Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

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Culta Palaestino septima festa viro; The seventh Day Feast observed by the Jew.

Nor shall I plead the Testimony of Lampridius concerning the Emperor Alexander Severus going unto the Capitol, and the Temples on the seventh Day; seeing in those times he might learn that Observance from the Jews, whose customs he had occasion to be acquainted with. For all ancient Traditions were before this time utterly worn out, or inextricably corrupted. And when the Jews by their conversation with the Romans, after the Wars of Pompey, began to represent them unto them again, the generality despised them all, out of their hatred and contempt of that people. And I do know, that sundry Learned men, especially two of late, Gomarus and Selden have endeavoured to show, that the Testimonies usually produced in this case do not prove, what they are urged for. Great pains they have taken to refer them all to the sacredness of the septenary number before mentioned, or the seventh day of the Month, sacred, as is pretended, on the Account of the Birth of Apollo, whereunto indeed it is evident that Hesiod hath respect in his [Greek or Hebrew]. But the Authority of Aristobulus and Clemens is not to be despised. Something they knew undoubtedly of the state of things in the world in their own Days, and those that went before. And they do not only instance in the Testimonies before ⟨p. 80⟩rehearsed, but also assert, that the sacredness of one of the seven days was generally admitted by all. And the Testimonies of Philo and Josephus are so express to that purpose, as that their force cannot be waved, without offering violence unto their words. The words of Philo we expressed before. And Josephus in his second Book against Appion, says positively, [Greek or Hebrew]. There is neither any City of the Greeks, nor Barbarians, nor any Nation whatever, to whom our custom of Resting on the seventh day is not come. And this in the words foregoing he affirmeth to have been [Greek or Hebrew], from a long time before, as not taken up by an occasional acquaintance with them. And Lucian in his Pseudologista, tells us that Children at School were exempted from studying, [Greek or Hebrew], on the seventh Days. And Tertullian in his Apology, cap. 16. tells the Gentiles of their Sabbaths or Feasts on Saturday.