The History of the Bible, Leviticus
LEVIT.
Q. What call you the third booke of Moſes?
A. Leuiticus.
Q. Why is it called ſo?
A. Becauſe it containeth the office of the Leuites, and thoſe things which appertaine vntounto them.
Q. How is it diuided?
A. Into two parts: the ſacrifice which they were to offer, and the perſons which ſhould offer.
Q. By whome was this laweof ſacrifices giuen?
A. By the Lord.
Q. Where?
A. In the tabernacle by Mount Sinai.
Q. How many kinds of ſacrifices were appointed?
A. Fiue: the offering, chap. 1. the meat-offering, cha. 2. the peace-offering, cha. 3. the ſinne-offering, chap. 4. the treſpaſſe-offering, chap. 5.
Q. How many things are to be obſerued in theſe ſacrifices?
A. Two: the matter or things wherof they were, & the maner how they ſhould be offered.
Q. What manner of things were appointed to be offered?
A. They were of two ſorts, either of creatures which hauehave life; or of creatures without life.
Q. What things are appointedwhich hauehave life?
A. Of the heard, bullockes, a red cow: of the flocke, rams, ewes, lambes, goates, both male and female. Of foules, Turtle doues, pigeons, and ſparrowes.
Q. What are thoſe things without life?
A. Oyle, fine floure, incenſe, cakes, and wafers vnleauened, ſalt, eares of corn, Cedar wood, a skarlet lace, and hyſope.
Q. In offering of ſacrifices what is forbidden?
A. Leauen, hony, fat, blood, the inwards of beaſts, and the maw of birds.
Q. What is thereby figured?
A. By leauen and hony, corruption of doctrine and life: by fat and blood are figured, ſenſualitie and crueltie.
Q. What things are principallycommanded to be vſed in the ſacrifices?
A. Salt, and fire, the one eating away, and the other purging corruptions.
Q. Thus much of the matter, now of the manner and rites to be obſerued in offering the ſacrifice, what they were?
A. They were diuerſe, and are ſet downe in diuerſe places of this booke, but eſpecially in the 6. and 7. chapters.
Q. Now we are come to the ſecond part of the booke, which concerneth the perſons of the Leuites and ſacrificers, what doth the holy Ghoſt ſet downe concerning them?
A. Two things: the firſt is ſpeciall to them alone: the ſecond is common to them with others, namely, ſanctification.
Q. What is that which is properto them alone?
A. ſo offer the ſacrifices which was appointed to Aaron & his ſonnes: their conſecration, and the execution of their function, chap. 8.9.
Q. VVith what fire?
A. With ſuch fire as came from the Lord.
Q. Did any offer with other fire?
A. Yes, Nadab and Abihu, for which, fire came frō before the Lord and conſumed them, chap. 10.
Q. VVhat is that which is common to the Leunes with the reſt of the people?
A. Sanctification, and that is preſcribed firſt, in forbidding that which is euill: ſecondly, in commanding that which is good.
Q. VVhat are thoſe things forbidden?
A. They are either ceremoniall or morall.
Q. What are the lawes ceremoniall?
A The diſtinction of creatures cleane or vncleane, chap. 11. touching of things accounted vncleane, vncleaneſſe after child-birth, chap. 12. or for certaine diſeaſes of the body, cha. 13.14. and 15. and purification from vncleanneſſe, chap. 16. and 17.
Q. What are thoſe morall things forbidden?
A. Adulterie, fornication, inceſt, and all ſuch vncleannes chap. 18. and in part of the 20, and 21. chap.
Q. Now to come to things which are commanded, what are they?
A. They are either priuate to our ſelues; or in performance of our dutie to our neigbour,or elſe to God, as followet… the reſidue of the booke.
Q. What times or feaſts are principally appointed?
A. The times and feaſtes appointed in this booke, are either weekely, as the Sabbath, or yearely as the paſſeouer, the feaſt of vnleauened bread, of the firſt fruites of Whitſontide, of trumpets, and of Tabernacles.
Q. Is there no other time appointed for the ſeruice of God but theſe?
A. Yes, he hath appointed to be ſerued eueryevery day with a morning and euening ſacrifice, Numb. 28.4.
Q. How did Moſes conclude this booke?
A. He ſealed vp theſe former lawes with the promiſes and threatnings of God. Chap.26. and the laſt chapter concerneth vowes.
Finis Leuitici.