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. III.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.

Seven men of honest report, &c.

I. THIS office of the Deacon (to whom the charge and care of the poor was en∣trusted) was translated from the Jewish to the Christian Church. For there belonged to every Synagogue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 three Deacons with whom that care was de∣posited. w 1.1

II. As to the number Seven, I would not be curious, the multitude of the poor, and the encrease of the Church made it necessary that the number of the Deacons should exceed the number that were allotted for every single Synagogue: why they should be just seven, let him that hath confidence enough, pretend to assign a particular reason. Only from the number and character of the men. I cannot but call to mind the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seven good men of the City frequently mentioned by the Rabbins: and I would suppose them chosen both out of the number of the CXX mentioned Chap. I. 15. and also by them only, and not the whole Church in general.

Notes

• w 1.1

  See Hor. in Matth. IV. 23. and elsewhere.