Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theologicalOf the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall

In particular for the Priests that were of each company, and were to serve at the same time, there were ^dLots cast by them likewise for the sharing of Offices among themselves (partly to avoid confusion and contention; for ^eGod is a God of order and peace; and partly the better to settle the service; sithence ^fno man commonly regardeth that that is every mans charge) who should tend the Altar of Incense, who the Table of holy bread, who the dressing of the Lamps, who the Altar of Burnt offerings, who should feed the Fire, who should carry out the Ashes &c. as by the books of the Jewish Liturgies is reported plainly to appear. And thus is that place of the Evangelist Luke to be understood, where it is said of Zechariah, that being of the Course of Abia, and serving in his Course, ^ghe went by Lot in to burn Incense: A place for want of this observation misunderstood by many of the Ancients, who (to let pass here the repetition of ^hAmbroses error, which it seems he drew hence) ⁱsupposing Zechariah to have been High Priest (which ^kit is apparent he was not; for the High Priest was of no particular course, nor lived from Jerusalem, but had his employment constant, and his abode continual about the Temple:) and to have gone in then to burn incense for the ^lsolemn Fast of Atonement, ^mat which time only the High Priest entered not with incense alone, but ⟨p. 40⟩with blood also, and that but once in the year, into the innermost Sanctuary, (whereas Zechariah by Lot was assigned to do what he did)