PARAGRAPH. 1.
NOw let me descend to the things done and sayd, in this third quarter of an houre; the middle part, and second quarter of the three, al∣lotted as it were to this second Supper. About halfe an houre after fixe, our holy humble Saviour, beginneth to wash the Disciples feete.
A little before Christs incarnation there was a booke written by the Scribes, in which they commanded frequent washings, even in the times of dinner or supper, because there were many Legall uncleannesses, which came by the very touch of di∣vers things: and by which they were uncleane till the Evening. Therefore had they store of water alwayes in a readinesse. At the Marriage in Cana, Iohn 2.6. There were set sixe water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Iewes: Sc. aut legalem, aut traditionalem, aut convivalem, either Legall, or traditionall or convivall Each water Pot containing two or three firkins a peece, non ad potum sed ad lotionem paratae aequales illae hydriae, aut vasa aquaria. Those water-pots were not prepared, for drin∣king but for washing. And in likelihood they had spent some good quantity of that water. For Christ commanded them to fill them: and they filled them up to the brimme, vers. 7. And against the Passeover, our Saviour did foretell them they should meete a man bearing a pitcher of water, Mark. 14.13. And when it is sayd, He shall shew you a roome furnished: among other things it may well be expounded: A roome furnished with store of water; for they had water alwayes in a readinesse for purifica∣tions prescribed by the Elders, as well as for legall purifications.
Ciacconius is of opinion, that water was given for their feete at the entrance in∣to the houses, yet it was to such, as were soule and uncleane: for if they were cleane they presently sate downe, saith he. But Baronius from the Rituall saith; the Jewes washed their feete twice at the Paschall Lan be: once at the eating of the flesh, and once at the eating of unleavened bread. Either the Rituall, or Baronius con∣foundeth matters: for they are not Paschall Lambe, but with unleavened bread first taken. Baronius should rather have distinguished two suppers, Legalem, & commu∣nem, the Paschall and Common Supper, then make one Supper of the Lambe, ano∣ther of unleavened bread, as he doth in the words following: Paschalis Convivii duplexfuit Caena conjuncta: vel si dicere velimus, unius coenae duplex mensa: in cujus priori, esus agni, in posteriori vero ceremonia agebatur azymorum. There was a two-fold joynt supper of the Paschall banquet: or if we may so speake, two courses at the same Supper: In the former was the Paschall Lambe eaten; in the latter was the Ceremonie of unleavened bread performed. Yet indeede neither was set on the board or table without the other, and they are not the flesh of the Lambe without unleavened bread. Now though this was a tradition of the Iewes often, yet this was their owne Sumpsimus: and Christ did not wash the Apostles feete, for the same re∣spects, that the Iewes washed themselves; but to give a good example of humi∣lity.