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VERS. XI.
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To them that are without.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those without in Jewish speech were the Gentiles; a phrase taken hence, that they called all Lands and Countries, besides their own 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Without the land. Would you have an exact instance of this distinction. h 1.1 A tree, half of which grows with∣in the land of Israel, and half without the land, the fruits of it which are to be tithed, and the common fruits are confounded. They are the words of Rabba. But Rabban Simeon Ben Gamaliel saith, That part which grows within the place, that is bound to tithing (that is, within the land of Israel) is to be tithed: that which grows in the place free from tithing (that is, without the land) is free. The Gloss is, For if the roots of the tree are without the land, it is free, although the tree it self extends it self sixteen cubits within the land.
Hence 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Books 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that are without, are Heathen Books. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Extraneous books of Greek wisdom. i 1.2
This is the common signification of the phrase. And certainly it foretels dreadful things, when our blessed Saviour stigmatizeth the Jewish Nation with that very name, that they were wont to call the Heathens by.
The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those without, occurs also in the Talmudists, when it signifies the Jews themselves, that is some of the Jewish Nation. l 1.3 Here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Karaites, who rejected Traditions; there 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those without, are opposed to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The wise Men. He that puts his Phylacteries on his forehead, or in the Palm of his hand 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Behold! he follows the custom of the Karaites. And he that overlays one of them with gold, and puts it upon his garment, which is at his hand, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Be∣hold! he follows the custom of those that are without. Where the Gloss, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are men, who follow their own will, and not the judgment of the wise Men. They are supposed to wear Phylacteries, and to be Jews; but when they do according to their pleasure, and de∣spise the rules of the wise Men, they are esteemed as Those that are without, or Heathens. So was the whole Jewish Nation according to Christs censure, which despised the Evange∣lical Wisdom.
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All things are done in Parables.
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I. How much is the Jewish Nation deceived concerning the times of the Messias? They think his forerunner Elias will explain all difficulties, resolve scruples, and will render all things plain; so that when the Messias shall come after him, there shall be no∣thing obscure or dark in the Law and in Religion. Hence these expressions and the like to them. m 1.4 One found a bill of contracts in his keeping, and knew not what it meant. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Let it be laid up till Elias shall come. And more in the same Tract concerning things found, when it is not known to whom they are to be restored, Let them be laid up till Elias come. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 n 1.5 That passage Ezek. XLV. 18, 19. Where 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A burnt offering is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A sacrifice for sin, Elias will unfold. Infi∣nite examples of that sort occur.
But alas! thou art deceived, O Jew! all things are made clear which make to eter∣nal Saluation, Elias and Messias, John and Christ preaching the Gospel, when they came; but they are obscure to you, both by reason of your voluntary blindness, who have shut your eyes and your mind against the saving Doctrine of the Gospel; and from the just judgment of the Messias, who justly preached in clouds and in covered expressions to them, who would not see the Sun, and the open light.
- II. How those words have wracked Interpreters, Is a Candle put under a bushel? &c. And, There is nothing hidden, &c. You see also without a Candle. A very easie sense of them is gathered from the context. When Christ speaks in Parables, A light is put under a b••shel. But the light, saith he, is not come for this end, that it should be so hidden; nor indeed were it sit so to hide it, but that the Divine Justice would have it so, that they who will not see the light, should not enjoy the light. But There is nothing hid which shall not be made manifest by the brightness of the Doctrine of the Gospel, so there be Eyes, that do not refuse the light, nor voluntarily become purblind. Therefore take you heed how you hear, lest ye be like them, and Divine Justice meet to you by the same measure, as is measured to them, namely, that they shall never hear, because they will not hear.