The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Of the Feaſt of the new year, how the Jews prepare themſelves to the celebration thereof, and how God at the time of this Celebration judges the Iſraelites for their ſins and offences.
IT is written in the tract Medraſch Socher Tobh, Caphtor… uperach. p. 68.that at the ſame time when the Sanhedrin, or that great Councel of the Jews is gathered together, to ſet down and determine a certain day for the Celebration of the feaſt of the new year, which begins the firſt day of the monethmonth Teſri or September, and hath alſo agreed thereupon, then God calls a Senate of Angels whom he ſends into the earth, to enquire, ſee and know, whether the time of the Celebration of this feaſt be determinately appointed, which they preſently put in execution; and returning unto God, declare unto him the day whereon the feaſt will be kept: which when God by their relation underſtands, he alſo decrees to fit in judgment, and to judge the world, upon the very ſame day, as it is written, God is gone up with a merry noiſe, the Lord is gone up with the ſound of a trumpet. Pſal. 46. 3.Then the two judgement ſeats are ſet, the cuſhions laid, the books opened, and that great Senate of Angels ſits down before him. As it is written, And I beheld, till the thrones were ſet up, and the Ancient of daies did ſit, whoſe garment was white as ſnow, and the haire of his head like the pure wooll: his throne was like the fiery fl…me, and his wheels as burning fire. Thouſand thouſands miniſtred unto him, and ten thouſand thouſand thouſands ſtood before him: Dan. 7▪ 9, 10.the judgment ſeat was ſet and the book opened. In the Talmud we have an excellent ſtory to this purpoſe. Rabbi Iochamen ſaith,Tract: Roſch haſchanah. c. 1. p. 16. that at new-years-tide three books are opened: one for them who are extreamly wicked and ungodly, as Atheiſts and lnfidels: another for them who are juſt in a moſt perfect manner, the third and laſt for them who are betwixt both in an indifferent manner, godly and religious, who have done as much good as evil. Thoſe who are perfectly juſt have their names preſently regiſtred in the book of life: but they who are extremely wicked, have their names written in the book of death. Thoſe of the middle ſort are deferred, and put off untill the day of reconciliation, which is the tenth day after the celebration of the feaſt of the new year. If they truly and ſincerely repent them of their ſins in the mean time, ſo that their good deeds exceed their bad ones, then it goes well with them, but if on the contrary their evil deeds be more in number: then they are preſently put in the catalogue of the reprobate and damned. As it is written,Pſal. 69. 29. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written among the juſt. By the blotting out of the book underſtanding the book of the wicked, and by the word life or living the book of the juſt, and by the words Let them not be written among the juſt, the book of thoſe who are indifferently honeſt. Hence is alſo that of Ralig;bbi Nalig;chman the ſon of Iſaac upon theſe words of Moſes,Exod. 32. 32. Now if thou wilt palig;rdon their ſin thy mercy ſhall appear: But if thou wilt not, blot me out of the book which thou haſt written. In which words. Blot out, fingers out the book of the wicked. Out of thy book the book of the juſt. Which thou haſt written, the book of them which are indifferently juſt and godly. So far the Talmud. 1. Now that God ſhould at this time ſit in judgment rather then at any other, the reaſon is grounded upon a certain tradition of the Antients that God created the whole world, Adam, and placed him in Paradiſe▪ in the monethmonth of September: therefore it was thought very meet and juſt that God at the years end ſhould require of man an account of his life, and ſee how he hath carried himſelf for the ſpace of the year paſt, and ſo reward every one according to his works. Which he paies unto every one in the year following in this manner.
Sins are of divers ſorts, ſome God puniſhes in this world, ſome alſo in the life to come: ſo alſo good works, ſome whereof are recompenced here, ſome hereafter. Now if a man for the moſt part doe nothing els but ſin all the year long, polluting his ſoul with the horrid filth of wickedneſs, yet doing ſome few good deeds: the ſum of all is preſented before Gods tribunal upon new-years day. 1. Then God takes the ſcales and puts his good deeds in one end, and his bad deeds in another: If it ſeem good then to the Judge of all men to reward the foreſaid man for the good he hath found in him in this preſent world, it cometh to paſs that he is called a juſt man, and hath this happy ſentence pronounced upon him in this vale of miſery, that he ſhall have a name in the book of life, live for the next year, become rich and ſhall be advanced to great honours. 1. In like manner if an honeſt and juſt man, who every day makes a conſcience of his wayes, and lives according to the law all the year through, offend and commit ſome groſs enormities, for which God is pleaſed to puniſh him in this world, then God calls him a wicked and unjuſt liver, and pronounceth ſentence againſt him for evil and not for good, puts his name into the book of the dead, thereby giving him notice that he ſhall either die or become poor, or be troubled with ſome dangerous diſeaſe the year following, and therefore although a man may enjoy the happineſs of Saints in the world to come, yet may he be called with injuſtice in this, ſeeing he is here puniſhed for his offences even as the reprobate. And on the contrary, one here accounted juſt and holy, may be ordained to damnation, becauſe God gives him the reward of his workes in this preſent world. And therefore no man ought to wonder or account it a ſtrange thing that the godly ſuffer affliction and all manner of diſtreſs in this preſent life, when on the contrary the wicked lives as he liſt, gives reſt unto his ſoule, enjoyes pleaſure, and is without the gunſhot of ſorrow and vexation: yet at the day of death the caſe is altered, for he that was here ſo gay and gallant, muſt goe into everlaſting fire, and the other, ſo miſerable into enternal bliſs. God then paying unto them the due reward of their labours. And this is the very reaſon why the Germara affirms, that the three foreſaid books are opened upon new-years day. Furthermore it often falls out that one good work blots out a number of tranſgreſſions: and one ſin aboliſheth many good works, both which are in the power of God. If the ſinner, whoſe name is put into the book of death, repent him of his wayes from the bottom of his heart; and continue in this courſe unto the day of reconciliation, being the tenth of the new-year, he may happily moue God to reverſe the ſentence pronounced againſt him, and to transferr him into the book of life. Even as the godly in the ſame ſpace angering his Maker by the commiſſion of ſome hainous offence, may move him to blot his name out of the book of life, and to write it among the dead. Thus the blindfolded Jews write, ſpeak, and are conceited of the Almighties rule and government, making him a Judge of that ſtampe and quality which they deſire him to be of; far contrary to the deſcription of the Prophet David, who in heavie cheer praying unto God for the forgiveneſs of his ſins,Pſal. 143. 2. cries out; Enter not into judgment with thy ſervant O Lord, for no man living ſhall be juſtified in thy ſight. Pſal. 130. 3.And again, If thou O Lord marke whalig;t is done amiſs, who is able to abide it? Seeing therefore God ſits in judgment upon every new-years-day, and ſo ſeverely puniſheth the tranſgreſſors of his commandements:Orach. Chaymna: 581. the Rabbines have made it an Ordinance and Statute in Iſrael, that every one ſhould for a monethmonth before repent of his ſins and the evil he hath committed, turn from his wicked wayes, and begin to lead a new life. This therefore the Jews put in execution, and upon the firſt day of Elul or Auguſt, they fall to a ſerious account, calling all their ſins to remembrance, and weighing them according to every ſeveral circumſtance, in which they have wickedly tranſgreſſed through the whole circuit of the year. Whoſoever then every day before he eat or drink queſtions his ſoule, what it hath done? and with a diligent ſcrutinie ſearches every corner of his heart for ſome formerly practiſed wickedneſs, grieving very much, and being very heartily ſorry for the ſame, he ſhall upon New-years-day, when others are to give an account for their offences, receive a plenary abſolution. And hence it is that the Jews dwelling among the Walloones, at this day have a cuſtome to riſe every morning of this monethmonth before the ſun be up, ſay their prayers and beg pardon for the ſins which they have committed. The Jews of Germanie alſo uſe to doe the like ſome foure dayes at leaſt before the feaſt of the new-year: moreover, they meet every morning and evening through the whole monethmonth in the Synagogue, ſounding a rams horn, not that they are ſo commanded by Moſes: but yet in remembrance of him, who when he went the ſecond time into the mount to fetch the tables of the law, commanded a horne to be blowen that the people ſhould take notice hereof and not tranſgreſs and ſay,Exod. 32. 2. Ariſe and make us Gods which may goe before us: as for this Moſes which brought us forth out of the land of Egypt we do not know what is become of him.
Secondly, they blow the rams horn, that every one may ſeriously ponder and weigh the laſt judgment, and be terrified with the meditation hereof: that they may be affrighted and fear,Amos 6. for ſhall a trumpet be blowen in the City, and the people be not affraid: and ſo conſequently be hurried along to a bitter condolement, eager contrition, hearty confeſſion and ſerious repentance of his ſins and offences; for even as a King makes ſome of his ſervants to blow a trumper, that every watchman may keep diligent watch, and be ready armed at a moments warning, becauſe the enemy approacheth: So it is needful for the Jews in the monethmonth of Auguſt, which is as herauld to the new year, to ſound the Rams hornes for to warn every man to repent him of his wickedneſs, that they may more eaſily reſiſt their enemy, Sin.
Laſtly,Roſch; haſ…cha c. 1. p. 16. the Talmudiſts, thoſe ſubtil pated doctors ſay, that the reaſon why they blow the Rams horns at this ſeaſon, is for to put Satan to flight, and to put him to a grievous torture: and to make him forget the day appointed for the celebration of the New-years feaſt; leſt he ſhould come then and appearing before Gods tribunal accuſe them for their ſins and offences.
Upon the Eve of the New-year they riſe ſooner from ſupper then ordinary; for they have many Prayers to poure out unto God for the remiſſion of their ſins. They uſually eate before day, hereby ſignifying that they are not like the Chriſtians and other people, who faſt upon the E…es of their feſtivals: y…t howſoever he that faſts offends not. In Germany the Jews alwayes eat ſomething before morning prayer, alwayes provided that they fill not their bellies too full, eſpecially when they are to ſay many prayers, whereupon it comes to paſs, that though they make great haſte in the ſaying of their prayers, yet they commit no offence therein, becauſe their guts are not crammed and full ſtuft, which would be a great hinderance to the ſpeedy gallop of their tongue in poſting over their petitions. Yet ſome of the more religious ſort who would be accounted more holy then other doe faſt, and that in imitation of a King, who impoſes a great tribute upon ſuch or ſuch a City, and coming with a great power of men commands payment to be made. He being yet ten miles diſtant from the City, the chief men and burgeſſes thereof come and meet him, and ſay unto him, O Gracious Soveraign, we are poor and have nothing, and what ſhall we give unto thee? And ſo intreating him in the moſt humble ſubjective manner, that the hams of an Alderman can perſonate, to remit the tax or tribute: of which the King remits the third part, being brought down by their eariſh kiſſing congees.
When the King is yet five miles from the City, then a troop of Citizens of another order and mean eſtate, come to give his Majeſty ſome gaping ſalutation, making the ſame requeſt with that of the former: to whom alſo he forgives another thirds. When he comes neerer to the City, then yong and old flock about him and beſpeak his Grace in the ſame language: The king then moved by the multitude of petitioners forgives the whole ſum. In like manner God the King of all the earth willing to make Iſrael give an account of their life paſt, and of all the ſins by them committed, requires, yea, enjoynes every one to give ſatisfaction in his own proper perſon: whereupon the holy men and chiefeſt in Iſrael faſt the Eve of this feſtival, and the Lord to recompence them remits unto them the third part of their ſins and offences. It is therefore enacted, that they of the better ſort ſhould faſt, that they may with the more facility obtain their petitions, and alſo ſome of a lower ranke fortie dayes together, whiah are ſet aſide for the doing of pennance. Some one muſt likewiſe faſt upon the day of reconciliation (of which day more hereafter) and then God will forgive unto them all their ſins, and grant them a pardon for the ſame. Morning prayer being ended, they goe out of the Synagogue into the place where they bury their dead: thereby ſignifying that unleſs God will be pleaſed to pardon their ſins, they are no better then they who are dead and laid in their grave.The papiſts had their praying to Saints from hence. They therefore pray unto God to have mercy on them, and that for the merits of thoſe juſt and holy Jews who are interred in that place. Here they diſtribute great ſtore of alms that their poor may not want wherewithall to celebrate the feſtival.
Midday being paſt, the men ſend for the barber, and cauſe him to uſe all his art and skill in the trimming of them: thereby giving others to underſtand, that they are not like unto other people, who ſorrowing ſuffer their hairs to grow and encreaſe.Minhagim. But our ſecurity (ſay they) baniſheth all grief, ſeeing we are certainly aſſured that God the King of the world will have mercy upon us, redeem us from our tranſgreſſions, and graciouſly abſolve us of all our ſins; and for this very reaſon they enter the bath or waſh themſelves in ſome running water, that the day following they may appear purified and clean before the almighty tribunal. It is alſo recorded that certain Angels fly in the aire, who being placed over the world and men, deſcend into theſe parts below, where they being in a manner polluted, muſt neceſſarily purge and cleanſe themſelves in the ſiery ſtream Dinor mentioned by Daniel, Dan. 7. 10. Taame mitznos pag. 36. Reſcha chochma magnum in Schaar par …eſchubha cap. 3▪ nu: 163.before they ſing praiſes unto God. Now if it be neceſſary that ſuch creatures as the Angels are, muſt waſh themſelves before they may be ſuffered to praiſe the Lord, how much more is it required at the hands of man who is ſo vile and loathſome.
While the Jews are a purifying their bodies, and ſtand even up to the ears in cold water, then they make confeſſion of their ſins in the form commonly uſed. This their confeſſion comprehends in it two and twenty words according to the number of the letters in the Alphabet: at the repetition of every one of which, the confeſſor beats his breſt, and then hides his body in the water, craving ſo much courteſie of his fellow as to bear him witneſs. Where they are neer no rivers, they dig a well in their cellar or garden, concerning the breadth and depth whereof, they are diverſe in opinion, as alſo how much water may be contrived in the ſame.
At eventide they likewiſe repair unto the Synagogue, where they continue praying untill it be night, at what time the feaſt begins; welcoming it with great joy, and many acclamations. So much for the preparation, now for the feaſt it ſelf: but before we give you any taſt thereof, hearken what the Prophet ſaith concerning theſe men of Juda,Jeſa. 59. 2. 4. 5. Your iniquities have ſeparated between you and your God, and your ſins have hid his face from you that he will not hear. No man calleth for juſtice: no man contendeth for truth: they truſt in vanity, and ſpeak vain things: they conceive miſchief and bring forth iniquity. They hatch Cockatrice eggs, and weave the ſpiders web. He that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is trodden upon breaketh out into a Serpent.