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1. A just Tractate, against Pererius the Iesuite, concerning the correspondencit, be∣tweene the Iewes, and the Romans in their feastings.
2. The Romanes imitated the Iewes, not the Iewes the Romanes, in their suppings, feastings, against Pererius.
3. The Jewes not infected with the manners, or supperstitions of other Nations.
4. Pererius enterferes, Iewish, Romane customes, in Festivalls Cousin-Germanes.
5. Conquerours condescend to the fashions of the conquered; divers particularites in∣stanced in.
6. Pererius his 13. specialties; wherein the Iewes (as he sayes) imitated the Romanes: The place a Parlour, an upper Chamber, a supping chamber.
7. Christ and his 12. Apostles lay on 3. beds at his last Supper: Iudas the traytor signed out, at Supper.
8. The ancient Romanes supped in the open ayre, without any Tables.
9. Christ, and his 12. Apostles supped in a guest-chamber: houses in ancient times buil∣ded with flat roofes.
ANd now having handled the Rites of the Iewish Paschall Lambe; and shewed what were transient; what were permanent; what selfely un∣dergone by a traditionall sumpsimus; having also shewed, that Christ observed all the durable ceremonies of the Passeover, and every of them; and that he conformed himselfe to the free, and vo∣luntary observations of the Passeover, no further than he thought fit; as not being bound to them, on the one side; nor bent against them on the other side; when they were not against reason, or conveniencie: my proposed method calleth me to other matters, of mayner intendments, and consequences, viz. what was said or done, (so farre as is revealed in the New Testament) particularly (in) and (at) Christs last Paschall supper; which was the first of those three Suppers, at which he was present, in the same night that he was betrayed: but even this point also cannot have its perfect explanation; unlesse as we have manifested how, and when Christ followed the Iewish Rites of Paschatizing; so we also search, and determine wherein Christ did symbolize, with the Romane fashions, in feasting; since in many specialities, the Iewes and Romanes accorded in their feastings; and our blessed Saviour abhorred singularity, and did swim with the Current of those times, for outward Civill usage, deportment and behaviour, in things decent. But loe! here am I to enter into the Lists, against Benedictus Pererius, that most learned and fa∣mous Iesuite; who is as a Gyant, and one of the sonnes of Anak; in Comparison of whom I may seeme as a grasse-hopper, Num. 13.33. he is a very Goliah, a man of warre from his youth, 1 Sam 17.33 which Pererius, in his labours on S. Iohn, and in that worke of his, of which Vere dici queat, fuisse hoc opus nostrum, quod nunc Typis mandatur, Trigenario studio, & curâ elaboratum, atque confectum; (that I may translate his owne words, in his Preface, to the fourth Tome) I say, in that worke of his; of which it may be truely sayd, that he was 30. yeares studying, ma∣king, mending, polishing, and perfecting it.
IN the fifth Tome of those his select disputations, (disput. 39. Pag. 266.) on Iohn the 13. he determineth in the Contents of the Chapter, thus; Judaeos Christi Tempore, more Romanorum suas egisse Coenas, & Convivia; that the fashions, customes and usances of feastings in those times, were borrowed by the Iewes of the Ro∣manes; and then he beginneth thus; Ante omnia illud nos quasi fundamentum suppo∣nentes iis, quae dicenda sunt, affirmamus; Iudaeos, quo tempore Christus Dominus vixit in Terris, in suis Coenis, & conviviis agendis, servâsse morem Romanorum: above all things, laying this as a foundation; we affirme, that the Iewes, in Christs time, kept the manner of the Romane supping, and feasting: But this very foundation is layd upon the sands, say I; or is like to a foundation, which mouldreth away, of its owne selfe: a better foundation had beene this; and better than this no man can lay, that the Romans borrowed most of those customes from the Iewes; and not the Iewes from the Romans, as will appeare in the particularities, mentioned by Pererius, when we shall fall upon them: in the meane while let us take a survey of
the reasons, which induced him to supposit, or suppone that foundation: Is mos jampridem (quacunque Romanum patebat imperium) praesertim autem apud Genter ori∣entis (inter quos Iudaei numerabantur) invaluit; wheresoever the Romanes ruled espe∣cially among the Easterne Nations, (among whom the Iewes were reckoned) this custome of supping (like the Romanes) was in force [jampridem] if by (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 jampri∣dem) he meane 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, long since; I answere, not very long before the Iewes stood upon equall termes, in their capitulations, with the Romanes; see 1 Maccab. 8.22. &c. againe on the 62. yeare before Christs birth, did the Iewes first lose their liberty, as appeareth by Salianus; and that time was not long before, to induce a generall custome. 3. He cannot proove that all the Nations overcome by the Romanes, feasted or supped, as they feasted and supped. 4. I stand forth, to justifie, that the Iewes used most of the festivall and vespernall ceremonies, before the Romanes did: Gens Hebraeorum (saith Pererius) jam inde à Pompeio Magno; Romanorum imperio subjecta, corum mores, & instituta, quae patriis legibus minimè re∣pugnabant, vel adulationis vitio, vel ambitiosa aemulatione libenter suscepit; that is, the Hebrewes either to flatter the Romanes, or ambitiously to imitate them, followed their fashions, where they were not against the Iewish Lawes? I answere this is most likely to be true in some things; yet cannot be verified, in such things, as the Iewes had in Practise, before they knew the Romanes: Besides Pompeius his victory over Hierusalem, was but in the same yeere, that Augustus Caesar was borne, as their owne Salianus chronologizeth; and therefore, there was time, little enough, to introduce new, and generall customes.
IƲdai•• solenne fuit, Gentium, quibuscum versarentur, vel quarum dominatu regerentur, moribus, & superstitionibus infici, that is, the Iewes were wont to be infected, with the manners, and superstitions of oher Nations, with whom they conversed or by whom they vvere ruled, saith Pererius; not more than most other Nations were, say I; yea, the Iewes in the Captivitie of Babylon, were taught by God, Ier. 10.11. in the Chaldaean language, to confute the Chaldaeans themselves; and if some were infected, yet many remained most holy, pure and undefiled, as Daniel, &c. The Jewes who lived at Rome, in the dayes of the Emperours, so farre prevayled with the heathen Rulers, that they forbad them to be troubled or called into que∣stion of Law, on the Jewish Sabbaths; So eager were they, not to degenerate in that matter: Pererius addeth Christi tempore, Rex Herodes, in the dayes of our Saviour Christ, King Herod, (who first, of the Aliens, reigned over the Jewes) was whol∣ly addicted to obey, and gratifie the Romans, who made him King; and introduced many, many things into custome according to the Romane guize; and so did his Successours? I answere, violent and suddaine alterations, are either never, or rashly attempted by New-made Princes, especially intruders,
—Mitissima sors est Regnorum, sub Rege novo,—that is,
Most gentle is the peoples state, Ʋnder a King that's crown'd but late.
Especially if there be a cracke, or flaw in the new-crowne. 2. Insensible, and slow changes are guarded with safety. 3. Herod could not, in favour of the Ro∣mans induct any customes, which the Iewes before observed, though his heart was never so much set to gratifie the Romans: yea, but there were in Iudaea, (saith Pererius) a great number of garison Souldiers, and after Archelaus his removall, In∣daea was governed by Romane procurators? I answere, the Romane Praesidiary Souldiers, of all, were most unfit to bring in new customes of civill behaviour, in∣to other Countries: one Legion was called Rapax from its unjust preying on all, that came to hand; they were fleshed in blood and cruelty; and many times did out-rage the Countries; and mounted up, even to those Crimina vesani••, franticke sinnes; as Tertullian aptly termeth Rebellion, and murther. Lastly, the procurators,
which followed Archelâus, were (as I may so say) but Hesterni, of yesterday; and these customes were introduced, before Archelâus was removed.
HAec itaque, cùm vera sint, (sunt certe vero admodum similia) plane consequens est, quae Romaniservabant in Coenis, & conviviis, eadem servare Iudaeos, id temporis, fuisse solitos; that is, since therefore these things are true, (as indeede they are very like to be true) it plainely followeth, that the Jewes at that time, were wont to keepe the usance, of the Roman supping, and feasting: here Pererius Humani non∣nihil passus est, speakes like a man; these two propositions doe enterfere, Hac vera sunt; eadem sunt vero admodum similia; these things are true; and the same things are likely to be true; if they were true undoubtedly true, what neede he care for the (likelihood) to truth? Nullum simile est idem, nothing that is (like) another thing is the very (same) thing; if it be onely (like) to truth; it is no (absolute) truth: againe; if the things were onely probable, or likely; he could not safely say, as fol∣loweth; planè consequens est, &c. probabiliter consequens est, it is a plaine conse∣quent, &c, It is a probable consequent, had beene enough; planè consequens est, must of necessity proceede, from unquestioned, and unquestionable verities; the cer∣taine sequell is at oddes with an uncertaine ground. Lastly, I will willingly con∣fesse, the Jewish, and the Roman customes were Cousin germanes, and almost the same in the festivalls, and suppers: But against Pererius, I am now to prove; that the Romanes borrowed those customes from the Easterne Nations, among which the Jewes were numbred; and the Jewes were not imitators, or Apes of the Ro∣manes.
HOw large a field I have to expatiate in; if I should take a full liberty to shew that Conquerours have condescended to the fashions of the conquered, who seeth not? I will be briefe: Justinus (Hist. lib. 12. penè in Initio) Alexander habi∣tum Regum Persarum, & diadema (insolitum anteà in regibus Macedonicis) velut in le∣ges eorum, quos vicerat, transiret, assumit; quae, ne invidiosiùs in se uno conspicerentur, amicos quoque suos, longam vestem auream, purpureá;mque sumere jubet, ut luxum quoque, sicuti cultum, imitarensur: that is, Iustine, almost at the beginning of the 12. book of his history, thus: Alexander that he might as it were subject himselfe to the Lawes of the Persian Sophies, (whom he had Conquered) tooke on him their garbe and Crowne, (an unusuall thing among the former Kings of Macedon) and lest he might chance to be envyed by his Nobilitie, and Courtiers, for so doing; he commanded them also to weare long robes of gold, and purple; that so they might imitate, and follow the Persians, as well in their luxury, as in their bravery. Q. Curtius (6. pag. 153.) Alexander â victoris insignibus, in devicti transivit habi∣tum, & ille se quidem spolia Persarum gestare dicebat, sed cum illis quoque mores (eorum) induit; that is, Alexander leaving his accustomed ornaments, went habited like the conquered; and indeede, he sayd, he wore the spoiles of the Persians, but with them he also assumed, and put on their manners, and all the Campe beleeved; and reported, that more was lost by the victory, than gotten by the warre; (Pag. 154.) and Alexander was alwayes, bello, quàm post victoriam, clarior, more famous in War than after his victories, saith Curtius, (8. pag. 253.) againe, Alexander mores Persa∣rum assumpsit, quos propter mores tales, vicerat; sed ne solus vitiis eorum, quos armit subegerat, succubuisse videretur, militibus suis permisit uxores ducere; that is, Alexander imitated the manners of the Persians, whom by reason of such manners, hee had overcome; and because he would not be thought, to be the onely man, who would yeild to their vices, whom he had overcome by Armes; he gave his Souldiers leave to marry any of the Captive women, whom they lust: Thus Asia corrupted Greece, Greece also being conquered, corrupted Rome; even old Crones, did wantonize
with their Graecisme, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, My life, my soule;—
—Non possum forre, quirites, Graecam urbem—saith Iuvenal, very tartly, that is,
I cannot I, O Romanes sure, The Graecian Language well endure:
And Horace before him, most truely, Graecia victa suum victorem cepit—Greece overcome her Conquerour overcame: Macrobius, (Saturnal. 3.13.) Triumphales viros, victores gentium, Luxuria vicit, that is, Luxury hath conquered and trium∣phed over the triumphant Conquerours of Nations, Let us briefely touch, how the Asiatickes corrupted the very Romanes; for almost the first sixe hundred yeares, ab urbe conditâ, from the foundation of the city; the forth-right; and plaine Ro∣manes had no Bakers, nor Milles; nec pane sedpulte victitabant, they fed not on bread, but on beanes or barly, mingled with water, sometimes with honey. It is not a thousand yeares since Sugar was first found, by the Arabian Philosophers, or Physi∣tians; none of the foure Empires, no not the Roman it selfe, till its declining ever knew the use, or heard of the name of Sugar, (though now it be Temperamentum omnium medicamentorum, the sawce of Physicke) honey was their prime, if not onely sweetner: Martial (lib. 14. Epigr. 222. ad pistorem Dulciarium)
Mille tibi dulces operum manus ista figur as, Extruit; huic uni parea laborat apis.that is;
That curious hand of thine a thousand shapes, in paste Hathrais'd; for that thy hand the sparing Bee doth haste.
I come now roundly up to the point: Florus (rerum â Romanis gestarum, 3.12.) Syria prima nos victa corrupit; mox Asiatica, Pergameni regis haereditas; Illae opes, atque divitiae afflixere saculi mores, mersamque vitiis suis, quasi sentinâ, rempubl. pessum de∣dere; famem luxus fecerat, hinc seditio; that is, Florus saith, Syria, after it was vanqui∣shed, did first of all corrupt us; then the Asiatickes, the off-spring of the Trojans; their wealth and riches afflicted the manners of the world, and have utterly ruina∣ted, and drowned our Common-wealth, in her owne vices, as it were in a kennell, or sinke of all filthinesse; Luxury brought forth famine, and famine was the mother of sedition; who now corrupted one the other first? Rome Syria? or Syria Rome? Iustine (Lib. 36.) saith, Licinius Crassus was attentior Attalicae praedae, quàm bello; Li∣cinius Crassus was more attent to the wealth of Attalus, then to the warres with Aristonicus: and in the end of that booke; sic Asiafacta Romanorum, cum opibus suis, vitia quoque Romam transmisit; that is, when Asia was become a Province to Rome, it sent thither its vices, together with its riches: Alexander ab Alex. (Genial. Dier. 3.11.) Luxuriae peregrinae (invictum malum ad effoeminandos animos) ab Asiatico exercitu in Romam primùm invectae; mores infecerunt; Forraine Luxurie (an invin∣cible evill, to effoeminate mens mindes) being first brought to Rome, by the Asiatick Armies, infected the sound manners of the Romans; from this servile imitation of the Conquered, and against it issued forth all those excellent Lawes; by which the Romans were forbid to have such sumptuous suppers, and cloathing: The Fan∣nian, Orchian, Didian, Oppian, Cornelian, Ancian, and Junian Lawes; Tiberius Caesar would have repressed the immoderate spending by a new Law; but when he saw, he could not well compasse it, he held it better to omit that, he could not handsomely bring to passe, then vainely to attempt it: Lastly, the Romish imitation of the Jewes, caused the Poet justly to complaine,
O utinàm nunquàm Iudaea subacta fuisset, Pompeii bellis, imperiove Titi! Latiùs excisae gentis contagia serpunt, Victoresque suos Natio victa peremit:that is,
O that Judaea never bad beene wanne, By Pompey's sword, nor yet by Titus Ramme: Then had not sinnes of Jewes beene Romanes bane, Nor Nations Conquered beene the Conquerours want.
Now let the Reader judge, betweene divers the recited passages of Pererius; and me, whether the Romanes borrowed these customes, of the Iewes, or the Iewes of the Romanes. Lastly, more particularly, concerning the gesture of (discumbing) at their feasts, and Suppers; Rosinus (Antiquit. Rom. 5.28.) Manavit hie mos accumben∣di, ad Romanos, ut verifimile est, post Asiam devictam, Graciamque cognitam: that is, this custome of (accumbing) was in all probabilitie derived to the Romanes, after the conquest of Asia, and their acquaintance with the Graecians; and the Graecians had it from the Asiatickes, as they had most of their superfluities; what sayd Alexander to his Souldiers? Curtius (7. Pag. 251.) view my whole Armie; He, who a little while since, had nothing besides his Armour, now lyeth on silver beds, and they loade their Tables, with gold: But of this more hereafter.
I Am to follow, foote by foote, inquest after Pererius, in 13. specialties; which he determineth, were derived from the Romanes, to the Iewes, or other Asiaticks; but both of us agree that the same customes were in use, among the Nations: which consent serveth both our turnes for our maine intentions, to prove the particulars used by our Saviour, and the Jewes then living; yet the Reader, I hope will not judge the disquisition, unlearned, vaine, or unprofitable; because it shall give light, to many passages in this booke: Primò, saith Pererius, Locus, in quo caen••s, & con∣vivia agebant Romani, appellatur coenatio, coenaculum, conclave, & Triclinium, that is, the place in which the Romanes were wont to feast, and sup, is called a Parlour, or upper-roome, a closer, a supping-Chamber? I answere, this was true in the later times of the Romanes; but at their beginning, before all Italy was subdued; the plaine, military, home-spun Romans, did use to dine and sup in their Kitchins, or neare them; and the place was called Atrium, from its blackenesse, and sooty smoa∣kinesse; others made their refections, sub Dio, in the open ayre; in the end they came to sup in Apollo; and had goodly, large, costly dining-Roomes, and supping-cham∣bers, even in one house, with the proportionable rates, to be spent, in the severall Halls, or Chambers of that house; see Plutarch, in Lucullo: but grant we all this; what is his inference?
THe place also in which Christ, with his Disciples, kept his last Super: S. Luke calleth, Coenaculum grande, stratum, stratum tribus lectis; unde, (Triclinii) nomen ductum est; Tribus autèm lectis, discubuisse Christum, & Apostolos, illud indicio est, quòd cùm essent Tredecim, omnes tamen in caudem patinam, cibum sumentes, manum inferebant; ut ex illis domini verbis licet intelligere; qui intingit mecum manum in paropside hic me tradet; id autem est, unus ex vobis tradet me; omnes enimex eâdem patinâ cibum capiebant: non itaque illis verbis Dominus, unum aliquem certum discumbentiam de∣signavit: Tredecem porrò ex unâ, & eâdem paetina cibum omnes capere, si mensae fuissent perpetuae, nequaquam potuissent: This proveth that Christ, & his Apostles lay on 3 beds; because though they were 13. all are out of the same platter, as appeareth in Christs words: Who dippeth his hand with me in the Platter, he shall betray me, that is, one of you shall betray me: for all are meate, out of the same platter: besides thirteene could not eate, out of one, and the same platter, if the Tables had beene long∣sided: First, I say, if all this were granted; mine undertakings are no way prae∣judiced; but how lamely doe his proofes creepe? Christ and his Apostles lay, on three Beds; because thirteene put their hands into one platter; which they could not doe, if it had beene a long Table: For all this, they might have lyen on foure, or five beds; yea, or on two beds; yea, or on one; if it had beene of compasse, and large: For their Tables were fitted to their beds, (and some fitted their beds to their Tables) and some of them were round enough, like an halfe-moone; some like a Σ sigma; and might have beene capacious enough. Secondly, the Platters
were very large, and were sometimes removed from one place of the Table, to an∣other; and yet Judas might so lye, that both Christ, and the Traytor, might, at the same time, dippe into the platter. Thirdly, why doth Pererius say, that Christ did not signe out, any certaine one of the Discumbents? When he said; He, who dippeth the hand, with me, in the platter, shall betray me, Matth. 26.23. Did ever any other Interpreter deny, but he signed out Judas particularly? Though after, ••here was a more manifest 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when Christ tooke a Soppe, and said, he would give it to the Traytor, and did give it, Ioh. 13.26. Yet the former words, in the Paschall-Supper, Matth. 26.23, made such an impression on the heart of Iudas, that he said, Master, is it I? ver. 25. Theophylact, on the place; Manifestè proditorem reprebendit, quoniam cum reprehenderetur, non emendabatur; propterea manifestat illum, dicens, qui intinxerit mecum; that is, He doth manifestly reprove the Traytor, be∣cause when he was reprehended, he was nothing amended; and therefore, he doth manifest him, saying, He that dippeth his hands with me. A man may therefore just∣ly marvell at Pererius, denying, that Christ by these words, did signe out one cer∣taine Traytor.
BVt I come to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to the Poynt, matter in question, betweene Pe∣rerius, and me: How homely, and poore the Romane people were, at first, hath beene, in part, touched at: I will further say; Prandium, & Coena, in propatu∣lo fiebat, quià palam coenitare, dedecus non erat; secretò verò coenitâsse probro, & ignomi∣niae fuit; They dined, and supped, in the open ayre, under the Canopy of heaven; because; it was no disgrace, to sup openly; but it was ignominious, to sup secret∣ly. Then say I, they ate their meate, by the fires, in their Kitchins; Hyeme ad fo∣cum, aestivo verò anni tempore, in aprico coenitabant, in Winter, they supped by the fires side; in Summer, in the open ayre: sometimes they supped in other roomes, close by their Kitchings; which received smoake, and blacknesse from their fires, and from those fuliginous noy somnesses both smelt, and seene: those places were first called Atria; though afterward, such inward reserved roomes were called Atria which nor smelt of soote, nor were blacke-coloured: that the ruder, and first Ro∣mane people did eate, without any tables at all, may well be collected from Alex∣ander ab Alex. (Genial. Dier. 5.21.) in the beginning. I will not deny afterwards, the dainty fitting of their roomes, and chambers; who knoweth not Lucullus his Summer-house, and his Apollo? and the horrible excesse of later times.
IT is true, what Pererius saith, that the place, where our blessed Lord supped last of all, with his Apostles, is called Coenaculum grade, stratum, a large upper-roome, furnished, by the vulgar; and if he had consulted with the Greeke, he should have found, that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, doth signifie more, than Coenaculū grande stratum tri∣bus lectis; more than a large, upper-roome furnished with three beds; that is, to say, a roome so furnished; ut nihil deesset, sive ad usum, sive adornatum, that nothing was wanting, either for use, or ornament; some Greeke Coppies, after (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) fur∣nished, have also annexed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, prepared; this the Syriacke followeth; and Ori∣gen hath it, paratum, prepared; Hierome, Mundatum, made cleane: It was also, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an upper Chamber, Luke 22.12. In the Syriake Helitho; so called, from the ascending up the stayres; which higher roomes they usually let, and set out, keeping the lower roomes for themselves: you may call it, if you please 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quod subductum sit â solo; because it was above-ground, above staires; and is properly opposed to an under-roome, or a roome placed on the earth: I am sure it is, in the vulgar of Hentenius, and S. Andreanus, 1 Sam. 9.21. Assumens Samuel Saulum, & puerum ejus, introduxit eos in Triclinium, & dedit eis locum, in capite eorum, qui fuerant invitati; that is, And Samuel tooke Saul, and his servant, and brought them into the Par∣lour, and made them sit in the chiefest place, among them that were bidden; Vatablus hath
it better, in Coenaculum: Triclinia were not then heard of: the 70. have it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which word is likewise, Marke 14.14. and is well interpreted, a guest-chamber: the Hebrew hath it, Liscatab, Cubiculum, a Chamber, as the Inter∣lineary turneth it, though the Margin supplieth, Coenaculum, a Supping-roome, with Vatablus. Some may thinke, that this Feast, or Sacrifice of Samuel, and Saul, was, Sub dio, in the open ayre; but they are much deceived; for though the houses, in those times, and places were made plaine, that people might walke securely on the top of them, because they were appointed to make battlements for their roofe, lest they brought blood upon their house, if any man fall from thence, Deut. 22.8. and though the house tops were places to walke in, and refresh themselves, as David did, 2 Sam. 11.2. and places for private Prayer, as S. Peter used them, Act. 10.9. and a place of secret conference, as Samuel used it; who communed with Saul, upon the top of the house, 1 Sam. 9.25. when Samuel would not suffer so much as Sauls owne youth, to heare what passed betweene them, ver. 27. Christ commanded his Disci∣ples, Mat. 10.27. What ye heare in the eare, that preach ye upon the house-tops: Aegidius Hunnius (on the place) saith, the Iewish house-tops were plainer, than ours, sen∣ced, suis peribolis, with battlements, ut iis commodè inambulari possit: I say, if the house top, bad not beene a convenient place, for such a matter, Christ would not have bid them preach it there; yet, I no where can find, a footestep, or signe of proofe, that Samuel and Saul feasted, in solario, in the face of the Sunne; but rather went into the house, or into the Parlour, as our best Translations excellently render it: That the house, where Samuel then rested, was on an Hill, is apparent, 1 Sam. 911. and whereas it is said, ver. 25. When they were come downe from the high place into the city; the Bishops Bible doth as sensibly expound it, When they were come downe from the H••ll: but, for the manner of eating, it is no sooner said, Samuel brought them into the Parlour; but it is added immediatly; Hee made them sit, in the chiefest place, among them that were bidden; as if the Palour, the Parlour onely had beene the place of refreshment, and feasting; and their places, the chiefe places in the Parlour, yea the chiefest places. Now in this first point, it is plainely demon∣strated, that the Iewes had their Coenacula, Parlours, or Supping-roomes, before e∣ver Rome was heard of, or Romulus borne: The later Nation of the Romanes, might indeede follow in this point; other people, or these very Iewes; or by the dictate of Nature, might concurre with others, in fitting themselves, with decent Supping-places; but that the Iewes did imitate the Romanes herein; or tooke up this Cu∣stome; either to flatter the Romanes, or ambitiously to be like unto them; Portrius affirmeth; I deny: let the Reader judge.
GRant, good Lord, that I am not high-minded, that I have no proud lookes; but weane my soule from losty thoughts, and let my utmost ambition be, that I may be a doore-keeper, in thy house; and lye downe, at the feete of the meanest of thy Saints, whilest they sit, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, at thy Table, in the kingdome of Heaven; grant this, most mercifull God, for Iesus Christ his sake. Amen. Amen.