Arrow Against the Separationists, Admonition · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
YOur great partialitie in alledging theſe Rabbines is an other mayne offence in you; & this appeares in divers kindes:
Firſt, betwixt yourſelf and oppoſites; you are partial in blaming them ſo much for vſing the teſtimonies of men, whiles yourſelf do vſe them far more frequently: you have often complained of me for making fleſh my arme in alledging the authoritie of men againſt you: even when I did it not, as hath bene ſhewed aPag. 45.47.50.before. Herein you ſeeme to be like vntounto that famous vſurer who rejoyced to heare that ſin of vſury reproved, condemned and publiquely preached againſt: in hope that others thereby would vſe it the leſſe, that he might vſe it the more and have the more cuſtomers for his intereſt: but you are in this vnlike him and more blame-worthy, in that he onelyonly reioyced to ſee others condemne it, whereas you your ſelf do often and openly condemne a practiſe, in the middes of your owne moſt immoderate vſe thereof.
Secondly, in reſpect of the authors alledged you are very partial; whiles you alledge Infidels rather then the moſt learned Chriſtians endued with the ſpirit of wiſedome and vnderſtanding: yea ſo far that in your annotations even in Geneſis & Exodus alone you have alledged theſe Iewiſh writers more thē a thouſand times in exact number, whereas among them all I finde not the name of one Chriſtian vvriter from the Apoſtles time vntounto our age once alledged by you. But to prevent this blame you ſay, bPreface to Annot. on Geneſis.The Chriſtian Fathers and Doctours becauſe they are vſually cited by other expoſitors abundantly: I thought needleſs to repete: and the rather for brevitie, which is requiſite in annotations. But againſt this excuſe it is to be obſerved, 1. that as for the heathniſh writers though they be as vſually cited by other expoſitours, and though they be as commonly knowne as the Chriſtian Fathers and Doctours, yet you do very often alledgethem, and repeat the common allegations of them formerly vſed by others and finde place enough for them among your annotations: ſhould not the Chriſtian writers therfore at leaſt have had as much honour as they, in your allegations? 2, you do alſo alledge and repeate many Iewiſh teſtimonies formerly alledged by others: If need be I can ſhew you manifold inſtances in your annotations; ſo that you had no cauſe vponupon this pretenſe of rarenes to have alledged them ſo much: there being many excellent obſervations of ſome Chriſtian vvriters that are far more rare and vnknowne then ſundry of the Rabbinical teſtimonies alledged by you. 3, though ſundry of your Thalmudique teſtimonies be not commonly knowne, yet ſeing the moſt of them are vnproffitable, vaine traditions and fabulous matters: it had bene more proffit for the Chriſtian readers, and a greater help for their vnderſtanding of the ſcriptures to have alledged ſome of the beſt Chriſtian writers in ſtead of ſome of the worſt of thoſe Rabbines. 4, it is to be obſerved, that though you glory in the name of a Rabbine for every trifeling allegatiō which you bring from them, yet when by ſtealth you cAnnot. on Gen. 37.35alledge the rare obſervations of ſome Chriſtians, as that of Hades derived from Adam, and divers others: then do you conceale the names of the authors as if you were aſhamed to learne or borow anything from them, you being ſeparate from ſuch a ſociety in the Church of God as they all embraced.
Herein you ſeeme to be like vntounto the Iewes, who though they have their ſet forme of prayer or bleſſings which they vſe at the lighting of Candles; yet their canon is, dR. Alphes in Beracoth, cap. 8 Fol. 42.that they may not bleſſe for the candle which they light at the candle of the gentiles or of Chriſtians: ſo you, when you light your candle at the Iewes, in alledging any thing from them, as if there were ſpecial cauſe of bleſſing for it, your maner is to give them honourable titles of Hebrew Doctours, Iew Doctours, Ancient Rabbines, &c. and not onelyonly that but without regard of that brevitie which you pretend, your maner is to alledge their teſtimoniesat large with the ſuperfluous and vaine titles they aſſume vntounto themſelves, viz. our ancient wiſe men: our Rabbines of bleſſed memorie, &c. But on the contrary when you light your candle at the Chriſtians, in expounding the ſcriptures, you ſmother their names in ſilence, as if you were aſhamed of them.
Thirdly, even towards the Rabbines themſelves you are very partiall, in alledging divers of the worſt ſort far oftener, then thoſe which are more proffitable among them. Aben Ezra, R. David Kimchi, Ralbag or R. Levi ben Gerſom, which have takē great paines to expound the words and phraſes in the text of the ſcripture, whoſe writings are far more proffitable then thoſe of Maimony, that ſpent his time moſt in expounding the Thalmud and the vaine traditions thereof, are yet very ſeldome alledged by you. Others that are not half ſo judicious and far more fabulous writings, as R. Menachem, R. Eliezer, R. Bechai, the Thalmud, the Zohar, Tanchuma, Bereſhith Rabba, Elleſhemoth rabba, &c. being the maine fountaines of blind ſuperſtition and the greateſt corrupters of Gods ordinances have moſt honour given vntounto them by you. As for R. Eliezer whom in ſpecial you reckon to be one of eAnnot. on Gē. 14.18.the beſt and moſt ancient Hebrue Doctours, whoſe Pirkei are often alledged by you: how many of his obſervations or teſtimonies be there, even of the beſt that you could chooſe and pick out of all his vvritings that are worthy to be recorded? From him you note that Adams dreſſing of the garden ſhould be his fAnnot. on Gen. 2.15.labour in, and keeping of gods law: that God did gOn Gen. 3.14.cut off the feet of the ſerpent and curſe him: that the vvindow or light which Noah vvas commanded to make in the ark, hOn Gen. 6.16.was a precious ſtone hanged in the Ark, which gave light to all creatures which were the rein: that iOn Gen. 14.18.Melchizedek was Sem: that kOn Gen. 25.21.Iſaak went with his wife, to Mount Moriah, to the place where he had bene bound Gen. 22.9.) and prayed there: that as the Chalde paraphraſt tranſlates Iaakobs dwelling in tents to be a A Miniſter of the howſe of doctrine: ſo others as in Pirkei R. Eliezer, that he dwelt in tents and lIbid. on verſ. 27.ſtudied the law: that mIbid. on veri. 34.Lentiles were vvont to be eaten of men in their ſorow and mourning: and that Iaakob did feed vponupon Lentiles in mourning and ſorow; for that the Kingdome and dominion and firſtbirthright was Eſaus: that the ſonnes of Eſau ſhould not fall, vntill the remainder of Iaakob come and give to the ſonnes of Eſau, food of Lentiles with mourning and ſorow and take from them the dominion, Kingdome and firſtbirthright which Iaakob bought of him by oath: that Iaakob nOn Gen. 29.10.as a mighty strong man rolled away the ſtone frō the welles mouth, &c. that the ſheepheardes ſaw it and wondred all: and were not able to rolle away the ſtone, but Iaakob rolled it away himſelf alone: that Iaakobs ſinew being touched: oOn Gen. 32.32.it became like the fat of a dead thing: therfore it is vnlawfull for the ſonns of Iſrael to eat of the ſinew, &c. that the pOn Gen. 37.15.man which met Ioſeph in the field was the Angel Gabriel, called in Dan. 9.21. the man Gabriel: that of the 20 ſhekels of ſilver for which Ioſeph was ſold, qOn Gen. 37.28.every of the ten Patriarks, had two ſhekels to buy ſhooes for their feet. Theſe as it ſeemes are the beſt obſervations which you could finde in the beſt of the Rabbines: the choyſe of the choyſe: And yet of them all there is not one of them free from preſumption. And cannot the holy ſcriptures be well vnderſtood without theſe forgeries? In ſtead of theſe fictions you might have brought far more proffitable annotations from Aben Ezra, Kimchi & Ralbag before mentioned touching the words and phraſes of ſcripture: but you prefer the worſt, & give leaſt honour vntounto the beſt of them. It is true indeed that there are many fables alſo recorded in theſe Rabbines, as I ſhewed rCap. 1.before yet are they but drops in compariſon of that flood of errour, preſumption and curioſitie which is to be found in others of your moſt honoured Thalmudiſts: And as is obſerved by ſIoa. Rain. cenſura. lib. apocr. tom. 1. praelec. 77.others touching Kimchi, ſo is it plaine for the other two alſo, that the fables rehearſed by them are not ſet downe as their owne aſſertions, but ordinarily in the name of others.
Laſtly, in the writings of one and the ſame Rabbine you ſeeme to deale partially: The ſuperſtitious Miſhneh of Maimony is moſt frequently alledged by you: but his Morch Nebuchim which is of far better vſe is ſcarſely touched by you in one or two allegations. This later work of his, being made long after his Miſhneh, though full of Rabbinical vanitie, yet is not like to his former: in ſo much that the Iewes of France, as ſome do tNebienſis in Octaplo. Annot. in Pſal. 68.record, did themſelves burne this his book becauſe it ſeemed too much to favour the doctrine and profeſſion of Chriſtians.
TO conclude, as theſe things do ſerve for a Glaſſe of your errour in alledging the Rabbines: ſo the due conſideration of the Iewiſh errours here noted vponupon occaſion of this controverſie, may juſtly ſerve for a Glaſſe of Gods moſt ſevere judgement againſt Iſrael, that we may juſtify and glorify him in the ſame. Hereby we ſee the uMat. 8.12Children of the Kingdome bound hand and foote in the cords of theſe errours and caſt out into the vtter darknes of obſtinate infidelitie, ſuperſtition and blaſphemy. Hereby we ſee the truth of Gods word, in the preſent wrath that lyes vponupon them according to the ancient propheſies wPſ. 69.23. Rō. 11.10for blinding of their eyes and bowing downe their backes. Hereby we ſhould learne to kiſſe the ſonne leaſt he be angry, and to hearken to the voyce of Chriſt in his Goſpel, whiles it is called to day; when as we ſee the contempt thereof to be ſo fearefully avenged on this elect nation, by giving them vp ſo long a time vntounto ſuch horrible deluſions, and by ſcattring ſome of them into all quarters, (even as the “Iud. 19.29.Levites concubine cut into many pieces and ſent abroad) that all the people of the earth might ſee and know the work of God vponupon them for their dayly inſtruction. Hereby we may alſo learne to be touched with the miſeries of this nation, holy in the root and ſtill beloved for the fathers ſake. As xMat. 2.18Rachel is ſayd to mourne for her Children ſlayne in Beth-leem and the coaſts thereof: ſo may both Rachel and Leah be ſayd to make lamentation for theſe reiected and diſperſed tribes. The miſeries of Deſolate Ieruſalem do call and cry vntounto vsus, lowder then ever they did of old, yLam. 1.12Have ye no regard, all ye that paſſe by the way? Behold and ſee if there be any ſorow like vntounto my ſorow which is done vntounto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce wrath. VVhen we pray for them we pray for our ſelves: theirconverſion is our zRom. 11.12, &c.riches & life to the vvorld. And we may be bold to make our prayers for them, having the ſpecial promiſe of God for their reſtauration. Ariſe therfore & put on ſtrength o arme of the Lord: riſe vp as in the old time and as in the ancient generations: turne againe the captivity of Sion, and take away the iniquities of Iaakob: Lord how long wilt thou be angry for ever; ſhall thy jealouſy burne like fire? Remember thy covenant made with Abraham, Iſaak and Iaakob, and call home thy baniſhed: Let the new Ieruſalem diſcend from heaven as a Bride trimmed for her huſband in the converſiō of thy people: make a way for thy redeemed: remoove the ſtones of offence, the Idolatries, ſuperſtitions, ſchiſmes and ſeparations among Chriſtians▪ Take away the vayle that is ſpread vponupon the eyes of the Iewes, and ſhew thy ſalvation vntounto them, that the whole earth may be full of thy glory ſhining in the face of Ieſus Chriſt. AMEN.
ERRATA.
PAg. 48. l. 10. for ear read are: Pag. 107. 26. for ſuch read ſuck: Pag. 208. read Amram. Pag. 384. in the margent, read, r Pag. 369. ſ pag. 370. Pag. 437. in the margent read, Ketannah.
End of the text · John Paget, Arrow Against the Separationists (1618)