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

SECT. III. Vestments how varied, according to the age of the wearers.

§ 1. HOwever,* 1.1 all Iewish garments admitted of variations, according to the ages, professions, conditions, occasions, and sexes of the wearers. First for the ages, briefly to habit a Iew, from the Cradle to the Coffin, we begin with the infant, who with Iob, cominga 1.2 naked out of his mothers wombe, findes some clouts provided by the care of his parents, or providence of his friends, to cover him. Amongst these, most remark∣able are hisb 1.3 swadling clothes, wherewith the Iewish mothersc 1.4 swathed

their children. No doubt doing it with more discretion then many English mothers, and nurses, who (as Spigeliusd 1.5 observeth) generally hurt their babes by binding them too hard about their breast, thereby causing consumptions, of which disease, he affirmeth, moe die in Eng∣land, then in any other Countrey. And so we leave this Iewish infant sucking, or sleeping on the lap of his mother.

§ 2. Afterward in due time he is coated, with little Samuel, for whom his mother made a littlee 1.6 coat year by year. Nor know I which more to commend, Hanna's huswifery in annuall providing, or Samuel's thrift in making his coat to serve him a whole year. We conceive childrens clothes differed from mens, not in fashion, but in degrees, which encreased with the stature of the wearer. Leave we this childe in his calling, name∣ly playing with his mates in the Marketf 1.7 place, loth to spoil his sport (it being as pleasant to see children play, as men to work:) Provided, they be seasonably set to school, for,g 1.8 Train up a child in the way he should goe, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

§ 3. From a child he starts up a youth,* 1.9 and becomes a stripling, then beginning to delight in brave clothes. If his fathers darling, then per∣chance he is clothed with a coat, rain-bow like, striped, and streaked, as Iosephs garment, with diversh 1.10 colours; the sight whereof bred worse co∣lours in the face of his brethren (pale envie, red wrath, blew malice, black hatred) finding him so far out strip them in their fathers affection. Leave we this stripling, hunting, shooting, and offering at manlike exercises.

§ 4. Few moe years shoot him up to be marriageable,* 1.11 and his parents provide a wife for him, as Abraham for Isaac, (Abraham, who followed Godsi 1.12 Angel sent before him, whilest too many covetous fathers are onely g••ided by other Angels in their choice) and soon after he is prepared for marriage. On his wedding day, how glorious doth he appear coming out of his chamber as thek 1.13 rising Sun, when as al 1.14 Bridegrom he decketh him∣self with ornaments? We wait on him to his Bride-chamber, wish him joy, and depart.

§ 5. Within a year after his marriage* 1.15 (for till that time he was pri∣viledged by the law,m 1.16 not to goe out to war, but to be free at home, and to cheer up his wife) he goes forth to fight, souldiery not being so distinct a profession amongst the Iews, but that every able man, upon just summons, was bound to bear armes. Behold we him now in complete armour, accor∣ding to his quality, made either of steel,n 1.17 brass, oro 1.18 gold (I m••an for shields and targets; for, otherwise all the art of man cannotmake an edged tool of gold, or silver) Defensive; as habergeon, brigandine, coats of male, (which we wish better put on, then Ahabs was, that no chinkes may be left betwixt thep 1.19 joints thereof) Offensive, & those either to use cominùs, at hand∣push; or stroke, as sword, dagger, spear; or eminùs, at distance, as bow, sling, dart, and other artificiall engines, (whereof Kingq 1.20 Uzziah was the ingenious inventour) or of a mixed nature, as a Iavelin, which was a spear-dart,

sometimes cast out of their hands, as Saul atr 1.21 David; sometimes kept in, and thrust through their enemies, in which manners 1.22 Phinehas did execution on Zimri and Cozbi. It is enough barely to name these wea∣pons, as having no peculiar Iudaisme in them, but common with other Countreys. For, though God enjoyned the Iews some ceremonious ob∣servances in their wearing-apparell, distinguishing them from other nations; yet in the fashion of their armes, he suffered them to conform with the heathen, as might be most for their own safety, and advantage.

§ 6. But amongst all martiall accoutrements,* 1.23 we must not forget the souldiers girdle, the inseparable companion of military men. Thus when Ionathan stript himself, he gave David his garments even to his sword, and to his bow, and to hist 1.24 girdle: understand his gift exclusively, these three things not comprehended therein, as being unsouldier-like to part with them. Ioab promised to give him that could kill Absalom ten shekels of silver, and au 1.25 girdle, as a proper military Donative. And perchance, such a Girdle, Balteus militaris, bestowed by a Generall in a field after the fight, amounted to the honour of our modern Knighthood, not to say, Banneret∣ship. Conquerors used to besmear their girdle with the bloud of those they overcame (a Bend or Fess gules, we know, is an honorable Bearing) in avowance, and justification of what they had done. And therefore David taxeth Ioab, that having killed Abner, and Amasa, not valiantly in the field, but treacherously by fraud, he shed the bloud of war in peace, and put the bloud of war upon hisw 1.26 girdle, that was about his loines, and in his shooes that were upon his feet. Not that it casually spirted upon them, but that of set purpose he put it there, misapplying an hostile ceremony of lawfull con∣quest, to his act of perfidious, and cowardly murder. Leave we now our souldier thus completely armed in all respects, going forth to fight, wishing him to be valiant for his people, and for the Cities of his God, and [for success] the Lord doe what seemethx 1.27 good in his eies.

§ 7. But if in stead of victory,* 1.28 he meeteth with overthrow, and de∣struction, so that, with Iobsy 1.29 messenger, he himself hardly escapes to bring the dolefull tidings of their defeat; behold him in the following sorrowfull equipage of a Mourner. Withz 1.30 baldness on his head (not na∣turall, but) occasioned by the shaving thereof, to make room for a sad Peruke ofa 1.31 Ashes, orb 1.32 earth thereupon; beardc 1.33 shaved, or else, his upper lipd 1.34 covered, clothes rent, yea, flesh it self cut (not wounded by the enemies sword, but) as a penance imposed upone 1.35 himself, feetf 1.36 bare, and whole body next the skin clothedg 1.37 in sackcloth, wherein he used to lie, and accor∣ding to the occasion, more or less was his humiliation. May he meet with seasonable comfort, and good counsell, whilest we proceed.

§ 8. Some few years after, 'tis strange to see, how insensibly age hath surprised him, so that he beginneth now to become an Elder.* 1.38 If you finde him not at home in his house, you shall certainly meet him amongst those of his own rank in the gate of the City (where a Con∣sistory

Court was daily kept, and he a Judge therein) wrap'd with Samuel warme in hish 1.39 mantle, and having in his hand a staffe;

• 1 Not of any infectious infirmity, being an heavy curse: Let there not fail from the house of Ioab, one that leaneth on ai 1.40 staffe.
• 2 Much less of Idolatry, an hainous sin: My people aske counsell at their stocks, and theirk 1.41 staff declareth unto them.
• 3. But a staffe of Antiquity, accounted a great blessing: Every man with al 1.42 staffe in his hand for very age.

To which we wish him another staffe for his better support, even duty∣full children, and so leave him.

§ 9. At next return we finde him beddred,* 1.43 reduced to aged Davids condition, though they cover him with clothes he getteth nom 1.44 heat. We wish him (in stead of a young Abishag) good kitchin-Physick, carefull atten∣dance, and serious meditation on his latter end.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infants swad∣ling clothes.
• a 1.2

  Job. 1. 21.
• b 1.3

  Lam. 2. 22. & Ez••k. 16. 4.
• c 1.4

  Luke 2. 7.
• d 1.5

  In his Ana∣tom lib. •• c. 9. Anglia regio perve••sam ••anc fasciandi ratio∣nem ut plurim •• sequitur, quo ••it ut maxima pars hominum ••abe & distil∣lationibus ibi con••iciatur. Afterwards yearly coated.
• e 1.6

  1 Sam. 2. 19.
• f 1.7

  Mat. ••1. 16.
• g 1.8

  Prov. 22. 6.
• * 1.9

  Then grown a Stripling.
• h 1.10

  Gen. 37. 3.
• * 1.11

  Becomes a gay Bride-groom.
• i 1.12

  Gen. 24. 7.
• k 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 19. 5.
• l 1.14

  Isa. 61. 10.
• * 1.15

  After a year is a Souldier.
• m 1.16

  Deut. 24. 5.
• n 1.17

  King. 14. 27.
• o 1.18

  1 King. 10. 10.
• p 1.19

  1 Kin. 22. 34.
• q 1.20

  2 Chr. 26. 15.
• r 1.21

  1 Sam. 18. 11.
• s 1.22

  Num. 25. 6.
• * 1.23

  T••e Souldiers b••lt or girdle.
• t 1.24

  1 S••m. 18 4.
• u 1.25

  2 Sam. 18. 11.
• w 1.26

  1 King. 2. 5.
• x 1.27

  2 Sam. 10. 12.
• * 1.28

  Turnes mour∣ner at ill success
• y 1.29

  Iob 1. 15.
• z 1.30

  Isa. 1••. 2.
• a 1.31

  1 Kin. 20. 38.
• b 1.32

  1 S m. 4 12.
• c 1.33

  lsa 15. 2.
• d 1.34

  Mi••ah 3. 7.
• e 1.35

  ler. 41. 5.
• f 1.36

  2 S••m. 15. 30.
• g 1.37

  1 King 21. 27.
• * 1.38

  Quickly be∣co••es an ••••der
• h 1.39

  1 Sam. 28. 14.
• i 1.40

  2 Sam. 3. 29.
• k 1.41

  Hos••a 4. 12.
• l 1.42

  Zech. 8. 4.
• * 1.43

  Beddred with∣out heat.
• m 1.44

  1 King. 1. 1.