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.

VERS. XIV.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Ye devour widows houses.

THE Scribes and Pharisees were ingenious enough for their own advantage. Hear one argument among many, forged upon the anvil of their covetousness, a little rudely drawn, but gainful enough g 1.1, saith the Lord, Make me an Ark of Shittim-wood, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hence it is decided, say they, in behalf of a Disciple of the wise men, that his fellow citizens are bound to perform his servile work for him. O Money, thou mistress of Art, and mother of Wit! So he that was preferred to be Pre∣sident of the Council was to be maintained and enriched by the Council. See the Gloss on Bab. Taanith i 1.2.

They angled among the people for respect, and by respect for gain, with a double hook.

I. As Doctors of the Law: where they first and above all things instilled into their Disciples and the common people, That a wise man, or a Master was to be respected a∣bove all mortal men whatsoever. Behold the rank and order of benches according to these Judges! k 1.3 A wise man is to take place of a King: A King of a High Priest: A High Priest of a Prophet: A Prophet of one anointed for war: One anointed for war of a President of the Courses: A President of the Courses of the head of a family: The head of a family of a Coun∣sellor: A Counsellor of a Treasurer: A Treasurer of a private Priest: A private Priest of a Levite: A Levite of an Israelite: An Israelite of a Bastard: A Bastard of a Nethinim: A Nethinim of a Proselyte: A Proselyte of a freed slave. But when is this to be? namely when they are alike as to other things: But indeed if a Bastard be a Disciple, or a wise man, and the High Priest be unlearned, the Bastard is to take place of him. A wise man is to be preferred

before a King, for if a wise man die, he hath not left his equal: but if a King die, any Isra∣elite is fit for a Kingdom.

This last brings to my mind those words of Ignatius the Martyr, if indeed they are his, in his tenth Epistle, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. My Son, saith he, Honour God and the King: But, I say, Honour God as the cause and Lord of all: the Bishop as the chief Priest, bearing the image of God: in respect of his rule, bearing Gods image, in respect of his Priest∣ly office, Christs: and after him we ought to honour the King also.

II. Under a pretence of mighty devotion, but especially under the goodly shew of long prayers, they so drew over the minds of devout persons to them, especially of wo∣men, and among them, of the richer widows, that by subtle attractives, they either drew out, or wrested away their goods and estates. Nor did they want nets of counterfeit authority, when from the Chair they pronounced according to their pleasures of the dowry and estate befalling a widow, and assumed to themselves the power of determining concerning those things. Of which matter as it is perplexed with infinite difficulties and quirks, you may read, if you have leisure, the Treatises Jevamoth, Chetubboth, and Gittin.

Concerning the length of their prayers it may suffice to produce the words of the Baby∣lon Gemara in Beracoth l 1.4. The religious anciently used to tarry an hour, (meditating before they began their prayers) whence was this? R. Joshua ben Levi saith it was because the Scripture saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Blessed are they who sit in thy house. R. Joshuah ben Levi saith also, He that prays ought to tarry an hour after prayers: As it is said, The just shall praise thy name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The upright shall sit before thy face: It is necessary therefore that he should stay (meditating) an hour before prayers, and an hour after; and the religious anciently used to stay an hour before prayers, an hour they prayed, and an hour they stayed after prayers. Since therefore they spent nine hours every day about their prayers, how did they perform the rest of the Law? and how did they take care of their worldly affairs? why herein, In being religious both the Law was performed, and their own business well provided for. And in the same place m 1.5, Long prayers make a long life.

Notes

• g 1.1

  Bab. Joma. fol. 72. 2.
• i 1.2

  Fol. 21. 1.
• k 1.3

  Jerus. Horai∣oth. fol. 84. 2.
• l 1.4

  Fol. 32. 2.
• m 1.5

  Fol. 54. 2.