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.

CHAP. VIII. Talmudisme. (Book 8)

TO omit the time when it was written, and the distinction of Jerusalem and Babi∣lon Talmud: the chief end of them both (as they think) is to explain the Old Testament. The Titles of the Books shew their intents. Pesachin about the Passover, Sanhedrin about the high Courts: Beracoth about thanksgiving. Sometime they Com∣ment, sometime they Allude, sometime Controvert, sometime Fable. For this Book contains their Common Law and Civil, and commonly some things above all Law and Civility. To instance in one or two, that by Hercules foot ye may guess his body.

Judges 9. 13. It is said by the Vine, shall I leave my Wine which cheareth God and Man? How doth Wine chear God? Rabbi Akibhah saith, because men give God thanks for it.

There also they question or controvert, whether a man should give thanks, or say grace for his meat and drink before he taste it?

And otherwhere, whether a man may bless God for the sweet smell of Incense which he smells offered to Idols?

Whether a man may light a candle at another candle that burns in a candlestick that hath Images on it.

Whether a man at his Devotions, if a Serpent come and bite him by the heel, may turn and stoop to shake her off, or no? Which question Rabbi Tanchum answers very profoundly, that they must not so much as shake the foot to get a Serpent off, and gives a huge strong rea∣son: For (saith he) such a one was praying, and a Serpent comes and catcheth him by the heel: He holds on his Devotion, and stirs not, and presently the Snake falls away stark dead, and the man not hurt: Legenda aurea hath not the Art of this coining beyond them.

For their allusions, take a piece out of the book Mincha, which I have transcribed and translated into our own Tongue full of true Talmudisme.

Our Rabbins teach, Israel is beloved, because God hath favoured them with the Command∣ment of Philacteries, upon their heads and upon their arms, fringes upon their garments, and marks upon their doors. And concerning them, David saith, Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous Judgments: At the time that David went into the bath, and saw himself stand naked, he said, wo is me that I stand naked without the * 1.1 Commandment, but when he remembred the Circumcision in his flesh, his mind was at quiet. Afterward when he went out, he made a song of it, as it is said: To him that excelleth upon Sheminith (or an eight) a Psalm of David: because of the Circumcision that was given on the eighth day. Rabbi Eliezer the son of Jacob saith, whosoever hath Philacteries upon his head, and Philacte∣ries upon his arm, and fringes upon his garments, and a mark on his door, all this will keep * 1.2 him from sinning, as it is written, A threefold cord is not easily broken. And he saith, the Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about those that fear him to deliver them, &c. Qui Bavium non odit, amet, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. Mitsuah ••r without my Philacteries.
• * 1.2

  From this con∣ceit it appears they were called Philacteries, that is keepers.