II. Then the bitter herbs are set on. They bring in a table ready covered, upon which there is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Soure sauce and other herbs. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Let the Glossers give the interpretation. They do not set the table, till after the consecration of the day: and upon the table they set lettuce. After he hath blessed over the Wine, they set herbs, and he eats lettuce dipped; but not in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the soure sauce, for that is not yet brought: and this is not meant simply of lettuce, unless when there be other herbs. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 His meaning is this, Before he comes to those bitter herbs, which he eats after the unleavened bread, when he also gives thanks for the eat∣ing of the bitter herbs, as it is written, Ye shall eat (it) with unleavened bread and bitter herbs: First unleavened bread, and then bitter herbs. And this first dipping is used only for that reason, that children may observe and enquire; for it is unusual for men to eat herbs before meat.
III. Afterwards there is set on unleavened bread, and the sauce called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and the lamb, and the flesh also of the Chagiga of the fourteenth day. Maimonides doth not take notice of any interposition between the setting on the bitter herbs, and the setting on the un∣leavened bread: but the Talmudic Mishnah notes it in these words. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They set unleavened bread before him. Where the Gloss, This is said because they had moved the table from before him, who performed the duty of the Passover: now that removal of the table was for this end, that the Son might ask the Father; and the Father answered him, Let them bring the table again that we may make the second dipping; then the Son would ask, Why do we dip twice? Therefore they bring back the table, with unleavened bread upon it, and bitter herbs, &c.
IV. He begins, and blesseth, Blessed be he that created the fruits of the Earth: and he takes the herbs, and dips them in the sauce Charoseth, and eats as much as an Olive, he, and all that lye down with him; but less than the quantity of an Olive he must not eat: then they remove the table from before the Master of the family. Whether this removal of the table be the same with the former, is not much worth our enquiry.
V. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Now they mingle the second cup for him: and the Son asks the Fa∣ther; or if the Son doth not ask him, he tells him himself, How much this night differs from all other nights. On other nights, saith he, we dip but once; but this night twice. On other nights we eat either leavened or unleavened bread; on this, only unleavened, &c. on other nights we eat either sitting or lying, on this all lying, &c.
VI. The Table is set before them again, and then he saith, This is the Passover, which we therefore eat, because God passed over the houses of our Fathers in Egypt. Then he lifts up the bitter herbs, in his hand, and saith, we therefore eat these bitter herbs, because the Egyp∣tians made the lives of our Fathers bitter in Egypt. He takes up the unleavened bread in his hand, and saith, We eat this unleavened bread, because our Fathers had not time to sprinkle their meal to be leavened, before God revealed himself, and redeemed them. We ought therefore to praise, celebrate, honour, magnifie, &c. him, who wrought all these wonderful things for our Fathers, and for us, and brought us out of bondage into liberty, out of sorrow into joy, out of darkness into great light, let us therefore say Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Praise him, O ye servants of the Lord, &c. to, And the flint stone in∣to fountains of waters (that is, from the beginning of the CXIII, to the end of the CXIV Psalm.) And he concludes, Blessed be thou O Lord God our King Eternal, redeem∣ing us, and redeeming our Fathers out of Egypt, and bringing us to this night; that we may eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs: and then he drinks off the second cup.
VII. Then washing his hands, and taking two loaves, he breaks one, and lays the broken up∣on the whole one, and blesseth it, Blessed be he who causeth bread to grow out of the earth: and putting some bread and bitter herbs together, he dips them in the sauce, Charoseth, and blessing, Blessed be thou, O Lord God, our Eternal King, he who hath sanctified us by his precepts, and hath commanded us to eat; he eats the unleavened bread and bitter herbs together; but if he eats the unleavened bread and bitter herbs by themselves, he gives thanks severally for each. And afterwards giving thanks after the same manner over the flesh of the Chagiga of the fourteenth day, he eats also of it; and in like manner giving thanks over the Lamb, he eats of it.
VIII. From thence forward he lengthens out the Supper, eating this or that, as he hath a mind; and last of all he eats of the flesh of the Passover, at least as much as an olive; but after this he tasts not at all of any food. Thus far Maimonides in the place quoted, as also the Talmudists in several places in the last Chapter of the Tract Pasachin.
And now was the time when Christ taking bread, instituted the Eucharist; but whe∣ther was it after the eating of those farewell morsels, as I may call them, of the Lamb, or instead of them? It seems to be in their stead, because it is said by our Evangelist and Mark, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. As they were eating, Jesus took Bread. Now without doubt they speak according to the known and common custom of that Supper, that they might be understood by their own people. But all Jews know well enough that after the eating of those morsels of the Lamb it cannot be said, As they were eating; for the eating was