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

PAR. 3.

I Must now proceede to distinguish of strangers also; for strangers, in the begin∣ning of this point seeme to be; both rejected from the Passeover; and admitted to the Passeover; which some reconcile thus. In civill things was one Law both for Jewes, and strangers; but say I, these were matters of Religion; and so we have but slippery footing: secondly, Exod. 12.48. concerning not a civill businesse, but about taking of the Passeover it selfe; it is sayd, One Law shall be to him that is home-borne, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. Wherefore, I hold it best, to fetch the beginning of mine answere a farre off, that it may be more fit: there were three sorts of strangers, in the Iewish government;

• 1. the meere Alien.
• 2. then 1.1 Forraigner.
• 3. the Sojournour, or the Profeselyte.

The meere Alien was also of two sorts: first, such an one, who would make no manner of profession of holi∣nesse; no conformitie, either with the Jew or other holy Patriarkes doctrine, be∣fore the dayes of Abraham: and such the Jewes might not converse withall; but slew them every one, as unworthy to breath, or live, so soone as he was descryed, or knowne. The second sort of meere Aliens, were such as acknowledged the Law of Nature; and kept the tradition of Adam, and Noah; and lived in a faire way of Religion, though discrepant from the Jew.

The Jewes say, Adam gave these sixe Precepts to be kept for ever.

• 1. The first against Idolatry, against the adoring of Sunne, Moone, and Starres; and against Images; To this the two first Commandements may bee reduced.
• 2. The second was, against the blaspheming of the Name of God; our third Commandement con∣teineth this; for if we may not take the name of God in vaine; much lesse may wee blaspheme the Name of God; and the blasphemer of the Name of the Lord, was stoned, Levit. 24.11.14.
• 3. The third Precept, say the Jewes, of Adam was a∣gainst blood-shedding: it may be this was given, upon the murther of Abel; if sooner, Cain had the greater sinne: to this accordeth our sixth Commandement, Thou shalt doe no murther.
• 4. The fourth Precept of Adam was opposed to unjust, carnall copulations; our seventh Commandement is correspondent to this.
• 5. The fifth traditionaty mandate of Adam was against stealing; and to that our eighth Commandement answereth exactly.
• 6. The last supposed Precept of Adam, was a charge to punish male-factors.

But what needes this Precept, say I, when the breach of any Commandement, had intentionally the punishment annexed to it, to be inflicted on the malefactor? Noah gave a seventh Commandement, say the Jewes, and it was this, not to eate the blood. It is true that God commanded Noah, Gen. 9.4. Flesh with the life thereof which is the blood thereof shall ye not eate; but every precept which was given to a Patriarch, was not commanded by the Patri∣arch to others; much lesse to all others, for to be observed for ever: if the heathen should not yeeld to observe all these Lawes, the Iewes did interdict them; yea, flew them out-right, as hated Atheists, and professed enemies of God; the murther of whom was a pleasing sacrifice of God Almighty. If the heathen were content to make a profession to these points of Religion, though they kept a loofe off, from the other parts of the Iewish Credo; yet they dwelt among the Iewes, and sojour∣ned in their land; and were the Aliens, or meere strangers, who were not yet ad∣mitted to the Iewes Passeover: I have made the best of these Iewish subtile spe∣culations: but in truth the Law of Moses is but a branch of the Law of Nature; and both Gentiles and Iewes had all the Law of Nature, written in their hearts, though some more plainely, others more obscurely.

Notes

• n 1.1

  Concerning this sojourning or Forrenour, strangers in the businesse of ea∣ting the Passe∣over: see Chap. 9. Pargra. 10.