The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

SECTION XVII.

The beginning of the year changed, Exod. 12. 1.

THE world from her creation hitherto, had begun her years in Tisri or September, which was the time of the year when she was created. This will easily be shewed [against those that maintain the world did begin in March] by these reasons.

• 1. From Exod. 23. 16. The feast of in-gathering in the end of the year.
• 2. From Joel 2. 23. The latter rain in the first month.
• 3. Had Adam been created in March he had had no fruits ripe for his food, but in Au∣tumn they were ready for him.
• 4. Should the months before the Passover be reckoned to begin from March, it will follow that the general deluge increased in the heat of Summer, and abated and dried up in the deep and moist of Winter.
• 5. Had the year begun from March from the beginning, it had been unnecessary to have commanded them to begin it thence, who never knew where to begin it else.

From the creation then the years began from September, but here upon a work greater in figure, as which represented the Redemption by Christ, the beginning is translated to March. And this is the first Commandment given to Israel by Moses.

As that old account began from an Equinox, so must this, but not alike; That began exactly from the Equinox day, this from the first new Moon after, and not from that day unless that day was the new Moon. The fourth day of the worlds creation was both Equinox and new Moon: and though the years after began from that day of the Sun, yet were they counted by the months of the Moon.

Their year then beginning thus from, a new Moon it plainly speaketh for it self that it was reckoned by Lunary months, which falling short eleven days of the year of the Sun, every third year was leap year, or intercalary of a month added of 33 days, which was called Veadar: So that howsoever it is said that Solomon had twelve special officers for the twelve months of the year, it meaneth the ordinary year, and not the Emboli∣maean or leap year: for that year, those twelve in their several months served so much the longer, as that the added months might be made up by them, and not a new officer chosen for that month, who should have no imployment when that month was over till three years after.

The equity or life of this Law that their years should begin from March or Ahib was because the preaching of the Gospel should begin, and the redemption be consummate from that time. For it was just at that time of the year when John began to baptise, which was the beginning of the Gospel, Mark 1. 1. Acts 1. 22. And it was at that time of the year when our Saviour suffered, and fulfilled that which this prefigured our Re∣demption.