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. (Book 8)

VERS. I.

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

We know that we all have knowledg.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Knowledg, of which the Apostle here speaks, is the knowledge of the liber∣ty of the Gospel: but these words are spoken Ironically: as if he had said, It is concluded by all, that they know sufficiently that Evangelic liberty, and thereupon some run out into things which are not convenient. That Knowledg puffeth up, ren∣ders men bold, neglects the consciences of others, and he that in this sense seems to know something, as yet knows nothing as he ought to know.

VERS. IV.

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An Idol is nothing in the world.

I Render it, We know that there is no Idol in the World: that is a representation of God. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 An Idol, as the Lexicographers teach, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A likeness, an Image, a Sign, a Character, a Shadow. Idols indeed are in the World, made of wood, stone, gold, silver, &c. but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, there is No Idol; there is no representation, or figure of God, and none can be. The Apostle hi∣therto, as I indeed think, puts on the person of those, who made no scruple in eating things offered to Idols: as though he had said, You say,

We know that there is no representation of God in the World, and there is only one God, &c. Therefore those graven Images, and those various Idols, are mere figments of humane mistake, and to offer Sacrifices to them is a mere invention of men: there is nothing sacred, no∣thing of Religion in them, because there is no representation of God in them. Shall we therefore, who are under the liberty of the Gospel, abstain from eating that flesh which the foolishness of men only hath separated from common use, and offered to stocks and stones, which have nothing of God in them, but are created only by the same humane sottishness?

Ye say truth indeed, but illy applied, and all have not this knowledg. Or if you render it, An Idol is nothing in the world, it comes to the same sense.

VERS. X.

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Sitting at meat in the Idol Temple.

COmpare those passages of the Talmudists. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a 1.1 He that adores an Idol out of love or fear, Rabba saith, he is free, Abai saith, he is guilty. Abai saith, he is guilty, because he worships it. Rabba saith, he is free: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If he take it for God, he i•• so, he is guilty; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 But if he doth not, he is not. And a little after, If he supposeth the Idol Temple to be the Synagogue, and adore an Idol, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Behold his heart is towards God. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 But if he see a statue, and adore it, if he take it for God, he is guilty, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as doing presump••uously. But if he takes it not for God 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 It is nothing at all. The Gloss there is Be∣hold his heart is towards God: although he know that that house is an Idol Temple, and he adores God in it, it is no crime, &c. If he see a statue, such as they are wont to set up for the picture of the King, and adore it, not under the Notion of an Idol, but in honour of the King, it is nothing.

Hieronymus à sancta Fide cites this Talmudic passage in these words. b 1.2 They say in the book Sanhedrin, If any worship an Idol out of love or fear, he is free; and R. Solomon glosseth thus; By love is understood, that if any Master should ask his Servant that out of love to him, he would adore him. By fear, that if any Master should threaten him, unless he would. Nevertheless R. Moses of Egypt glosseth otherwise, saying, that by love is under∣stood if he be in love with the beauty of the image of that Idol; by fear, that if he fear, the Idol should hurt him; as the Worshippers of it think, that it can profit, or hurt, and that if he adore it in such a case, he is free.

An excellent School, and excellent doctrine indeed! To omit other things, mark that, which prevailed also with these Corinthians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If he ac∣knowledg not the Idol under the notion of God, it is nothing: and these men said also, An Idol is nothing. Therefore to be in an Idol Temple, to eat things offered to Idols, is nothing: for I own nothing of the Deity in the Idol, I know it is wood or stone, &c. But saith the Apostle.

First however the Idol it self be wood or stone, yet those things which are offered to it, are offered to Devils, Chap. X. 20. And

Secondly, However you think your self so wise, as to judge of an Idol as a matter of nothing; yet all have not so accurate a judgment; and you by your example en∣courage others to eat things offered to Idols, even under the notion of things offered to Idols.

VERS. II.

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For whom Christ dyed.

HE useth the very same argument and reason, Rom. XIV. 15. And his words re∣spect the quality of the person, than rather the person himself, barely considered. As though he had said, for tender consciences, and trembling at the word of God, for those that are burthened and grone under the yoke and weight of the Law, for such as sweat and pant in the ways of the Lord, to keep faith and a good Conscience; for such Christ dyed; and will you destroy such an one by your meat? He dyed, to loosen those yokes, and to lighten consciences pressed under those weights, and will you de∣stroy such with your meat?

Notes

• a 1.1

  Sanhedr. fol. 61. 2.
• b 1.2

  Lib. 2. Contr. Judaeos, cap. 2.