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PAR. 6.
THat the Israelites used any at all, from their going out of Aegypt, till they came into the Land of Canaan, I doe not see prooved; sure I am, God saith, Levit. 23.10. When ye be come into the Land, which I shall give you, leavened bread was permitted to be offered, ver. 17. So, the Law of meate offering, and drinke-offering was prescribed; When ye be come into the Land of habitations, Numb. 15.2. and ver. 18. And when you come into the Land whether I bring you, then it shall be, &c. Likewise for the leavened wave-loaves of their first fruites; this was not fulfilled in the wildernesse where they had no corne growing, but the Law was to take force when they came into the borders of Canaan, where corne was. They carryed no Leaven out of Aegupt, and within 33. dayes, they were fed with Manna, till they tasted of the old corne of the land of Canaan, Josh. 5.12.40. yeares did they eate Manna, Exod. 16, 35. In this journey, from Ramesis to Succoth, or, at their resting places there, they baked unleavened cakes of Dough, Exod. 12.39. Josephus saith, the Israelites lived on unleavened bread, till they had Manna: It appeareth not, that they are leavened Manna; nay rather, it is probable that they did never leaven it; For no Manna was kept above two dayes, none above one day except the Sabbati∣call Manna, which was a wonder; and (except the re-memorative and miraculous Manna, reserved in the pot for future times) besides the taste of Manna, was like wa∣fers, made with honey, Exod. 16.31. If it had beene leavened it would have beene bitter or sowre: cleane contrary to the taste of honeyed things: againe, Manna needed no preserving by leaven: it was stedfastly good, till the time by God ap∣pointed; corruption could not seize on it: on the other side, all the leaven in the world could not keepe it from stinking, and wormes, and putrefaction, if they spent it not, by its appointed time: to put leaven into Manna, was to mingle things profane with sacred: Dr. Willet (on Exod. 12. quest. 15.) hath these words; it is to be considered, that in this first Passeover, they were not commanded to eate un∣leavened bread seven dayes: neither did they intend so much; but they carryed their dough forth unleavened, not for any Religion but for haste, therefore that prescription, to abstaine from leavened bread seven dayes, ver. 14. belonged to the perpetuall observation of the Paschall, but the other Rites prescribed unto the 14. v. appertained to the first Passeover: If Dr. Willet, doe meane onely, that the Israelites did eate unleavened bread the night of the Passeover; but were not necessarily bound to keepe the feast of 7. dayes, of unleavened bread, till they came into Canaan: I will not much oppose him, both because it is so appointed, Exod. 13.5.6. and be∣cause they had no leasure till they were past the Red-sea, to keepe much feasting: but withall, he doth well to acknowledge it very likely; that from the houre of their departure, they are no leavened bread, for the next 7. dayes, and after: for they baked unleavened cakes of the dough, ver. 39. That the Israelites ate the ro∣sted Passeover, with unleaved bread; I finde generally confessed; this durable cere∣mony bound them, even in Aegypt, and in the wildernesse, Numb. 9.11. and ever after.