rabbines call Chibbut hakkeber which they do not only write of but also most absurdly believe in their common prayer petitioning that God would preserve them against this punishment and divert it from them as we may see in that petition which they call Benschen being in the number of those which they use upon the day of reconciliation It is written in the book Chasidim that who is much given to almsdeeds is a lover of reproof and honesty who entertains strangers willingly and from his very heart who prayes with an attent minde although he die without the land of Canaan he shall neither tast nor trie the violence of the grave but shall be certainly preserved against the Chibbut hackkeber Hence it is most evident that they who die in the land of Canaan are free from this torture but they who die in a strange land are subject thereunto Hither it is also to be referred that they who die in other lands are wont to wander through secret caves and holes of the earth untill they come to the land of promise otherwise they are not made partakers of the general resurrection which thing we have formerly made mention of in the first Chapter and other places of this book CHAP. XXXVI Touching the Jews Messias who is yet for to come THat a Messias was promised unto the Jews they all with one mouth acknowledge hereupon petitioning in their daily prayers that he would come quickly before the houreglass of their life be run out The only scruple is of the time when and the state in which he shall appear They generally beleeve that this their future Messias shall be a simple man yet nevertheless far exceeding the whole generation of mortals in all kinde of vertues who shall marry a wife and beget children to sit upon the throne of his kingdom after him When therefore the Scripture mentioneth a twofold Messias the one plain poor and meek subject to the stroke of death the other illustrious powerful highly advanced and exalted the Jews forge unto themselves two of the same sort one which they call by the name of Messias the son of Joseph that poor and simple one yet an experienced and valiant leader for the warrs Another whom they entitle Messias the son of David that true Messias who is to be king of Israel and to rule over them in
their own land About whose coming they are among themselves altogether disagreeing Those ancient Jews who lived before Christs incarnation did not much miss the marke when Elias said that the world should continue six thousand years whereof two thousand were to be void and without force that is without the law of God the other two thousand under the law and the last under the Messias Their hope was therefore this that foure thousand years after the worlds creation fully expired their Messias should come in the flesh in which their errour was small or none at all for according to the vulgar account of us Christians Christ the true Messias was borne in the 3963. year of the world but according to the Jews computation in the year 3761 we and they differing 202 years And now because Christ came not unto them in great power a king of glorious state such as were David and Solomon to deliver them from the tyranny of that usurping Herod and Roman cruelty neither with a rod of iron to break in pieces and destroy their enemies but only began his kingdom over them with the spiritual scepter of his doctrine even for this very cause they would not receive him for the true Messias though some few did acknowledge and embrace him and at that time the most ancient and approved men amongst them did expect his coming thus we finde a Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel and Anna that old Prophetess speaking of him to all that hoped for deliverance in Jerusalem The very same that the Apostle Paul witnesseth in his Epistle to the Romans that though the Jews were most ingrateful yet is there a remnant of them according to the election of grace Yea when all kingly power sacerdotal honour and dignity was taken from them the city Jerusalem made a ruinous heap and their beauty the temple turned into ashes every one now begins to suspect the time of the coming of the Messias to be past Hence it was that in the 52. years ufter the destruction of the Temple a certain proud and haughty Jew boasting that he was the true Messias feared not to affirme himself the same of whom Balaam prophesied in these words I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh there shall come a star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel and he shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Sheth And Edom shall be a possession Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall do valiantly Others understood this prophesie of the then newly begun kingdom of the Christians But the Jews even at this day determine their Messias as yet to come and to fulfil those things which Balaam foretold according to their substance That the said Jew should proclaim himself the Messias was most grateful unto them who presently in their own conceits can nourish hopes that they should become the conquerours of the Romans who a little before had destroyed their City and Temple This Seducer following the letter of the prophesie names himself Ben Chocab which is by interpretation the son of a Star His chief follower who at the very first clave unto him was Rabbi Akibha a man of great learning who had under his tuition twenty four thousand Scholars proclaiming him to be Malka Meschiccha Christ the King By this means much people went after him insomuch that he chused unto himself the City Bittera for the seat of his kingdom But when that Adrian the Roman Emperour had after a siege of three years and an half taken and killed this their Messias and together with this beautiful Star had miserably slaughtered more then four hundred thousand Jews then the remnant of so great a massacre perceiving themselves led astray by this their Star turn Anabaptists and call him from that day to this Barcozabh that is the son of a lye a lying and bastardly Messias Yet neverthelesse many since have lived who would be reputed for the Messias as you may read in a book called Schebhet Jehudah * The issue of all is this that the Jews convicted in their own consciences will they nill they are forced to confesse that the time in which the Messias was to come is already past When therefore they had despised and rejected Christ the true Messias and no other appeared they falsified the above mentioned tradition of Elias which was that the Messias should come about the four thousandth year of the world by annexing unto it this Comment that the time was prolonged for their offences But when at length no reason could be pretended of this long delay neither could they desine the time of his coming their onely evasion is to smite with this curse the head of him that should determine a certain season for his coming Tippach ruchan atzman schel mechasschebhe Kitzin * Which is Let their soul and body burst with a swâ—lling Rupture who peremptorily set down the time that time I say in which the Messias is expresly for to come Yet this not at all pondered and nothing set by many of them moved by the prophesies of the men of God concerning the coming of the Messias have in their souls and consciences confessed that the time of his coming was already past and therefore in their writings they acknowledge that he is born indeed but for their sins and impenitent life not as yet revealed And at this instant all the Jews dwelling amongst us are of the same opinion Hereupon Rabbi Solomon Jarchi saith that according to their ancestors the Messias was born in that day in which â—erusalem was last of all destroyed but where he hath so long been hid to be uncertain Some of them think that he lies in Paradise bound to the womans hair grounding upon these words in the Song of Solomon Thy head upon thee is like Carmel and the hair of thy head like purple the King is bound in the Galleries By King understaning the Messias and by Galleries Paradise Rabbi Solomon follows this exposition of these ancient Rabbines The Talmudists write that he lies in Rome under a gate among sick folks and Lepers perswaded by the words of Esay who saith that he is one despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief Others forge other lies and tales Well let all these things fall out according to their own desire yet they still believe he is to come First then before his coming shall happen ten notable miracles by which every one shall be admonished and incited to an accurate preparation for his coming and also be warned to conceive that he shall not come so poor and privately as Christ came These ten miracles I mean here to present in the same words that the Rabbines have commended them to posterity in a little book called Abkas Rochel The first miracle God shall stirr up and produce three
signifies breath of spirit wind c. d Parascha The Rabbines in their bâ—okes cite not the places according to the chapters but according to sections for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a section or a distinct part of any thing fâ—om 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying to divide separate or distinguish The two first words of the Section usually stand for the name thereof there Parascha or Section is either noted with three great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phe or with three great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Samech The letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notes out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an open and plain Section The letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a closed or Section shut up not in the resPect Of the things themselves but manner of writing For if the Section begin at the beginning of the line it is called an open Section because a greater space is list A close Section is when 〈◊〉 he Section begins in the middle of the line and the space of three letters is only vacant Of this sort there is one which is noted by a little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sarech which is the last Section on of the Book of Genesis beginning chap. 47. veis 2â— The reason according to the Rabbines is because it is the seale and closre of this booâ— the Law and the Prophets till the comming of the Messias The whole Law is divided into 54. Sections Vide Buxtorf de Parasch Artic 3. a Rambam the 4 capitall laters of the former name briefly neting R Moses Bar Mâ—â—mon which kind of 〈◊〉 the Râ—â—bines were câ—monly graceâ— with 〈◊〉 begun to 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 liber fundamenti contning the grounds of the Jews Religion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sigâ—â—fies a foundation with the Rabbanes It was fiâ—t prined at Venice An. D. 1425. and then at Lublin iâ— Poland 1567. a Nitzachon signisies as much as victory from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natzach to overcome as though Sipman in this book bad triumphed over the four Evangelists The cause of Jewish superstition a This is the thorah begnal peh above mentioned Tract Saned cap. 11. Isa. 60. 21. Surely the Papists had their puâ—gatory from hence a that is to say holy b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cadus farinae that is a barrel of meale the title taken 1. Kin 17. 14 a booke containing the common places of Divinity in folio Printed at Venice The Jewes Beliefe concerning the resurrection Isa. 26. 14. Ib. v. 19. Tract Tosch hallchanah or of the new year c. 1. Da◠〈…〉 Iesa 65. â—â— Gen. 47. 29. The cause why Jacob would not be buried in Egypt a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tzaddikim The Jews were dissinguished into three ranks 1. Chasidim called the Assidins 2. The Tzaddikim just men 3. The Relchagnim ungodly mentafter the captivity the Chasidim began to be distinguished from the Tzaddikim these gave themselves to the study of the Scripture thus to adde to the Scripture these conformed themselves to the Law they would be holy above the Law and were termed by the name of good men these of all others had the best repute and love among the people hence the Apostle illâ— istratâ—th the love of Christ by alluion to this distinction Rom. 5. 6 7. Some peradventure would die for one of the Chasidim a good man scarcely any for any of the Tzaddikim a just man for the Reschagnim or uâ—godly none would die yet Christ died for us sinners Mr. Goodwin out of David Kinchi upon Ps. 103. 17. Pirk aboth cap. 13. * Ezak 37. 12. The Jewish division of Moses his Law Isa 24. 5. Brand spiegelium cap. 13. 15. a Keter a Crown or a King Cap from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Pihel to encompasse because it encompasseth the head Jer. 3325. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Berith a covenant from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cligere to chuse because the covenant was made with Gods elect or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is clearnisse because it clears the conscience of good men R. Haradosch affirms the same number to be contained in the word breath which in the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesu Mariae This among the Kabalists is no vulgar number intimating Jesus the Son of Mâ—ry to be the authour of the Covenant Isa. 3. 10. Prov. 7. 2. Soph. 3. 4. The causes of Jewish obstinacie Esa. 1. 4. Esa. 48. 4. Ezek. 2. 4. Ezek. 16. Esa 6. 10. Deur 28. 15. 28 29. The cause of Jewish obtinacy Esay 29 18. Mark 7. Mat. 5. a See the Exposition of this word in the Chapter of circum ision b The Exposition also of this word shall follow in its due place c Masorah is that critical doctrine invented of the ancient Hebrews for the clearing of the Hebr. text whereby they summed up the verses words and letters in it to this end that every one might learne to read it aright it also might for over be preserved from corruption Elias Levita Prefat 3. lib. sui masoreth The word is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tradere which is to deliver so that Masorah signifies as much as a doctrine delivered by hand or mouth unto another Buxtorf Com. Masor cap. 1. Rabbi Eliezer cap. 40. Deut. 4 14. Rabbi Aben Ezra R Salomon Jarchi R. Bechai and others on this place * That is the Christians * They mean 〈◊〉 the Jews Dansi 1.8 â—â— a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kabalah from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lo receive the mysticall Dvinity of the Jews a Doctâ—ine delivered by word of mouth and so received concerning the hidden mysteries of the Law of God There are two parts of it the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speculative the second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 practick which hath also three parts Gematria Notarikon Temurah Gematria is a word corrupted from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called because it considers a word according to the number which the Letters thereof contain and is that part of the Kabala whereby divers words containing the same number may one be explained by another for example it is written Abac. he 3. 2. In anger remember 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in numbers makes 248 so much also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as though he bad said in mercy remember Abraham and the Covenant made with him Notarikon a word corrupted from the Latines notatioâ— is that part of the Kabala which considers the Letters of every significative word as they note out others in particular so the name ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Machabeus notes out the following words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who is like unto thee among the gods O Lord Exod. 15. 11. the name Adam notes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dust bloâ—d and gall dust in respect of corruptibility blood in respect of his vitality gall in respect of bis calamity or as Saint Cyprian the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notes out the four parts of
they may enjoy the monarchy of the whole world for the performance of which their wish they poure out their prayers upon every Sabbath and festivall It is clearly manifest that they have not as yet rightly and duly kept and sanctified the seventh day and have not as yet delighted themselves therein to the full of a satiety When then in the first place they have feasted themselves and fill'd their guts with Sabbaticall cheer with great joy and gladnesse then they pray as abovesaid The table is left covered and spread untill the evening of the Sabbath The candles also lighted in honour thereof stand in their lampes unextinguished Hence ariseth a sharpe contention among them about the lights what is to be done what to be omitted It is not lawfull to hunt or feek for flies or lice by the benefit of their light or to read or write by them lest some in so doing should be moved to snuffe the lights and by this meanes profane the Sabbath Now seeing they will have the Sabbath to signiâ—ie delight therefore their wise Doctors think it good and as a great honor unto the day if any married man but especially one of the Rabbines who is learned and well seen in knowledge upon the Sabbath day at night hug and kisse his wife a little more then ordinary And this is the cause that they eat store of potato roots before the Sabbath begin that they may become more valiant in the act of carnall copulation For the same cause marriages are commonly celebrated upon the Sabbath day that their first concourse upon that night may bee the morefortunate and the Sabbath it selâ—e more highly dignified Hereupon the common opinion is that the infants begot upon this night continually be partakers of eminent fortunes and all of them at length attaine unto the dignity of wise and holy men chiefly then when in the act of generation the parents minds are full of good and pure cogitations when they come together not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh but in honour to the Sabbath Lastily when any Jew is a travelling upon Friday and is distant from his Inne or his own dwelling house at evening more then a Sabbath dayes journey then ought he to stay in that very place and there to reft himselfe and celebrate the Sabbath whether it be in field or in the middle of a wood all perils of robbers and want of meat and drinke set aside Concerning this matter there is extant a true story which runs as followeth Upon a certaine time three Jewes went a travelling When it began to be night and the Sabbath drew near then said one to another what course shall wee take the way is very dangerous by reason of robbers wild and evill beasts do also haunt the woods better it is that we hold on and every one become the deliverer of his owne soule then to keep the Sabbath with perill of losing both soule and body The third said I will not depart hence until the Sabbath be ended for he that commanded me to sanctifie it is able to preserve me in the middle of this wood When his fellowes perceived his resolution they held on their journey beeing Sabbath-breakers But this third man staied in the same place as though he had been nailed unto the ground and pitching his tent spread a linnen cloth upon the earth for want of a better table and set bread thereupon and what other provision he had and so saying his evening prayer sate him down to take his first Sabbath meale In the mean time as he was at his repast there came a Bore unto him of such an horrible and ugly shape as never eye beheld This said beast drawing neare unto him signified by certaine gestures that he was an hungry The Jew good man in a manner terrified gives him a crust of bread withall feeding himselfe with this meditation that God if it pleased him could easily preserve him in safety The Bore never moving eats the bread which was given him and staies there still So soon as the Jew had sufficiently refreshed himselfe he said his evening prayer which ended he lies downe upon the earth to take his rest and sleep the Bore lying downe besides him The morning light unlocking his eye-lids he was exceeding joifull that the Bore had not devoured him praising God and giving him thanks for such a benefit he orderly also pours out his morning devotions then taking his dinner and supper and running over all his prayers When the Sabbath was ended he making a separation divided the Sabbath from the rest of the weeke of which more shall bee spoken in the next Chapter and so went on his journey the Bore becomming his individuall companion all the night over Upon the same night his two companions had fallen into the hands of robbers who had spoiled them of all that they had At last the Bore accompanying him hee overtooke them whom so soone as the beast beheld hee run unto them and tore them both in pieces At the sight whereof feare begins to benum the spirits of the religious Jew and a strong opinion possessed him that hee also was at the last gaspe In the mean time they who had robbed his fellowes came unto him and questioned him what he was and from whence he travell'd He made answer I am a Jew for having a sure confidenâ—e in God he would not deny himselfe and came from the Kings pallace and am thus farre on my journy They further enquired of him where he got that Bore Hee answered the King bestowed him on me for a guide Then said one of the Robbers surely that Jew is in great favour with the King because his will was he should have a safe pass age by the conduct of that Bore And the other replyed we will give him all the money that wee have and lead him out of the wood for feare lest he discover us Which they did and accompanied him for a long and tedious space they also holding on to direct him in the way that he was to goe and the Bore run back into the wood againe The case standing thus it behoves every Jew committing himselfe to the protection of him that dwelleth in the highest heavens to remember keep and sanctifie the Sabbath day with all diligence CHAP. XI How the Jewes celebrate their Sabbath and also make an end thereof UPon the morning of the Sabbath they doe not so early leave their beds as at other times but sleep untill the day be farre spent and this they doe more for their own pleasure then for any due honor tendered unto the Sabbath yet the more pleasure they enjoy the more devoutly they celebrate the Sabbath in their opinion Their Rabbines doe most magisterially prove the lawfulnesse of this custome out of the Law out of the twenty eight Chapter of the fourth booke of Moses When Moses say they makes mention in that place of the daily sacrifice
it is written early in the morning But when he speakes of the oblation for the seventh day it is written in the day of the Sabbath The meaning of which words is this The daily sacrifices were wont to be offered early in the morning before it was light instead of which they repaire at this day earely unto their Synagogue to say their morning prayers as was formerly declared But upon the Sabbath a longer stay was made and the sacrifice was not wont to be offered before perfect day Wherefore the Jewes ought to sleep larger upon this day then another and to goe later to morning prayer then at other times to recreate themselves for a longer space upon their couches for the joy and delight accrewing by the Sabbaths reproach When they are once come into the Synagogue they pray as at other times yet saying and singing more prayers and anthemes then ordinary in honour of the Sabbath Upon this day they doe not put on their phylacteries of which we spoke in the fourth Chapter and that because the Sabbath it selfe is a sign of the Jewish faith and that this was given to the Jewes onely and commanded by them to bee sanctified and therefore they have no need of other signes as the phylacteries and circumcision whereby a Jew may bee knowne from other men They bring the booke of the Law out of the Arke in that pompe which we specified in the ninth Chapter They read out of it seven sections of the Law for the performing whereof seven particular persons are called out Whosoever is called comes up by the doore next unto him and goes downe by the other because it is recorded of the people of Israel to have done the like For saith the Scripture the gate of the inner Temple which lookes unto the north shall be shut for the space of six daies wherein you may worke but upon the Sabbath day and upon the day of the Calends it shall be opened And the Prince shall enter by the way of that gate and shall stand at the posts thereof and the Priests shall offer his burnt offering c. Hence it appeares that when they come into the holy Temple upon the Sabbath day they came in at one doore and went out at another They are also accustomed to read some certaine sections out of the Prophets in which the same subject is handled that is treated of in the bookes of Moses This custome then had its originall when they were interdicted to reade the bookes of Moses in their Synagogues For at that time they began to read in the plaâ—e thereof a Lecture out of the Prophets which they named Hapharah which was as a certain exposition upon the Law of Moses This custome was in force in the daies of the Apostles for thus it is recorded For they that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers because they knew him not nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him Again Moses of old time had them that preached him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day And although at this day they are not prohibited to read and teach Moses in their Synagogues yet they keepe the custome of reading the Prophets for they cannot be too conversant in well doing They pray also for the soules of them who in their life time did not rightly sanctify the Sabbath For the Rabbines perswade themselves that these are tossed in hell from side to side both after and before the Sabbath and therefore they pray for them thereupon Their prayers in the Synagogue must not continue any longer then six a clock in the morning For it is forbidden either to fast or pray any longer according as their Doctors have collected out of that saying Thou shalt call the Sabbath Oneg For the word Oneg signifying delight or pleasure is written without the letter Vau which in numeration maketh six By which the Prophet would secretly insinuate that we ought not to fast after the sixt hour or the middle of the day because otherwise it would come to passe that the Sabbath should not be a pleasure but rather a vexation unto us Therefore morning prayer being ended they eate their second Sabbaticall meale making themselves merry in honour of the Sabbath If any have dreamed some ominous dream as the book of the Law to be burnt the beams of his own house to fall down his teeth to fall out of his head or such like he must fast untill it be late at night and that not without cause seeing such phantasticall meteors portend no faire weather If the jaw bones of any one in the time of sleep seem unto him in the time of sleep to fall out of their place such a dream is a good dreame because it betokens the teeth of all his enemies that intended evill against him If to eate be burdensome unto any and to fast a pleasure he may fast by statute If any cannot abstaine from teares he may weep by authority because such a ones lamentation is his owne delight his adversaries recreation both which are conducible to a sanctifyed celebration of the Sabbath Yetnot withstanding whosoever fasts upon the seventh day he must fast also upon the day following because he feared not to substract the pleasure due unto the Sabbath day Moreover it seemeth good unto the wise men among the Jewes that dinner being ended that somewhat should bee learned by study and some Chapters read oâ—t of the holy Bible For upon a certaine time the Sabbath complained unto God that every thing in this universe had a like unto it selfe of which it was onely destitute Then God instantly replyed and said The people of Israel shall from henceforth be thy mate for they upon the Sabbath day bend their study to the learning of the Law which if they did not they would at that time be altogether idle Then the Law posting unto Gods tribunall poured out its complaints and said When Israel shall returne into his owne land and one shall goe unto his farme another to his vineyard who shall then learn or study me God answered the Israelites shall doe it who resting upon the Sabbath shall practise nothing else By reason of these complaints it was concluded and thought meet that upon the Sabbath day after dinner every one should busie himselfe either in reading of the word of God or in collecting something out of their bookes of morality whereby they might be incited unto the feare of the Lord and so the Law and Sabbath might not have any more just occasion of complaint But alas how rare readers they are in these good books experience gives an evident demonstration for the whole weeks space time enough a man would think They speake not so much of their bargaines usury buying and selling as they do upon the Sabbath day At even-tide they returne againe into the Synagogue and prayer ended they fall to their supper