Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

§ 21 It remains then that the Sacrifices of the Law must yield the Relief enquired after, or we are still at a loss in this matter. And these the Jews would willingly place their chief confidence in; they did so of old. Since indeed they have been driven from their Observation; they have betaken themselves unto other Helps, that they might not appear to be utterly hopeless. But they sufficiently manifest their great reserve against the Accusation of their Consciences to be in them, by the ludicrous ways of representing, or rather counterfeiting of them that they have invented. [Greek or Hebrew] signifies a man; and among the Rabbins a Cock also. Hence Ben Uzziel renders [Greek or Hebrew] Ezion Geber. The name of a City, Deut. 2.8. [Greek or Hebrew], the City of a Cock. And Isa. 22. v. 17. [Greek or Hebrew] is rendered by Hierom, Gallus Gallinaceus. Granting therefore that the Punishment of Geber is required unto Atonement and Reconciliation, and that some such thing was signified in their Sacrifices, they do each one for himself, torture, slay, and offer a Cock on the day of Expiation to make atonement for their sins, and that unto the Devil. The Rites of that Diabolical Solemnity are declared at large by Buxtorfius in his Synagogue. Judaic. cap. 20. But yet as this folly manifests that they can find no rest in their consciences without their Sacrifices, so it gives them not at all what they seek after. And therefore being driven from all other hopes they trust at length unto their own Death, for in Life they have no hope; making this one of their constant Prayers, Let my Death be the Expiation of all Sins. But this is the curse, and so no means to avoid it. Omitting therefore these horrid follies of men under despair, an effect of that wrath which is come upon them unto the uttermost, the thing its self may be considered.

§ 21 It remains then that the Sacrifices of the Law must yield the Relief enquired after, or we are still at a loss in this matter. And these the Jews would willingly place their chief confidence in; they did so of old. Since indeed they have been driven from their Observation; they have betaken themselves unto other Helps, that they might not appear to be utterly hopeless. But they sufficiently manifest their great reserve against the Accusation of their Consciences to be in them, by the ludicrous wayes of representing, or rather counterfeiting of them that they have invented. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 signifies a man; and among the Rabbins a Cock also. Hence Ben Vzziel renders Ezion Geber. The name of a City,