because in every one of the Sections there is mention, either of Those words being Tota∣photh, or frontlets between their eyes, or a memorial between their eyes, or that they should bind them upon their hands. And accordingly the place where they wore these two parch∣ments was, the one upon their foreheads downwards, towards between their eyebrows, and the other upon their left arm: whereupon Tanchuma hath taken occasion to ex∣pound Gods swearing by his strong arm, of his swearing by the Phylacteries.
I doubt whether all the Nation used these Phylacteries indifferently, or only those who were called, The Scholars of the wise, who pretended more knowledge, devotion, and study of the Law than the common people: It is recorded by the Jewish writers, that the Sadduces though they could not away with the Pharisees traditions, yet that they used Phylacteries as well as they, but only that they differed from them in opinion, about the place where they should wear them: but whether Husbandmen, Tradesmen, and the rest of the common people wore them, as well as Scholars, and the learned of the Nation; this one passage of Maymony amongst other arguments, may give some oc∣casion to suspect: He speaking of those things, for which a man might be allowed, to pass by a Synagogue whilst they were at prayers there and not come in; among other things he saith thus, Were his Phylacteries seen upon him, then that was a sign that he neglected not the Law, and so though he had occasion to pass the Synagogue at that time, yet his Phylacteries appearing, spake for him, that it was not for want of devotion, that he passed the Synagogue, but was called away by some business or oc∣casion.
Howsoever the common people did not wear these Phylactery parchments, as the learn∣ed did, yet both learned and unlearned were bound alike to the rehearsing or saying over the Phylactery sentences contained in them morning and evening every day. Yea workmen that were on the top of a tree, or on the top of a piece of timber, (rear∣ing or repairing a house) they were bound to this rehersal there, when the time of the day for it was come.
This rehearsal is commonly called by the Hebrews 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Keriath Shema, the saying over of Shema, because one of the Sections began with Shema Israel, Hear O Israel, &c. Deut. 6. 4. which though it were not the first of the four, as they stand written in the book of the Law, nor the first written in their parchments which they wore, yet was it ever the first in their rehearsal; and the reason is given, because it containeth the first and the foundation of all other duties, and that is, to love the Lord.
The time of their Keriath Shema, or rehearsal of their Phylactery sentences in the morning, is thus determined in their Traditions. At what time of day do they say over their Phylacteries in the morning? Namely, from such time as a man can see to distin∣guish between blew and white: Rabbi Eliezer saith, between blew and green, even until sun rising, Rab. Joshua saith, until the third hour. And at what time do they say them over at Evening? Namely, from the time that the Priests go in to eat their offerings until the end of the first watch, &c.
Now besides this dayly rehearsal of these sentences morning and evening, to which they were all bound by their traditions, they also held it a great piece of piety to say them over at the hour of death: so it is related of one of the ten Martyrs of the King∣dom, (for so let me Translate 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) that as he was saying over his Phylacteries, he was slain and cast unto the dogs. And to speak from more later times, Joseph the Priest in his various History of the Turks, Jews, and Christians (a book very rare to be had) describing a massacre raised by the red Cross Souldiers that went under God∣frey of Bulloine, and the rest to the holy war, against the Jews in Germany: he recordeth it several times over, that when such and such murdered Jews were ready to expire, yea even children in their mothers arms, they said their Keriath Shema, or their Phylactery sentences over, and with those in their mouths they gave up the Ghost.