Tricoenivm Christi in nocte proditionis suæ The threefold svpper of Christ in the night that he vvas betrayed / explained by Edvvard Kellett.

PAR. 3.

THe first objection to the contrary. Yea, but it is said, 1 Esdr as 7.12. The Le∣vites offered the Passeover, for all them of the Captivity, and for their brethren the Priests, and for themselves? I answer, as it is in the precedent verses. They that were of the Captivity, were not all sanctified together: but the Levites were all sancti∣fied together. Want of sanctification might make them unfit, who otherwise had right enough to have discharged the duty. The second Objection, Ezra. 6.20. The Priests, and the Levites were purified together; all of them were pure, and killed the Passe∣over,

for all the children of the Captivity, and for their brethren the Priests, and for them∣selves? I answer, the Priests, and Levites extraordinary sanctification in the pollu∣tion of the multitude, reached them out an handle, on just opportunity to doe that, which others might have done, if they had beene truely sanctified. This answer is confirmed, 2 Chr. 30.17. Many in the Congregation were not sanctified; therfore the Levites had the charge of killing of the Passeover, for every one that was not cleane; and the uncleane did eate it, but not kill it. And God heard the voyce of Hezekiah praying; the good Lord pardon every one, that prepareth his heart, to seeke God, though he be not cleansed, ac∣cording to the purification of the Sanctuary, ver. 18. and 19. Observe, I pray you, the force of the illative, Therefore, Therefore the Priests had the charge of killing the Passeover. Why? first, because many in the Congregation were not sanctified. Se∣condly, They killed the Passeover for every one, who was not there; it is not said the Levites or Priests killed the Passeover, for all, and every one of the Con∣gregation (the cleane might sacrifice for themselves, and their families) but for every one; that was not cleane, did the Priests and Levites kill the Passeover. Lastly, some interprete the immolation by the Priests, and Levites onely, of the Pas∣chalia sacrificia, the Paschall Sacrifices (so Barradius termeth them) and not of the great passeover: Sacrificium Pascha, the sacrifice of the passeover; but because, there may seeme little difference, in this distinction: I rather diversifie it thus. They slew, and flayed the sacrifices of the Chagigah: not of the Sacramentall Pascha; of the Herd, not of the flocke: or, if they did sacrifice any of the flocke, Lambs Wea∣thers, or Rammes, these were not for the first dish of the first Course, the first night of the Paschall solemnity (which was to be an unspotted Male; under a yeare old, &c.) but for the other second dishes of the second course; or, for other dayes, of their great Septemdiale Festum, Festivity of seven dayes.