Annotations on Chap. IX.
[ a] * 1.1 V. 2. This man or his parents] The Jew that asked this question, seems to have been of the Pythagoreans opinion (or, as they call it, de Sapientibus Mechar) who believed the transmigration of souls from body to body, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the removall from vessel to vessel, and so supposes by his question that the soule of this man, having formerly offended, is now thus pu∣nished by being put into a blind body. That this was the conceit of those ancient Philosophers, that accor∣ding to the degrees of proficiency either in virtue or sinne, souls were put into more honourable or lesse ho∣nourable bodies; upon demerit removed from the body of a male to a female, then from a perfect to an imper∣fect man, and after upon demerit again into a beast, may be seen in Alcinous, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. and the rest of the Pythagorean writers, which with other the like opinions certainly enough were infused before this time into some of the Jewes, and so these disciples here might have imbibed this, and not so early or speedily have laid it aside, but might think it possible, and so ask a question about it. The other part of the question con∣cerning the parents sin, seems to referre to some parti∣cular sinne in the act of generation, which might have some influence on the child begotten, and make it im∣perfect in this or some other kind. This is by learned Jewes affirmed of that conjugall sinne, which is for∣bidden by the Law, Lev. 20. 18. and Ezech. 18. 6. which, they say, may reasonably hinder, on the womans part, a just or complete conception. Of Christs answer to this question, which followeth, see Masius on Jos. 1. 6. p. 115.
[ b] * 1.2 V. 22. Put out of the synagogue] That 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Synagogues of the Jewes signifie all manner of as∣semblies hath been said, Mat. 6. d. Agreeably the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 removing or turning out of the Synago∣gues, is the separating any offender from such assem∣blies, setting a mark of reproach upon him, that he might not be familiarly convers'd with by any, which is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Lu.* 1.3 6. 22. the Nidui so known among the Jewes. This was alwaies done with circumstances of contumely,* 1.4 and so hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 added to it, contume∣lious usage, Lu. 6. 22. And so v. 35. of this chapter their casting the man out of the synagogue, signifies that ceremony of reproach, the officers of the court taking him that was condemned and thrusting him out of the assembly. What thus belonged to excluding him out of the assembly, though it belonged to civil commerce, yet certainly excluded him out of the sacred assembly also, For the lowest degree of Excom∣munication among the Jewes, being to the separating for the space of foure paces, this must needs belong to all kind of assemblies sacred as well as civil. And there∣fore S. Chrysostome here affirmes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they cast him out of the Temple, Hom. 59. and Nonnus,
—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,and of the disciples in Christs name,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,they shall drive you out of Gods house. Where only it must be observed, that this separation being only for foure paces, that is, from familiar commerce, or cum discrimine, to set a mark upon them, the Excommuni∣cation did not alwaies reach to totall exclusion out of the Temple, but confined them to a particular part and entrance into the Temple, called the gate of mourners, and excommunicate persons, as others were admitted to that of bridegrooms, as 'twas called. This word is, beside this place, used twice more in this Gospel: c. 16. 2. it clearly signifies what here it doth, excluding them from familiar conversation of men, and those liberties which all others enjoyed, But in the third place, c. 12. 42. it doth by accident come to signifie somewhat more, loosing the dignity of being one of the Sanhedrim; for being there spoken of the rulers or members of the Sanhedrim, the interdicting them the assemblies, casting them out, must by consequence deprive them of that dignity or office, as in the Christian Church the excom∣municating of a Priest must necessarily be the degrading or suspending him from his priesthood. This punish∣ment among the Jewes (referred to Revel. 22. 15.) be∣ing the making of any man infamous (shaming, in order to reforming him) is by Christ accommodated to Christian, Ecclesiasticall uses, by removing men from the Sacrament and prayers of the Church, to work the like reformation on them, when admonitions will nor work upon them.