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.

Reason of the Order.

TO confirm and prove the Order of this Section and Story, requireth some labour, because of an opinion ancient, and current among men, that crosseth the laying of it in this place. It hath been generally held, and believed, almost of every one that the Wise∣men came to Christ when he was but thirteen days old, and it is written in red Letters in the Kalendar, as if it were a golden truth, by the title of Epiphany, at the sixth of Janu∣ary. An opinion which if it were as true as it is common, it were readily known where to place this Story of the Wisemens coming; namely, between the Circumcision of our Sa∣viour, and his Presentation in the Temple, betwixt Ver. 21 and 22 of Luke 2.

But upon serious and impartial examination of this opinion, these rubs and unliklehoods lie in the way, and make it as incredible for the improbability, as it seemeth venerable for its antiquity.

First, to omit the length of their journey from their own Country to Bethlehem, their preparation for so long a journy before they set out, and their stay at Jerusalem by the way [for I cannot think that all that passed there while they were there, was done in an instant.]

Secondly, how utterly improbable it is, that after all this hubbub at Jerusalem upon the Wisemens question, where is the King of the Jews? And after Herods curious scrutiny and inquiry where the child should be, and after his implacable indignation upon the Wisemens deluding or mocking of him as he did conceive, that the child that he had thus eagerly hunted after, should after all this stirring and searching come to Jerusalem, as it were into his very mouth, and there be publikely proclaimed by Simeon and Anna in the Temple, to be the very same that the Wisemen and Herod, though with different intentions, looked after; For first, it is to be observed, that it was seven and twenty days from the time that this opinion bringeth the Wisemen to Bethlehem, to the time that Joseph and Ma∣ry brought Jesus to the Temple; now it is not imaginable, but that in all this time Joseph, that was but at so few miles distance, should hear what was done at Jerusalem upon the Wisemens coming thither [if so be they told him not themselves] and how Herod took the matter, when he missed of their unexpected return. Secondly, for ought that can be found in the text to the contrary, it may be well supposed that they had their divine warning not to return again to Herod, while they were at Bethlehem, and Joseph might well be acquainted by them with it. Thirdly, it is not to be doubted but they had dispatched what they did at Bethlehem in far less time then seven and twenty days: and surely of all men they will not deny this, that will bring them out either of Arabia, or Persia, to Bethlehem in half the time] And as little to be doubted that Herod in the compass of so much time, saw the disappointment of his expectation of the Wisemens return, and break∣eth out into choler against the poor Infants of Bethlehem. Fourthly, now all these things being laid together, how senseless a thing will it be, to make Joseph to bring the child for whom all this business was, under the Tyrants nose? Fifthly, or if Joseph did not know of all these things, [which is almost impossible] yet how is it imaginable that Christ should have escaped the Tyrant, being at Jerusalem, and so publikely acknowledged and spoken of? It is true indeed that he might have been sheltered by the divine power, but we see by his flight into Egypt, that it was not the will of God to use that miraculous means of his preservation as yet, but another.

Thirdly, and which is the reason that hath moved me to lay this Story after our Savi∣ours presentation in the Temple: yea, and to suppose him to be two years old, or there∣about, when the Wisemen came; because the text saith in plain terms, That Herod sent and slew the children from two years old and under; according to the time that he had diligent∣ly inquired of the Wisemen: Now his inquiry was of the time of the Stars appearing, ver. 7. and he slew from two years old and under, according to the time that he had inquired, and therefore how can it be thought otherwise, then that it was two years or thereabout since the star appeared, and consequently so long since Christ was born? But that this

may appear past all exception, and that the opinions that bring the Wisemen to Christ before his presentationin the Temple [for there are two several ones to that purpose, that of the thirteenth day mentioned before; and another of some that hold they came not so soon as on that day, but yet within the forty days of Maries lying in, or before her Purification] let it not be too tedious to the Reader, to take a view of all the Argu∣ments that are, or can be used, for ought I yet understand, either for the confirmation of the two opinions, which we refuse, viz. of the Wisemens coming before Christ was forty days old, or for the overthrow of this which we imbrace, that he was two years old; or thereabout.

Object. 1. The very word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Verse 1. doth import that his birth was but newly past, being of that nature, as to signifie a thing but very lately done, or even in doing.

Anws. This Grammatical observation is not constantly and currently true. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Mat. 1. 18. a word of the very same tense and form, yet signifieth it a thing done above a quarter of a year before, and the word it self 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in our daily Creed, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. speak of things past sixteen hundred years ago.

Object. 2. The Star appeared two years before our Saviours birth, but the Wisemen came not to him, till thirtheen days after.

Answ. This Argument is used by some, but those but a few; not considering how im∣posible it was, that the Wisemen should know the exact time or his birth, but by the time of the Stars appearing. And it is not only the general opinion even of all, but also dictated by reason it self, that the Star was not the Harbinger of his birth, much less so long be∣fore; but the concomitant and attendant upon it.

Object. 3. The Wisemen came▪ while Mary lay in at Bethlehem, but Herod, either in policy, or for some other occasion, deferred the murder of the children till two years after.

Answ. This both the Text and common sense contradicteth. For first, in Reason: what policy could there be in deferring, when the longer he forbear, the harder it would be for him to find him, for whom he sought? Secondly, the Text telleth, that as soon as he saw himself mocked by the Wisemen, he fell to the murdering of the children: and he might see whether he were mocked by them, or not, within a short space after their de∣parture from him at Jerusalem.

Object. 4. In that speech of the Evangelist, Herod slew all the male children, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had inquired of the Wisemen: the latter words, according to the time that he had inquired, have relation to the words, and under; and to the words from two years old. For this seemeth to be added by the Evangelist to this purpose, that he might signifie, that all under two years old were not slain; but only those that were thereabout, and which were born before the Stars appearing, and not after. For he thought not that this royal child was born after it appeared. But all that were about two years old he slew; lest if happily Christ had been born before it appeared, or mira∣culously grown, above the quality of such an age, he might have escaped out of his hands. And therefore as he dilated his murther for place, comprehending the coasts of Bethlehem under the cruelty, as well as the Town it self; so also did he it for a time, slay∣ing those that were born, before the Stars appearing, as well as at it.

Ans. This, as Baronius confesseth, is a new found gloss upon that Text, and he took himself for the inventor of it, till he met with it in Jansenius, who like a great wit had jumped with him; Both straining the utmost of their invention to gild over their Kalen∣dar tenet, of the Wisemens coming on the thirteenth day. But first to omit the strange shape and uncouthness of this Exposition, which easily sheweth it self to any eye that is not bleered with prejudice and partiality: As also, secondly, their confident scrutiny and knowledge of Herods thoughts: Let it but, thirdly, be weighed in the bal∣lance of indifferency; what colour of sense, or equality of policy can be seen in this carri∣age of Herod, to slay all that were born two years before the Star, and none of a day after or very few? For might he not suspect that the Star was a fore-runner of the birth, as well▪ as a consequent; and that Christ might be born a week or fortnight after it, as well as be∣fore? Judge therefore how these men that hold, and that truly, that it appeared but just at Christs birth can handsomely stitch that opinion and this together.

Object. 5. But the Wisemen found Christ at Bethlehem, and what should hedothere at two years old? For St. Luke also saith, Chap. 2. 29. that when Joseph and Mary had performed all things according to the Law, [he meaneth at the time of her pu∣rification, when Christ was now but forty days old] they departed to Nazareth. So that if the Wisemen came after these forty days, they must have found Christ at Nazareth, and not at Bethlehem.

Answ. And first, to the question, How came to be at Bethlehem at two years old? An answer hath been framed to this long ago, by some few that have been of this opinion that

we imbrace; namely, that some of the three festivals in which every male was to appear before the Lord, drew his Parents, and him with them to Jerusalem, and they took Beth∣lehem in the way, and there the Wisemen find him. A resolution with which if there were no other to be had, one might rest satisfied reasonably well; yet a more serious search∣ing into the Text, will give a more warrantable reason, and better assurance then this, which is but one mans supposal. And that is this, that as the parents of Jesus knew that it was necessary that he should be born in Bethlehem, because of the Prophecy that had told of it before; so also did they think it as necessary that he should live and be brought up there, because of his alliance to the house of David: And from thence they durst not remove him, till they had special warrant, and warrant they had none, till the Angel dismiss them into Egypt. This is not a groping of their thoughts, only by surmisal, as was theirs of He∣rods mentioned before, but there is plain and evident demonstration for it in the text: for when Joseph in Egypt was commanded by an Angel after the death of Herod, to return to the Land of Israel, it is said, He was afraid to go into Judea, when he heard that Archelaus reigned in stead of Herod. Now what should he do in Judea? Or why should he rather think of going thither, then into his own Country Galilee? But that he thought of returning to Betlehem again, from whence he had come; supposing that the education of the Messias had been confined thither, as well as his birth: But being warned and warranted by an Angel in a dream, he then departed into Nazareth, verse 22. By which words it is apparent, not only that he durst not go to his own home till he had divine commissi∣on; but also that he had never been in Nazareth since Christ was born, till this his coming out of Egypt, otherwise he would have addressed his thoughts thither, and not to Judea.

And by this are we to expound the text of Luke alledged, when they had performed all things according to the Law, they departed to their own City Nazareth: namely, that he speaketh briefly, in what he saw Matthew had handled at large before: and not so much intending to shew Christs quick departure into Galilee, after his presentation in the Tem∣ple, as to draw you to look for him in Galilee, at the next story following, which fell out very many years after. And that such brief transitions are no strange thing in Scripture, might be shewed at large, but more especially in the Evangelist St. Luke, that we have in hand: as to spare more; in Chap. 4. 14. He bringeth our Saviour, as it were from the Pinnacle of the Temple, into Galilee; as if his journey thither, had been the first thing he did: whereas he returned with the Devil into the Wilderness again; and from thence came to John at Jordan, before he set for Galilee. And Acts 9. 18, 19. &c. where under these few words, Saul was converted and baptized, preached in Damascus a good season, was laid in wait for, and escaped over the wall, and went to Jerusalem; he hath comprehended a story of him of three years, and hath omitted his journey from Damas∣cus into Arabia, and to Damascus again, before he set for Jerusalem; as Paul himself hath parcelled it out, Gal. 1.

Object. 6. But why should the Wisemen stay so long after they had seen the Star, as not to come to Jerusalem, and to Christ of two years after?

Ans. So did Moses lie within a days journey or little more of his wife and children, Exod. 18. &c. a whole twelve month together within a few days, and yet they came not at all together, not for the distance of the places where they were, but because of the divine disposal of the Lord, for a special reason.

And so was it with these men: It was not the distance of their Country from Judea, were it either Arabia or Persia; nay, had it been the utmost India, that kept them away so long; for they might have travelled it in half the time; but it was the divine dispensa∣tion of the Lord, that detained them back for so long a time, partly that Christs stay in Bethlehem may leave no excuse behind, if they would not know him, but chiefly that the child and Mother might gather some competent strength against their flight, which God foresaw would follow upon the Wisemens coming.