A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the confines thereof with the history of the Old and New Testament acted thereon / by Thomas Fuller ...

CHAP. XI. Of the vast wealth of the second Temple.

§ 1. WE have cause to conceive, that the Corban or Treasury of the second Temple was about our Saviours time,* 1.1 welnigh as well lined with wealth, as in the reign of Solomon, flowing from three principall springs,

• 1 Meer Gentiles.
• 2 Proselytes.
• 3 Native Iews.

The first of these were very bountifull to the Temple, and constantly

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§ 4. Native Iews were the last,* 1.2 and best benefactours to the Temple, especially if all contributed thereunto in proportion to the poor widow who cast in twoz 1.3 mites being all her substance. Now, had one been present when the Scribes and Pharisees cast in their offerings into the treasury, it had been pleasant to behold the conflict, betwixt their covetousness, and vainglory, and how the latter prevailed in them. For, though they were a 1.4 covetous, yet when people beheld them, they were content to part with their money, or rather to let it out for the interest of popular applause▪ But, besides free-will-offerings at any time, that Gods service might not be lest arbitrary, the Iews were injoyned thrice a yearb 1.5 at the solemn festi∣valls with their men children (when able, saith the Rabbih, led in their Fathers hands, to climbe up the mountain whereon the Temple was built) to appear before God; where none, who hoped to return with their hearts ful of joy, came with their hands empty of money For seeing the Iews held their estates of no mean Lord, but all by tenure in capi••e from the God of Heaven, these were the three solemn payments of their head rent to their high Land lord. Besides these in the days of our Saviour, vast were the sums which were advanced to the treasury, by that gainfull Di∣vinity current amongst the people, though stamped onely with Pharisai∣call traditions, of which, this one that followeth, was the most re∣markable.

§ 5. It plainly appears,* 1.6 that all children, if of ability, should maintain their parents, if by age or accident grown weak and impotent to subsist c 1.7 of themselves, according to Gods command, Honourd 1.8 thy father and mother Qamp;c. Notwithstanding which obligation, the Scribes and Pharisees did preach, & teach, that in case any children were pleased to compound with e 1.9 Corban, &c to pay a round sum proportionable to their estates, unto pious uses, thereby they were disingaged in conscie••de, from making any far∣ther provision for their poor parents▪ Going on this ground, that one debt was to be but once satisfied, and if they paid it in to the service of God the grand-father to all mankinde, thereby they were discharged from duty to their immediate, and subordinate parents.

§ 6. This commutation-money (as I may term it) amounted to a Nem••∣scit of revenue,* 1.10 but withall made a dearth of dutifull children in the land, who counted it the more frugall way, once for all to fine to the Temple, then to pay the constant rent of daily relief to their parents. But can an Acquittance of humane, ••••adition, be valid, against a debt of Specialty▪ by Gods command? Oh! had the hole in the cover of Corban been a mouth to speak, as well as to take in, how zealously would it have protested a∣gainst such proceedings? And we may conceive this one cause of hasten∣ing the wofull ruine of the Temples wealth, such ill gotten money poi∣soning the Corban, making it suddenly swell, and then break in pieces, when swept away by the Romans, which we come now to relate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The wealth of the Corbar ar••∣sing from pure Pagans.
• * 1.2

  Native Iews their liberality.
• z 1.3

  Mark 12. 44.
• a 1.4

  Luk. 16. 14.
• b 1.5

  Exod. 14. 23.
• * 1.6

  The gainfull doctrine of Corban.
• c 1.7

  1 Tim. 5. 16.
• d 1.8

  Exod. 20. 12.
• e 1.9

  Mar. 15. 5. & Muk 7. 11.
• * 1.10

  The ill in••lu∣ence of this doctrine.