THE JEWES Synagogue OR A TREATISE CONCERNING The ancient Orders and manner of Worship used by the JEWES in their SYNAGOGVE-ASSEMBLIES Gathered out of the Sacred SCRIPTURES the Jewish Rabines and such Modern Authors which have been most conversant in the study of Jewish Customes WHEREIN By comparing the SCRIPTURES in the Old and New Testament together many truths are fully opened and sundry Controversies about Church-Government truly and plainly stated By William Pinchion of Springfeild in N. England LONDON Printed for John Bellamie and are to be sold at his shop at the three golden Lions in Cornhill neer the Royall Exchange 1652. To the Christian Readers of great BRITANY CHristian Reader all the Authors that I have read about the discipline of the Iews Synagogues have mixed many of the Jewes late superstitious practices among some of their ancient approved practices and because they have not distinguished the one from the other they have rather confounded the Reader than given him any distinct aime how to judge of their Synagogue-orders and whether they were ever any particular Churches of Jesus Christ Nay many learned have concluded that they never were ordained for any true Churches of Christ And therefore they have slighted all their discipline-practices as nothing exemplary to the government of the particular Churches of Iesus Christ at this day But my apprehensions are otherwise for I conceive that Iesus Christ did originally ordain them as true particular visible Churches Therefore I thought it necessary to search out as well as I could their Synagogue-worship together with some of their ancient Discipline-practices and herein I have endeavoured to avoid their late superstitious observations which they have added from their own brains in the time of their Apostasie This labour I thought necessary to communicate to the godly for the better searching into the fundamental grounds of Church-Discipline If any thing I have alledged be profitable to thy understanding let God have the glory in the wise improvement thereof for the peace and comfort of all the Churches of Iesus Christ Amen A Table of some chiefe Heads Chap. 1. That the Jewes Synagogue-Assemblies were true visible Churches of Jesus Christ 1 THe Jewes Synagogues were particular Churches of Jesus Christ pag. 1. 2 Their nationall Church-worship was not sufficient of it self to preserve the truth of Religion among them But their Synagogue-worship was sufficient without their nationall worship both when they lived in the wildernesse and when they lived in Heathen Countries p. 9 3 The antiquity of Synagogues in heathen countries p. 12 4 The provident care of Jesus Christ for the speedy spreading of particular Christian Churches into all parts of the world doth mightily appeare by his dispersing the Jewes into sundry heathen countries to build Synagogues and to get Assemblies before hand fit for the Apostles and Disciples of Christ to preach to 12 5 The Christians that were first converted by the Apostles in the Iewes Synagogue did not presently separate themselves from the Iewes Synagogues to make particular Churches by themselves untill the Synagogues did first persecute them for their faith in Christ crucified 15 6 Iesus Christ did ordain that the place of his particular Church-meetings should be conveniently seated in some convenient distance from every ones dwelling 16 7 If ten men of Israel did live remote from any synagogue they must prepare a new synagogue nigh and fit for their dwellings 17 8 That kinde of worship which Christ ordained to be used in their synagogue-assemblies was prayer and preaching without any leviticall ceremony 18 9 They used to keep weekly Lectures in their synagogues 21 10 How the Iewes received Heathens to be members of their Nationall Church and of their particular synagogue also 21 11 The Iudges of their Sanhedrims were the Elders of their nationall Church 22 12 In their synogogues they observed dayes of publick fasting upon occasion of any distresse that was upon them 24 13 How the blessing was pronounced in the synagogue after the Lecture of the Law was ended 25 14 No Leviticall worship was lawfull to be used in their synagogues 25 15 What officers the Iewes had in their synagogues 26 16 Why they called the Pastor of their synagogue Zeliah Zibbur 26 17 In the Heathen countries when the Hebrew tongue was lost from the common use then Zeliach Zibbur did read his text in the Hebrew tongue but afterwards he did expound it in the common Dialect of that nation where they lived 27 18 The Pastors of their synagogues were not Levites but they were chosen out of any tribe 28 19 The manner how the Elders of the Sanhedrim made Doctors at large 92 20 This phrase Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven is a Talmud phrase 29 21 The Discipline which Christ ordained for the government of the Iewish synagogue is recorded in fragments by Maymony and the two Talmuds 31 22 The New Testament hath many phrases that are Talmudique which cannot be so fitly opened as by the Talmud 32 Chap. 2. That the government of the Church of the Jewes was instituted by Jesus Christ to be 1. Dependent when they lived together in the land of Canaan 2. Independent when they inhabited in Heathen Countries 1 The Jewes Synagogue Discipline was sometimes dependent and sometimes independent 38 2 In heathen countries every Synagogue had a generall license to exercise such a discipline among themselves as tended to the correction of vice except life and limb 39 3 Their synagogue-Discipline was dependent as long as they lived in Canaan 41 4 When the Sanhedrim government was first ordained 41 5 Iesus Christ first constituted the Sanhedrim government 42 6 The high Sanhedrim ordained all the other Sanhedrims 43 7 To sit in Moses Chaire is to judge according to Moses Lawes 46 8 The Elders of the Sanhedrim were the generall Elders of the Church and therefore they had power to deale in all matters of Religion as well as in civill causes 47 9 The High Sacrificer was not the chiefe Elder of the Nationall Church of Israel as some affirm 49 10 Christ gave the power of excommunication originally to the Elders of the Sanhedrim in the Wildernesse 53 11 In what cases the Elders of the Sanhedrim did excommunicate 55 12 An excommunicate person and a publicane might goe into the Temple but an heathen might not 58 13 What kinde of excommunication is the Anathema Maranatha 59 14 Christ did not first ordain excommunication in Matth. chap. 18. 1 62 15 This phrase Tell the Church means nothing else but Tell the Elders of the Sanhedrim 69 16 A Court of Elders is a Church in Scripture phrase 70 17 All the outward professors of faith through the world doe make an universall visible Church of Christ 78 18 Who are to he accounted as fit persons to be admitted as members of a particular visible Church 80 Chap. 3. That Schools of learning were at the first erected by Jesus Christ for
phrase every one must not be taken vulgarly for every one of the common multitude of the Church The Apostle himself doth contradict that Exposition for he doth teach us to oppose the learned to the unlearned in ver 23. 24. therefore he doth exempt the unlearned as not fit to be accounted into the number of every one that hath a Psalm c. therefore these two phrases all and every one means all and every one of those only whom God had gifted with extraordinary gifts for the plantation of his Church these only the Apostle calls the whole Church by the figure Synecdoche because they were the chiefe guides and directions of the multitude 19. The word Church is of a large capacity it signifies an Assembly of any kind of men and therefore it may as well be applyed to an assembly of Magistrates in a Court of Justice as to any other Assembly First The whole Army of Sauls souldiers that lay incamped in the field against the Philistims are called Kahal a Church and in the Septuagint Ecclesia 1 Sam. 17. 47. Secondly Nebuchadnezzars Army against Israel is called Kahal a Church and in the seventy Ecclesia Ezek. 16. 40. Thirdly Nebuchadnezzars several companies of souldiers collected into several bands out of several Nations are called Churches in the plural number Ezek. 26. 7. and in the seventy Synagogues Fourthly The Persian Army is also called a Church Ier. 50. 9. and in the septuagint a Synagogue Fifthly Pharaohs army is also called Kahal a Church Ezek. 17. 17. Sixthly The Army of Gog is four times over called Kahal a Church and in the seventy a Synagogue Ezek 38. 4. 7. 13. 15. Seventhly all the multitude of Israel that came out of Aegypt are called Kahal a Church before ever they entred into that Church Covenant which God made with them in Horeb. Exod. 16. 3. Therefore it is no absurdity to call a Court of Elders a Church 20. A confused multitude of people may be called a Church therefore much more an orderly Assembly of Elders in a Court of Justice In Acts 19. 32. It is said that the Church was confused that rose up against Paul and Alexander and in verse 41. The Town-Clark dismissed the Church that is to say the disorderly multitude and Syracides puts the word Church for a disorderly multitude of evil doers Ecclus 26. 5. 21. A company of wicked and corrupt Elders may be called a Church as in Psal 26. 5. I hated the Church of evil doers that is to say the Church or Synedrion of Sauls flattering Counsellors And Iacob also in his last will speaking of the bloudy action of Simeon and Levi saith O my soul come not thou into their secret and unto their Church mine honour be not thou united Gen. 49. 6. Hence it follows that the conclave of Cardinals in Rome may be truly and properly called a Church and the general Councels of Cardinals Bishops and other Popish Doctors may truly and properly be called a Church though also they ought to be called a malignant Church or a Synagogue of Satan Therefore I wonder why any man of learning and wisdom should account it such a strange matter to interpret the word Church in Matth. 18. 17. to mean the Elders of the Synedrion-Court especially considering they were the Churches chosen Elders appointed to sit in Moses Chair to expound Moses laws and to punish all the Transgressors thereof with sutable punishments and though they were grown now more degenerate then in former times yet they had some godly Elders among them as Gamaliel and Nichodemus and Ioseph of Arimathea with many others doubtles here and there dispersed among their several Sanhedrins I will conclude these one and twenty Collections with this Summe First Their opinion that Tell the Church requireth a new Court would breed new speech in the New Testament But our Lord spake it as is evident of the Church of Elders of the Politie known and practised of old in Israel Bro. in Manuscript Secondly In the Iews Reipublike the same Ecclesia that judged Dammages or Death judged of excommunication and still the chief Rulers being of Faith should have their stroke They will and should study to excel in Divinity to be true Bishops and Elders to eat up the book of the Gospel and to see all miscarriages sagely restrained The Apostle did excommunicate the Corinthian as an Elder or Bishop Bro. in Manus and Apoc. 155. Thirdly The Reformed Churches as Zurick take the wisest order that destroy all the Popes marks The Consul is present at all Scholars dealings and most straitly look to Scholars carriage twice in the Yeer and all punishments are referred to the Consul and Synedrion such was the Apostles Doctrine and Synagogues of old Bro. Apoc. 230. and on the Lords Prayer pag. 10. 11. alibi Scholar Truly I must needs confess that I cannot justly except against your exposition of the word Church in Matth. 18. 17. and yet I desire a little further satisfaction Whether it be lawful to call all the visible professors of the Faith dispersed over the world A Church of Christ or no Teacher I have already shewed you that the word Church is of such a large capacity that it may well comprehend them all and therefore I do fully accord with those Divines that describe the Church of Christ to be outwardly visible farre and wide over the face of the earth Scholar Very learned men do think that there can be no such universal visible Church of Christ 1. Because all those visible Professors cannot meet together in any one place to perform that publick worship which Christ hath ordained And secondly they cannot have any general Officers over them because they cannot meet together to chuse them Teacher I do desire that no man will be offended suddenly at the term Church attributed to all visible Professors of the Faith For though they cannot now personally meet together in any one place as perhaps they did in the dayes of Adam and Noah yet they do dayly meet together in the unitie of the Faith and they do all make the same publick Profession of salvation by All the outward Professors of the Faith through the world do make an universal visible Church of Christ Christ alone But for the better performance of the same publick Faith and Worship they are fitly divided and distributed into particular visible Churches And my reasons for calling all visible Professors an universal visible Church of Christ are these 1. What other Temple of God can that be wherein Antichrist doth sit as God but the universal visible Church of Christ dispersed over the world Antichrist cannot be said to sit as a God in any one particular Congregational Church but he sits in the Temple of God even as Christ sat formerly in the Temple between the Cherubims whither the twelve Tribes resorted three times a year And these twelve Tribes are called a Church of Nations Genesis 28. 3. Because they
Typified all the outward Professors of the Faith in all Nations as well as the inward Professors of the Faith all the world over In this outward Temple or Church Antichrist did set up the throne of his Dominion to rule them and govern them after his own will by his own Laws and Decrees Secondly What other Church was it which Paul did persecute but the universall visible Church of Christ He saith that in times past he did persecute the Church of God and wasted it he is not said to persecute any one particular Church but he persecuted the Church of God in general not in Iudea onely but in other strange Conntries and Cities also that is to say he persecuted divers Godly persons that believed in Christ and which as yet continued in several Synagogues in several Countries Acts 22. 19. 26. 11. All these visible Professors of the Faith in several Synagogues and in several Countries the Apostle calls them all together The Church of God in the singular number Gal. 1. 13. Phil. 3. 6. Though they were not personally united into one particular visible Church yet they were united together by the same Faith into one universal visible Church The Jerusalem from Heaven 3. What other Church was it whereof Paul was made a Minister that he might preach unto the Heathen the unsearchable riches and mysteries of Christ that the Church might know the manifold wisdom of God Eph. 3. 8. 10. verse 21. He desires that praise may be given for it in the Church through all Generations for ever But Paul was not made a Minister to any one particular Church but to the Church of Christ in General 4. Paul tells the Corinthians that God had ordained in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets c. For what particular Church did God ordain these Officers surely not for any particular Church therefore they were ordained for the good of the general visible Church dispersed over all the world where ever a doore of entrance was opened to them and when Christ gave them a new Commission to preach the Gospel at his Ascention he did not send them to any particular Church but appointed them to preach the Gospel to all Nations in the world 5. Christ made a promise unto Iacob That he should grow into a Church of Nations Gen. 28. 3. Gen. 35. 15. 48. 4. This Church of Nations must be understood of an universal visible Church dispersed into all nations as well as of the invisible Church as I noted in the first mark of an universall visible Church The universal visible Church doth include the Elect among others that hope to go to Heaven as well as they by their outward Profession Therefore all outward Professors of the Faith may be well called the Children of Iacob because they profess the Faith of Iacob and because they are begotten to this Faith by the children of Iacob For the twelve Apostles and the seventy Disciples were of Iacobs loyns They begate other Preachers who begate many children unto the Faith of Iacob Therefore all these professors of the Faith may well be called the children of Iacob Galathians 6. 16. And thus Iacob did grow into a Church of Nations The Hebrew Doctors say That God did not onely ordain the twelve Tribes to make one National Church but they say also That every Tribe was a Church by it self as I have formerly noted It is written in 2 Chron. 20. 5. that Iehosaphat in the Church of Iudah Here the Tribe of Iudah is called a Church And so it is again in verse 24. and in 2 Chron. 30. 25. Therefore say the Hebrew Doctors When the Church brought a Bullock for a sinne-offering as it was commanded in Leviticus 4. 14. The Elders of the Sanhedrin brought twelve Bullocks for twelve Churches because every Tribe made a Church by it self Vide Ainsworth in Leviticus 4. 14. and Numbers 15. 34. And it seems to me that every Tribe made such a kind of Church by it self as a Christian Nation is For I apprehend that a Christian Nation may be called a Church as well as a Tribe by it self may Scholar How can such visible National Professors be called a Church or be called the Kingdom of Heaven seeing most outward Professors are but Hypocrites Teacher It is true most outward Professors are but Hypocrites yet these together with some Godly among them may well be called The Church of Christ and by the noblest part they may well be called The Kingdom of Heaven because their profession is of an Heavenly calling And so that place must be understood in Matthew 13. 19. 41. 42. 44. 47. and Matthew 8. 12. Apoc. 8. 10. and 10. 1. and 12. 14. And for the outward Covenant sake he doth outwardly own them rule them govern them as his Church and People and if any do wrong them he doth revenge their cause Therefore all visible Churches have great priviledges Scholar Very learned men do think that none ought to be admitted into a particular visible Church as a Member thereof until the same Church shall judge them to have true grace in their souls by trying and examining the marks of their effectual conversion for they do not hold it lawfull to receive any one that is an Hypocrite into a particular visible Church Teacher If none ought to be admitted into a particular visible Who are to be accounted as fit persons to be admitted as members of a particular visible Church Church until they manifest the Truth of Grace in their souls then doubtless Christ hath given infallible rules whereby the Church may discern aright of the Truth of their Grace and distinguish it from close hypocrisie But I must confess that I am to seek where to find those rules For though the Scriptures have perfect rules in general yet when these rules come to be applied to particular persons then am I to seek for certainty of judgement I conceive it is one of the royal Prerogatives of the Lord Jesus to know what particular persons have the truth of Grace in their Souls Questionless all such are the most fit persons that are to be joyned as Members of particular Churches But yet if there be any other that do call upon the Name of the Lord and depart from iniquity our Lord Jesus Christ would have us to esteem them also as fit matter for a particular visible Church until by their scandalous walking they deserve to be excommunicated I will no more speak of this because divers godly learned have dealt in the Argument to very good purpose Yet this I would say let Churches both Teachers and Members be careful that they be not too censorious and pragmatical lest they turn men upon the stumbling blocks of Anabaptistry c. CHAP. III. That Schools of Learning were at the first erected by Jesus Christ for the breeding of a Succession of able Men for Pastors Teachers Elders Iudges c. to the end of the world
the breeding of a succession of able Men for Pastors Teachers Elders Judges c. to the Worlds end 1 Christ hath ordained Schooles of learning for the continuall raising up of Pastors Teachers and Elders for the good governwent of the Church and Common-weale to the end of the world 81 2 Ezra and the Doctors of his Age did with great diligence devise many precious rules to preserve the purity of the Hebrew text to every letter 85 3 The Hebrew Doctors took care for the preservation of the truth of doctrine as well as for the preservation of the Hebrew text 88 A Discourse TOUCHING THE JEWES SYNAGOGUES Proving that the Jewes Synagogue-Assemblies were true visible Churches of JESUS CHRIST With some other miscellaneous Observations about their Discipline CHAP. I. That the Jewes Synagogue-Assemblies were true visible Churches of Jesus Christ Scholar Teacher WHether were the Jewes Synagogues particular Churches of Jesus Christ or no The Iewes Synagogues were particular Churches of Iesus Christ Teacher It is evident to me that the Jewes-Synagogue-Assemblies were particular Churches of JESUS CHRIST because it was the Angel of the Covenant the Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ that did ordain and institute not only all the twelve Tribes into one Nationall-Church but also that did divide and distribute the said twelve Tribes into several particular Churches I say Jesus Christ did institute both these kind of Churches in Israel he was the Angel-Jehovah that first spake unto Moses out of the bush Exod. 3. 2. called also the God of Abraham vers 7. and he is also called the God of Glory that first appeared to Abraham while he was an Idolater in his Fathers house in Mesopotamia Acts 7. 2. Jos 24. This God of glory did now appear unto Moses in the bush and sent him to bring his People out of Egypt and out of the house of bondage Exod. 20. therefore Christ was that Jehovah that said unto all Israel Thou shalt have no other Gods but me Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Images thou shalt not bow down to worship them but thou shalt worship me alone with such outward worship as I have already appointed or as I shall now appoint at this Mount Sinai or which I shall hereafter appoint when the Throne of my Tabernacle shall be reared up So then Christ was that Jehovah that first promised the Land of Canaan unto Abraham and his seed Gen. 12. and that sent Moses to bring them out of Egypt and that kept them company in the wildernesse by going before them in a cloudy pillar by day and in a fiery pillar by night untill he brought them into the land of Canaan And the Apostle Paul doth tell us plainly that it was Christ that caused the rock to supply them with water in the wildernes 1 Cor. 10. 4. Therefore it followes that it must needs be Jesus Christ that did not only unite the twelve Tribes into one Nationall Church but also that did distribute them into severall particular Church-Assemblies And therefore it was Christ that appointed all the Ordinances of his worship by Moses both their national and in their particular Church-Assemblies Scholar How do you prove that Jesus Christ did distribute the twelve Tribes into several particular Church-Assemblies Teacher I prove it by a place of Scripture that is both plain and pregnant Lev. 23. 1 2 3. Jehovah spake unto Moses saying Speak unto the sons of Israel and say unto them c. and in verse 3. he saith thus Six dayes shall work be done but in the seventh day shall be a Sabbath of Sabbatism a convocation of holinesse ye shall not do any work it shall be a Sabbath to Iehovah in all your dwellings In this Text Jesus Christ is called Jehovah he bade Moses the chief Magistrate to speak unto the sons of Israel that is to say to the chief Sons or Elders of Israel as he doth explain his meaning in Levit. 9. 1. 3. There Moses bids Aaron to speak unto the sons of Israel that is to say the 70. to the Senate of Israel in the first place Exod. 25. 1. 9. Numb 11. that so by their means all the other sons of Israel might understand the commandment of Christ concerning the time and manner of his publike worship And so it was Christ also that bad Moses to set the judiciall Laws before them Exod. 21. 1. that is to say before the chief sons of Israel in the first place and so by their means before all the people also and by this orderly way Christ did communicate all his Laws and Ordinances to all the people see Ains in Exod. 4. 29. 12. 3. compared with 21. with Num. 5. 1. 30. 1. Then Christ by Moses bade these chief sons of Israel to proclaim Convocations of Holiness that all the people might know the appointment of Christ and Christ did command these chief sons of Israel to proclaim unto the people the observation of two several kinds of holy Convocations First particular Convocations of Holiness or particular Church-Assemblies which they must observe every seventh Day in all their dwellings Levit. 23 3. Secondly By general Convocations of Holiness or general Church-Assemblies which they must observe before his Sanctuary three times a year verse 4. and so to thee and of the Chapter Now the first sort of these holy Convocations spoken of vers 3. must needs be understood of their particular Church-Assemblies for this phrase In all your dwellings cannot be understood neither of their Family-Assemblies nor yet of their Nationall Church-Assemblies therefore it must be understood of particular Church-Assemblies First I say that this Convocation which Christ commanded them to keep every seventh Day in all their dwellings cannot be understood of their Family-Convocations It is a grosse conceit for any man to think that Christ did by this phrase command every Family to stay at home to keep a Convocation in every private Family Secondly it is as grosse a conceit to think that Christ did by this phrase command all the twelve Tribes to keep a general Convocation before the Sanctuary every seventh Day especially after they were setled in the Land of Canaan in their several Inheritances any man that hath but half an eye may see that such a Convocation was impossible to be observed every seventh Day Therefore it follows by necessary consequence that the holy Convocation which Christ did command them to keep every seventh Day in all their dwellings must be understood of such particular Church-Convocations as were made of several Families in a convenient distance of place for every ones dwelling The truth of this Interpretation will the better appear if we do but consider two circumstantial differences 1. Of Time 2. Of Place First of Time This Convocation spoken of in verse 3. is expresly commanded to be observed every Sabbath or seventh Day through all the year even during the time of their travel in the wildernesse therefore this
not wholy converted to Christianity as this synagogue of Antioch was some godly converts there were in these synagogues by the ministry of John Baptist and of Christ who had some rest from persecution at the time of Paul's conversion but no separated Christian Church was established as yet except the Church at Jerusalem Acts 1. 15. and except this synagogue of Antioch 5. When Paul was sent with letters from the high Priest to persecute Christians that as yet continued in synagogues he was converted as he was going to persecute the Christians that were in the synagogue of Damascus whereupon he preached Christ in the synagogue of Damascus and then he preached Christ also in the synagogues of Arabia for three yeers together before he consulted with any of the Apostles Acts 9. 1. 20. Gal. 1 2. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Iudea Galilee and Samaria Acts 9. 31. These Churches can be no other but the synagogues of those places where divers of them were converted to Christianity by the preaching of Iohn Baptist and by Christ and his Apostles where they yet continued For I find no particular Christian Church established as yet but the Church at Jerusalem and at Antioch as I noted above In one place Paul saith that He persecuted the Church of God extremely and wasted it Gal. 1. 13. but in Acts 22. 19. he saith He prisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed in Christ Therefore the Jews synagogues may well be called particular Churches of Jesus Christ Scholar Some learned men do affirm that the Iews Synagogues were no true Particular Churches of Iesus Christ because they wanted one of the essential marks of a true Particular Church For according to the opinion of sundry learned Divines a true Church must have three marks that are essential to the completing of a true Church First The preaching of Gods word by a chosen Officer Secondly The right administration of the Sacraments Thirdly the power of Discipline Now it is evident that the Synagogues wanted the use and practise of the two Sacraments which were in ordinary use before the coming of Christ Therefore they were no true Churches of Iesus Christ Teacher This is a hard saying to condemn the Jews synagogues as no true Churches of Jesus Christ because they did not Administer those Sacraments that were in ordinary use among the Jewes If there can be no true Church of Jesus Christ without the Administration of the ordinary Sacraments then those Christian-Assemblies were no true Churches of Jesus Christ which were often Congregated at Amersham and in other parts in England in the dayes of Henry the eight to hear the Word of God read and expounded by the ablest Christians they would chuse out among themselves for I conceive they did many years meet together to hear the Word of God without the use of the Sacraments and without the use of any settled Discipline excepting the use of such private reproofs as they in godly wisedome did give to one another for the reformation of sinful misdemeanours though I grant that such Assemblies had the use of the Sacraments and of Discipline also in the dayes of Queen Mary but not in the dayes of King Henry the eight that I can find recorded in any story and yet I conceive there were many true particular Churches of Jesus Christ in those dayes Therefore I conceive that in time of persecution where ever a company of godly Christians did use to assemble upon the Lords-Day to hear the Word of God preached by one of the most ablest chosen men among themselves they were to be esteemed as a true particular Church of Jesus Christ or else I fear we shall hardly find any true Church of Christ in the world for many years together in the height of Popery Therefore notwithstanding this Objection I conclude that the Jewes synagogues were true Churches of Jesus Christ as long as they had the use and exercise of the Word preached among them though they wanted the use of the ordinary Sacraments in their synagogues and yet I suppose they circumcised in their synagogues for they came to the Administration of that seal of the Covenant in a publick manner as Learned Divines think Luk. 1. 59. Scholar I confesse that the Iewes Synagogues have been of excellent use from ancient times but I have formerly thought that these Synagogues had been erected at the first by the voluntary care of their godly Governours and not by Divine Institution of Iesus Christ Teacher I have sufficiently proved from Levit. 23. 3. that synagogue-worship was not first erected by the voluntary care of godly Governours but by the special appointment of Jesus Christ and it is most like that synagogue-worship was ordained by Christ from the beginning of the world for they did sanctifie the Sabbath by particular Church-Assemblies whilest they lived in Egypt long before they came into the Wilderness for the Angel of Gods presence said thus unto those that went out to gather Manna upon the Sabbath before they came to Mount Synai and therefore before the Law given at Mount Synai How long will ye refuse to keep my Commandments and my Lawes Exod. 16. 28. From this text it is evident that Jesus Christ had given them a commandment and a law for the publike sanctifying of the holy Sabbath before he gave the ten commandments at mount Sinai and therefore he had instructed them in the observation of their festival sabbaths for he did not require them to observe their festival sabbaths while they were in their travels in the Wildernes but he adjourned the observation of their festival sabbaths until they were setled in rest in Canaan Numb 15. 2. and therefore after Christ had commanded the Tabernacle to be twice erected in the Wildernes for the place of their National Church-Assemblies and after that he had declared the Ordinances thereof which was done in the second yeer after their coming from Aegypt then immediately after the Tabernacle was folded up again 38. yeers together as M. Ainsworth observed Numb 2. In all which space they did not observe any of their festival sabbaths except the Pass-over once onely in the second yeer after they came out of Aegypt Num. 9. And yet in all this 38. yeers space the Angel of Gods presence did not leave them to their own liberty whether they would observe the sabbath by an holy convocation or no but he did straitly charge them to observe that day with an holy convocation in all their dwellings they might not omit this holy convocation every seventh day in all their dwellings though they must omit the observation of all their festival sabbaths for 38. yeers togethers If they had neglected their Particular Church-Assemblies as they did omit their National Church-Assemblies for 38. yeers together doubtless Religion would have perished from among them Yea after they did enjoy their National Church-Assemblies Their National Church-worship was not sufficient of it self to
safely gathered that the Iews had abundance of synagogues in all the hundred twenty and seven Provinces of Ahasuerus Dominions And we may guess they began to build synagogues in the time of the Babylonian Captivity for Christ did procure favour for the poor captives at the hands of the Babylonian Emperors as well as of the Persian by many stately passages of his wise providence For about the fifth yeer of Nebuchadnezar he caused Daniel to be advanced into the Kings favour by giving him skill The provident care of Christ for speedy spreading of particular Christian Churches into all parts of the world doth mightily appear by his dispersing the Iews into sundry heathen Countries to have Synagogues and to get Assemblies before-hand fit for the Apostles and Disciples of Christ to preach the Gospel to to tell and to expound Nebuchadnezar's dreams and then he procured them another new favour by delivering the three noble Martyrs out of the fiery furnace Thirdly Daniel obtained another new favour of Darius Madai fellow in government with Cyrus when Christ did so miraculously deliver him from the power of the â—ungry lyons Fourthly Christ caused Ester and Mordecai to be highly advanced into favour with Ahasuerus and with Darius Artaxerxes his son and thus it pleased Christ by these stately passages of his providence to procure favour for all the Iews in general that were dispersed into several heathen Countries for the building of synagogues for the free exercise of their Religion And though Haman plotted the overthrow of their Religion yet through the wise providence of Christ to whom the Father gave all authoritie and power Haman was overthrown with all his Amalakite party who had determined the death of the Iews in every Province Then the fear of the Iews fel upon the Heathens and many heathens became Proselites Ester 8. 17. that is to say they did associate themselves with the Iewes to worship God with them in their synagogues And thus the Lord Christ by these stately passages of his providence did promote some of the Iews to special favour with the heathen Emperours by whose favour the rest obtained favour for the erecting of synagogues and for the exercise of their religion in all Countries Nay It appears to me that the Iews began to have and build synagogues in heathen Countries in the dayes of Nebuchad-nezar and in the time of Ieremies preaching for he and Ezekiel did assure them that Nebuchad-nezar should conquer the land and lay it wast for seventy years thereupon many Godly Iews did sell their estates and flee away as they could get opportunitie into divers heathen countries aforehand either unto Babel before they were captivated or else into some of those hundred twenty seven Provinces above-mentioned even as Elias fled from the face of Iezabel so did many Godly Iews flee from persecuting Princes Priests and Prophets into divers heathen countries for safety for God had his out-casts that did hide themselves from the evil day Esa 16. 3. 4. Ier. 40. 11 12. and 43. 5 6 7. and 44. 14. Ezek. 7. 12. and of the number of these out-casts they might well be who had and built synagogues in Corinth and Rome and other remote parts as Mr Broughton thinks in Lam. 1. 3. And Christ Iesus did provide by his special providence that these synagogues should be made famous and eminent for learning and Godlines in all heathen Countries for many heathens were affected to religion and became Proselites and many did accompany the Iews that returned with Zorobabel that could not discerne their fathers house whether they were of Israel or no Ezra 2. 59. 60. and by this quaere into their genealogy it appears that the rulers of the Iews did conceive that there were some heathens among them that had been so long joyned to their Church that they could not finde out their pedigree whether they were Israelites or no. And though forty nine thousand Iews returned at the first Ezra 2. and many after yet many thousands did continue in all Nations and did exercise their Religion in particular Church-assembies which Church is continued till the Gospel of Iesus Christ was preached among them as in Babylon they had a synagogue if not more then one for the Apostle Peter neer 500. years after converted many souls to Christ there and dated his first Epistle from thence 1 Pet. 5. 13. 2. Jesus Christ did still more and more disperse the Jewes after the Chaldean and Persian times by the interchangeable wars that continued long between the Seleucidae and the Lagidae the two legs of the Image Dan. 2. for the seat of their war was for the most part in the land of Canaan and in the Countries adjacent And when the Celeucidae prevailed they led captive many Jews into the Easterne and Northern parts But when the Lagidae prevailed they led many Jews captive into Egypt and the parts adjacent And thus Christ the Lord used these Tyrants as his instruments to disperse the Jews all the world over to build Synagogues for the exercise of Religion and for the instructing and converting of many heathens and for the use of the Apostles and of other Apostolick men that by this means they might have a free and ready entrance to preach the Gospel to the conversion of many ten thousands both of Jews and Heathens And thus the Lord Jesus did before-hand prepare a way for the ready preaching of the Gospel all the world over and then when he was ready to leave the Apostles behinde him he commanded them to go unto all Nations to teach and baptize them into the Name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost Mat. 28. And Paul himself was so industrous that he did quickly make the word of God to abound from Ierusalem to Illyricum and also to Rome Rom. 15. 14. for he found ready to his hand many Synagogues in all places where he came when he came first to Damascus he found Synagogues there Act. 9. 2. 20. and at Salamis Acts 13. 5. at Antioch in Pisidia chap. 13. 14. at Iconium chap. 14. 1. at Thessalonica 17. 10. at Athens chap. 17. at Corinth 18. 4. at Ephesus chap. 18. 19. at Philippi there was a place for publique worship chap. 16. 13. and by the opportunitie of these Synagogues Paul had a ready entrance to preach the Gospel every-where to the conversion of many ten thousand Iews Act. 21. 20. The Lord Iesus Christ by the seven eyes of his providence prepared these Synagogues by dispersing the Iews all the world over to build them for the preservation of Religion and for the spreading thereof and then the Lord did also make a gracious promise to the Iews that went into dispersion that they should honour him by setting up his pure worship in all those heathen countries where they were captived Ezek. 6. 8. 9. 10. Zac. 10. 9. Ezek. 11. 16. and 12. 16. and this prophesie was fulfilled by the Iews practice of Religion
both before and after they read the holy Scripture in the Synagogues for it is said that the King blessed God before and after as the manner was to blesse God in the Synagogues And when the King read the holy Scriptures all the hearers were bound to prepare their hearts and to make their ears attentive and to hear with fear and reverence and with joy and trembling as in the day when the Law was given in Mount Synai And though they were great wise men which knew the whole Law every whit they were bound to hear with great attention for the King is the Angel of the Congregation to cause the word of God to be sounded vid. Ainsw ibid. that is to say the King is the Angel of the general Assembly to cause the word of God to be heard on that day But Sheliach Zibbur was the Angel of each particular Congregation to cause the word of God to be read and expounded in their synagogues every sabbath day therefore all their hearers were bound to make the like reparation and to hear with great attentivenesse in their synagogues And when the King read or the chief Ruler he must endervour to make the people understand the reading as it is recorded in Nehemiah chap. 8. 8. And the persons that were bound to hear in the last day of the feast of Tabernacles were not only men but women and children and the stranger that was within their gates Deut. 31. 12. but yet no unclean person must come into this generall Assembly as it is written in vers 11. When all Israel is come but the uncleane were not fit to come because this general Church-Assembly was kept at Ierusalem in the Holy place But no unclean Persons were exempted from coming into their particular Church-Assembly for all were bound to come to their synagogue convocations every sabbath yea the very lepers which were the most contagious of all unclean persons they had a place prepared for them in their synagogues as I noted it before And indeed their synagogue-Assemblies were in such high They used to keep weekly Lectures in their Synagogues esteem among them that they frequented those Assemblies not onely on the sabbaths but also they kept Lectures therein upon the week daies for the better edification of Gods people in faith and holines For when Paul and Barnabas had ended their preaching upon the sabbath at Antioch in Pisidia then the Proselites of that synagogue besought them to preach the same sermon again in the middle sabbath Acts 13. 42. That is to say in the middle of the week which they called the middle sabbath for they dated all the daies of the week from the sabbath thus the first of the sabbath the second of the sabbath the third the fourth of the sabbath called here by Paul The middle sabbath on this day it seems they kept a weekly lecture at Antioch in Pisidia and doubtles other synagogues in other places did the same and in this regard the Apostle Paul doth exhort Timothy to preach the Word and to be instant in season and out of season 1 Tim. 4. 2. That is to say be instant to preach the Word not onely upon the sabbath daies but also in the week daies in keeping Lectures and this may be said to be out of season because weekly Lectures is not so constantly and certainly commanded as the sabbath Lectures are but it is a voluntary sacrifice which we give to God out of our own time and labour Scholar When the Jews received Heathens as Proselites into their Synagogues What did they require of them to fit them to be Members For divers Heathens became Proselytes and joyned with the Jews in their Synagogue Worship Act. 2. 10. and 13. 43. and 14. 1. and 17. 4. Teacher Those Heathens that desired to joyn with the Jews How the Iews received heathens to be members of their National Church and of their particular Synagogues also as one body in their synagogue-worship must be thus and thus qualified The Hebrew Doctors say that they received none to be Proselites as long as they lived in the land of Canaan until they had performed three actions First They must be circumcised Secondly They must be baptised Thirdly They must bring a sacrifice But in the Heathen Countries where it was not lawful for the Iews to offer sacrifice because they had no Sanctuary there they received Proselites into their synagogue by the performance of the two first actions onely and Women were received onely by Baptisme and he that was baptised was baptised in the presence of three c. And in the land of Israel when any heathen man or woman came to joyn themselves to the Common-weal of Israel as a Proselite the Elders of the Iews made diligent enquiry after such lest they came to get themselves under the Law for some riches or for some dignity or for affection for marriage-sake with some Iewish man or woman If no such occasion were found against them then they made known unto them the weightines of the yoke of the Law and the toyl that is in the doing thereof above that which the people of other lands have to see if they will leave off if yet they will take them upon them and not withdraw and see that they come of love they then receive them as it is written When Naomi saw that Ruth was stedfastly minded to go with her left speaking unto her and embraced her Ruth 1. 18. But the Judges of Israel received no Proselytes into the National Church all the daies of David and Solomon not in Davids The Iudges of their Sanhedrins were the Elders of their National Church daies lest they should come of fear not in Solomons daies lest they should come because of his peaceable Kingdom and great prosperity which Israel then had For who so cometh from the Heathens for any thing of the vanities of this world he is no righteous Proselyte Notwithstanding there were many Proselytes in the daies of David and Solomon that joyned themselves to the Church in the presence of private persons and the Judges of the Sanhedrin had a care of them and drove them not away out of any place after they were baptised neither took they them neer unto them until their after fruits appeared Vid. Ainsw on Gen. 17. 12. and Mr. Broughton on Dan. 9. saith That many thousand Heathens became Proselytes in the daies of David and Solomon being admitted only by Baptisme without Circumcision Baptisme was ever frequently used among the Jews and doubtles it was in use from the begining of the World as sacrificing was and it is evident that the Godly after the Flood did use to baptise their bodies and their wearing garments when they were defiled by any polution as Jacob did Gen. 35. and Christ commanded Moses to ordain the use of Baptisme among his People as a signe of their sanctification But at the last when Christ ended all the Typical Ceremonies
then it pleased him to retain the use of Baptisme still as the Sacramental Seal of our Justification but he ordained it to be used in another form then it was before For at first every unclean person did baptise himself but now he ordained it to be administred by his Apostles and Teachers to the end of the world as a sign of our initiation into his Visible Church according to the use of it amongst them when they received Proselytes into their synagogues so in like sort from the use of the bread and wine at their voluntary feast of peace-offerings which they usually adjoyned to the Pass-over Jesus Christ authorised his Sacramental Supper of part of that Bread and Wine for the comfort and confirmation of all Believers in particular Churches And when John Baptist began his Ministery preaching that the Kingdom of Heaven was come he began to enter men into the said Kingdom by Baptisme and that action of his was nothing strange among the Jews Matth. 3. 5 6. they made some question of his person that did it but not of the use of Baptisme Iohn 1. 25. M. Broughton saith Iohn was not astonishment to the Jews for his Baptisme but for his person onely and in that respect they demanded whether he were Elias or Christ or that Prophet named in Deut. 18. 2. When there was a question between some of Iohn's Disciples and the Jews about purifying that is to say about the Jewish Baptismes and Iohn's Baptisme they made no opposition against Iohn's Baptisme as a new upstart device of his own brain Iohn 3. 23. 25. but they approved the use of Baptisme And the Hebrew Doctors do determine the quantity of Water that they held fit to baptise a person withal to be forty Seahs of Water Vid. Ainsw in Levit. 15. 12. 17. But the Hebrew Doctors did not receive Proselytes by Baptism onely as it were hand over head but they put them upon tryal to see if they came out of love to the Law of God and in this respect the Hebrew Doctors say thus Moses our master gave the inheritance of the Law of Commandments to Israel onely as it is written Deut. 33. 4. The inheritance of the Congregation of Iacob And unto any other that the Nations that willingly joyned himself as a Proselyte as it is written Numb 15. 15. As ye are so shall the stranger be before the Lord. But whosoever is not willing they force him not to receive the Law and the Commandments vid. Ainsw in Exod. 12. 49. These Proselites they were wont to be called Strangers within the Covenant and Iust Strangers to distinguish them from Strangers within their gates that did but dwell among them such as are mentioned in Deut. 14. 21. and in Exod. 12. 15. So then I conclude in answer to your question That the Judges or Elders of the Sanhedrin whiles they lived in Canaan and likewise the Elders of their Synagogues when they were dispersed into Heathen Countries received not all Heathens to be Proselytes that were willing to dwell among them but they received those onely to be Proselytes that willingly testified their earnest desire to live in obedience to all the Laws and Commandments of the Lord and this their willing desire was testified in the land of Canaan First By Circumcision Secondly By Baptisme Thirdly By offering a Sacrifice But in Heathen Countries it was testified by Circumcision and Baptisme only and Women were received by Baptisme onely as the badge of their repentance and new obedience Scholar Did the Iews practise publike fasting in their Synagogues upon special occasions or no Teacher I find by their Hebrew records That the synagogues were careful to observe daies of publike fasting upon occasion In their Synagogues they observed daies of publike fasting upon occasion of any distress that was upon them of any distress that did befal them And they decreed that upon every Fasting-day which was appointed by the Congregation the Judges or Elders should sit in their synagogues to make enquiry of the deeds of the men of that Citie from after morning prayer till mid-day and they removed the stumbling blocks of transgressions and did admonish enquire and search concerning injurious persons and transgressors and separated them and concerning violent persons to humble them c. vid. Ains in Numb 9. 10. And we have an example of their practise in that Ester and Mordecai with the Iews in Shushan and in the hundred twenty and seven Provinces in their distress keep a Fast until the Lord was pleased to hear their Prayers and to turn away the wicked device of Haman Est 9. And the whole Congregation in Canaan did observe daies of publike Fasting for sundry kinds of distresses First For enemies that came against Israel Secondly For the sword that passed by the land as when heathens did war with heathens Thirdly For the Pestilence Fourthly For evil beasts Ffthly For Locusts Sixthly For Caterpillars Seventhly For blasting of Fruits Eighthly For Mildew Ninthly For downfalls of Buildings by Earthquakes or Winds Tenthly For sicknes that spread among the people Eleventhly For decay of Trade Twelfthly For rain if it be too much or little for these they fast and sound an Alarum until the distress be taken away Vid. Ains on Numb 10. and in Exod. 5. Scholar Whether did the Iews use any form of blessing in their Synagogues when they dismissed the people or no Teacher Yea The Pastâ—r of the synagogue used to dismiss the people with a grave and gracious blessing Maymony saith that How the blessing was pronounced in the synauogue after the Lecture of the Law was ended the synagogues which were all Priests as many synagogues were in the Towns allotted to them they all lift up hands when the blessing was pronounced and the Men Women and Children said Amen But in the synagogue wherein there was no Priest but a Minister onely called else-where Zeliach Zibbur he lifteth not up his hands but when he is come to conclude with peace he saith Our God and the God of our Fathers bless us with the threefold blessing in the Law written by Moses thy servant which was pronounced out of the mouth of Aaron and of his Sons the Priests with thy Saints as it is said Adâ—nai bless thee and keep thee c. In this last sentence they alter the Original for in the Original it is said Iehovah bless thee and keep thee By this alteration we may see how the Jews have fallen into blind superstition by not pronouncing the attribute Iehovah as if they could preserve this Name from polution more then the other Titles and Attributes of God by exchanging Iehovah for Adonai Scholar Did the Iews use any Levitical Ceremony in their synagogues or no Teacher The Hebrew Doctors say That it was unlawful to make any house either synagogue or any other private house No Levitical worship was lawful to be used in their synagogues after the fashion of the Temple or
Tyrants When Zachariah the son of Iehoiadah was stoned between the Temple and the Altar he said The Lord look upon it and require it This Anathema maranatha took effect For when Nabuzaradan came into the Temple he saw some bloud upon the pavement not washed off thereupon he asked what bloud that was It was answered That it was the bloud of a Prophet that foretold all these things that now are come upon us and we rose up and killed him Yea said Nebuzaradan and I will pay you for it The reupon he caused his Souldiers to fall upon the young Priests and they killed eight thousand of them This the Iews record in Tugueh fol-69 Col. 1. Scholar I cannot tell what to think of the use and practice of this great Excommunication whether it be any Church priviledge or no But I will leave it for the present and desire rather to search out the lesser Excommunication which is granted on all hands to be a special priviledge belonging to all Christian Churches And very learned Divines do affirm that Iesus Christ did first ordain it in Matth. 1. 18. 17. as a special Ordinance for the use of all Christian Churches to the worlds end Teacher I cannot believe yet that Iesus Christ did first ordain excommunication in Matth. 18. 17. as a new Ordinance Christ did not first ordain Excommunication in Mat. 18. 17. for the use of Christian Churches I have already shewed that Iesus Christ did institute many particular Churches or synagogues among the Jews and that they had the use of Excommunication among them of old time therefore I cannot as yet believe that Christ did now first ordain excommunication as a new Ordinance for the use of Christian Churches in Matth. 18. 17. Secondly It is evident that Christ did not now first ordain excommunication as a new Ordinance for the use of all Christian Churches in Matth. 18. 17. because Luke relates a part of this exhortation touching private brotherly dealing and makes no mention of proceeding on to excommunication which doubtles he would not have omitted if Christ had now first ordained it for the use of Christian Churches Scholar Very learned Divines do think that the circumstances of the Text Matth. 18. 17. do plainly demonstrate that Christ did now first ordain excommunication as a new Ordinance for the use of all Christian Churches to the Worlds end and that Christ exhorted his Apostles to put this new Ordinance in practise assoon as they should plant any new particular Christian Churches Teacher I desire that the circumstance of this Text may be alledged and weighed whether any of them do prove the ordination of excommunication at this time or no. Scholar The first considerable circumstance is this If he will not hear the Church let him be to thee as an Heathen and Publican Hence I gather That none could account his Brother of the same profession as an Heathen or Publican until the Church had excommunicated him Teacher Your collection is not sound for first If this sentence had implyed his excommunication by the Church then Christ would have said thus Let him be to it that is to say to the Church Or let him be to them that is to say to all the members of the Church as an Heathen and a Publican But Christ doth not say so but let him be to thee that is to say let him be to thee that art the wronged Brother as an heathen and a Publican if he refused to hear the Church though he never were excommunicate by them For it is a point of good Justice and of Christian Wisdom to account an obstinate sinner that will not hear the Church no better then an Heathen or Publican And thus godly David did when his brethren Israelites sought to betray his life into the hands of Saul he both esteemed them and called them Heathens for it his words run thus Lo they lay wait for my soul yet not for my trespass nor for my sin for I have done them no wrong at all Therefore thou O Jehovah God of hosts God of Israel awake to visit all the Heathens Psal 59. 4 5. and in verse 9. he saith thus Thou Jehovah wilt laugh at them thou wilt mock at the Heathens Thus David esteemed his brethren the Jews no better then heathens for their trecherous endeavours and yet I believe he knew they were not excommunicated by the Church In like sort he calls the Ziphims of the Tribe of Iudah Strangers that is to say Heathens for their trecherous endevours against his life Psal 54. 5. In like sort Ieremiah ranks the profane Jews with the uncircumcised Heathens Ier. 9. 26. and Iohn calls the persecuting Papists Gentiles Apoc. 11. 2. 18. and Heathens also in chap. 19. 15. and Isaiah calls the Kings and People of Judah Kings of Sodom and People of Gomorrha Es 1. 10. and yet I believe none of these were so esteemed and called because they were first excommunicated by the Church Therefore you cannot conclude that Matthew doth mean that the impenitent brother was first excommunicate by the Church because Christ bade the innocent party to esteem him as an Heathen and Publican Scholar There is another circumstance in verse 18. which doth imply Excommunication as all Interpreters say The words of the Text thus speak Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven c. Hence Interpreters conclude that the Church by the power of Excommunication do bind sinners in their sins on earth and when they repent then they loose them from their sins on earth by discharging them from the sentence of Excommunication and that Christ doth ratifie all their doings in heaven Teacher I do not look upon this 18. verse in the same sense that you take it I do not apprehend it to have any necessary dependance on the three former verses but I take this 18. verse to speak of another matter distinct from the former For it is evident that Christ doth use many miscellaneous exhortations in this Chapter which have no dependence on each other Secondly I say that this sentence in verse 18. doth not agree to the terms of the Churches Excommunication For then Christ would have said thus Whatsoever they bind on earth that is to say Whatsoever they the whole Church both Officers and Members do bind on earth c. But Christ doth not say so But whatsoever ye shall bind on earth namely ye that are my Apostles and Disciples Or else Christ would have said thus Whatsoever thou bindest on earth in relation to the phrase afore-going in verse 17. Let him be to thee This phrase Whatsoever ye bind on earth c. is a Talmudd phrase which phrase of speaking Christ had formerly used to his Apostles when he gave them authority to preach the Gospel in Matth. 16. 19. and now again he doth put them in remembrance of their calling and power to preach the Gospel by repeating the said Talmud phrase and he
Scholar WHat means hath Christ ordained for the raysing up of continual succession of Pastors and Teachers Elders and Iudges for the well governing of his Church to the end of the world Teacher The Sonne of God the Eternal Wisdom hath ordained Christ hath ordained Schools of learning for the continual raising up of Pastors Teachers Elders c. For the good government of Church and Common-weal to the end of the world schools of Learning to be erected every where for the education of youths in all good literature until they might attain to gifts and parts of learning and godliness by which they may be made fit for any place of government either in Church or Common-Weal I say it is evident that Christ ordained schools of learning to be erected every where for Seminaries and Seed-plots of able men fit to bear Office in particular visible Churches and Common-Weal Because from time to time Jesus Christ did stir up divers Prophets and other excellent persons to rule and order Schools of learning First Jesus Christ stirred up Samuel the Prophet to erect schools of learning when he was King over all the twelve Tribes he kept a school at Naioth in Ramah wherein he trained up divers scholars in such a way of learning as might sit them for Prophesie and therefore when Saul came thither to seek David The blessing of the Prophets School fell upon him and he did prophesie whiles he was there and thereupon grew a Proverb by way of Admiration Is Saul among the Prophets 1 Sam. 19. Seconly there was another Prophets school erected at Bethel in a high piece of ground which was called The Hill of God 1 Sam. 10. 3. 5. And we may see the care of Godly Samuel to train up young men in learning that so there might be a succession of Prophets and of other able men fit to bear Office in Church and Common-weal when he was dead and gone and though Saul came not to this last school with any intent to be a scholar there yet he obtained a Prophetical gift from their society and this Prophetical gift did signifie to him what great need he had of the best gifts of learning from the Prophetical School to execute the Kingly Office that was now laid upon him And by this Prophetical gift which fell upon him after he was anointed he was confirmed and strengthned in his Office So likewise the seventy Elders as soon as they were chosen to bear Office in the high Sanhedrin Court they were confirmed in that Office by the immediate gift of Prophesie Numb 11. 20. to 30. And those gifts of Prophesie which fell upon them in that day did point unto them what manner of men they ought to be that should enter into such a weighty Office and Calling Sometimes our glorious Mediator did extraordinarily fit men for places of publick imployment But ordinarily he did fit men to such eminent places by training them up in the Prophets schools Thirdly The Hebrew Doctors do often make mention of these Prophetical Schools from ancient times They say That Sem or Melchisedech was a Teacher of Schools when he was the King of Salem Abraham was a Prophet and had a house of Doctrine and did exercise his gifts in Teaching his Houshold the way and charge of Christ in his Commandments Statutes and Laws and withall commanded them to walk in the way that is the Faith and Religion of the Son of God and to do Iustice and Iudgement The Rabbins say also in the Ierusalem-paraphrase that Isaac went from the School-house of Sem the great to the Well where the Majestie of the Lord had been revealed vide Ainsworth Genesis 24. 62. This Hebrew Record is probably true because It is certain that Sem was still living in the dayes of Isaac as it is evident by comparing the years of his life in Genesis 11. 11. with the Story of Isaac in Genesis 24. But however you may take this Hebrew Record as a Prosopopeia to set forth the dignitie and the antiquitie of School learning And out of question it might as well become Sem Sacrificer to the most high God and King of Salem to keep a Propheticall school after the confusion of tongues that most lamentable curse and plague as King Samuel and he might well train up his Nephew Isaac in learning seeing he knew that he should be heir of the promise after he was dead and gone And doubtlesse Sem was the great Doctor of that age and so the Hebrew Doctors do often stile him SEM the Great vid. Ains Gen. 14. 18. Fourthly The Hebrew Doctors say That Jacob was a Master of learning and that he dwelt in Tents and studied the Law all his dayes But Esau the wicked walked in the way of death to kill Jacob. vide Ainsworth Genesis 25. 27. The Caldy saith that Iacob was a Master of a House of Doctrine as giving himself to religious study and Scholarship And Iacob departing to the Heavenly Citie and Countrie left the Faith of the Sonne of God in his glorious Family and in special prophesieth That Judahs Tribe should have Teachers of Judahs Shiloh The great Mystery of Godlimess God manifested in the flesh and Expounders of the Law that to him all the Nations should be gathered Esa 11. and 66. John 11. 5. After that great Apostasie of Israel in Egypt The Sonne of God stirred up Moses a faithfull servant in his house to be a restorer of the Church and a Teacher to all Israel fourty years And to all the Israel of God ever after Moses from Christ directed that Levites from twentie five to thirty yeers of age should be as Graduates before they entred into the work of the Tabernacle And they were fourty yeers studying the Law in the Wilderness And Moses Aaron and the seventy Elders c. were famous Rectors and Directors to them And in Davids dayes The Levites had a lower degree to begin to study and prepare themselves from twentieyeers old Numbers 8. 24. 1 Chron. 23. 24. 6. Schools of learning were of great esteem even in the dayes of Apostasie when the ten Tribes worshipped the Calves of Dan and Bethel And though Iezabel destroyed many Prophetical Schools yet they had some godly friends in those persecuting times that preserved many of them Good Obadiah hid one hundred of the Prophets by fiftie in each Cave 1 King 18. 4. with 1 King 19. 10. 14. A while after the Prophet Elisha erected many Prophetical Schools in sundery parts of the tenne Tribes First He kept a Prophets School at Gilgal 2 Kings 2. 1. with Chap. 4. 38. And in this one School there were one hundred Scholars for whose sake Elisha healed the bitter pottage This Miracle Christ did among them for the countenancing and encouraging of Schools Secondly There was another School of the Prophets at Ierico 2 Kings 2. 4 5. and for their comfort and encouragement Elisha healed the barren waters of that place verse 18. 3.