1. What meant by the "law" among the Jews. 2. The common distribution of it into moral, ceremonial, and judicial—The ground of that distribution. 3. This distinction not insisted on by the Jews—Six hundred and thirteen precepts collected by them. 4. Reasons of that number—Of these, two hundred and forty-eight affirmative, three hundred and sixtyfive negative. 5. Twelve houses of each sort. 6. First house of affirmatives, concerning God and his worship, in twenty precepts. 7. The second, concerning the temple and priesthood, in number nineteen. 8. The third, concerning sacrifices, in fifty-seven precepts. 9. The fourth, of cleanness and uncleanness, eighteen. 10. The fifth, of alms and tithes, in thirty-two precepts. 11. The sixth, about things to be eaten, in seven commands. 12. The seventh, concerning the passover and other festivals, twenty. 13. The eighth, of rule and judgment, in thirteen precepts. 14. The ninth, of doctrine and truth, whose commands are twenty-five. 15. The tenth, concerning women and matrimony, in twelve precepts. 16. The eleventh, of criminal judgments and punishments, in eight precepts. 17. The twelfth, of civil judgments, in seventeen precepts. 18. Censure of this collection. 19. Negative precepts, in twelve families. 20. The first family, of false worship, in forty-seven prohibitions. 21. Remarks. 22. The second family, of separation from the heathen. 23. The third family, of things sacred. 24. The fourth family, of sacrifices and priests. 25. The fifth family, of meats. 26. The sixth family, of fields and harvest. 27. The seventh family, the house of doctrines. 28. The eighth family, of justice and judgment. 29. The ninth family, of feasts. 30. The tenth family, of chastity. 31. The eleventh family, of marriages. 32. The twelfth family, of the manner of the kingdom. 33–35. Concluding remarks.
1. THE law itself and its sanctions are the next thing that our apostle makes mention of in the economy of the Judaical church. By this law he especially understands the law given on mount Sinai, or partly there, partly from the tabernacle, the type of Christ, after it was erected. The Jews by the תורה, or "law," generally understand the whole five books of Moses, as they are also called in the New Testament; and all precepts that they can gather out of them anywhere they refer to the law: wherein they are not to be contended withal.
2. This whole law is generally distributed into three parts;—first, the moral; secondly, the ceremonial; thirdly, the judicial part of it. And, indeed, there is no precept but may conveniently be referred unto one or other of these heads, as they are usually explained. That which is commonly called the moral law, the Scripture terms, דִּבְרֵי הַרְּבָרִים עֲשֶׂרֶת הַבְּרִית, Exod. 34:28, "The words of the covenant, the ten words," from whence is the Greek δεκάλογος, or the law of ten words or precepts; all which in their substance are moral, and universally obligatory to all the sons of men. That part of the law which the Scripture calls פִּשְׁפָּטִים, "judgments," Exod. 21:1, determining of rights between man and man, and of punishments upon transgressors, with especial reference unto the interest of the people in the land of Canaan, is by us usually termed the judicial law; and the institutions of ceremonial worship are most commonly expressed by the name of חקים, the whole system whereof is termed the law ceremonial.
3. The Jews either acknowledge not or insist not much on this distinction, which is evidently founded in the things themselves, but, casting all these parts of the law together, contend that there is amongst them six hundred and thirteen precepts: for the numeral letters of תורה denote six hundred and eleven of them; and the other two,—which, as they say, are the first two of the decalogue,—were delivered by God himself to the people, and so come not within the compass of the word Torah in that place: whence they take this important consideration, namely, Deut. 33:4, "Moses commanded us a law," that is, of six hundred and eleven precepts; two being given by God himself, completes the number of six hundred and thirteen. There is none who sees not the vanity and folly of these things; which yet is a part of their oral law, whereunto, as hath been showed, they ascribe more, oftentimes, than to the written word itself.
4. Of these six hundred and thirteen precepts, two hundred and fortyeight, they say, are affirmative precepts; because there are, as they affirm (which I leave to our anatomists to judge of), so many distinct members or bones in the body of a man: and three hundred and sixty-five negative precepts; because there are so many days in the year, man being bound to keep the law with his whole body all the year long: both which numbers make up six hundred and thirteen. And lest this observation should not seem sufficiently strengthened by these arguments, they add that which they suppose conclusive,—namely, that in the decalogue there are six hundred and thirteen letters, if you will but set aside the last two words; which in common civility cannot be well denied unto them.
5. These six hundred and thirteen precepts they divide or distinguish into twelve families, according to the number of the tribes of Israel,—that is, either general part into twelve,—first the affirmative, and secondly the negative. And although their distribution be not satisfactory, for many reasons, and hath been also represented by others, yet, for the advantage of the reader, I shall here give a summary account of them.
6. The first family, which hath relation to GOD AND HIS WORSHIP, consists of twenty precepts, which I shall briefly enumerate as those following, without any examination of their stating of them and due fixing to their several stations:—1. Faith and acknowledgment of God's divine essence and existence, Exod. 20:2, 3. 2. Faith of the unity of God, Deut. 6:4, 32:39. 3. Love of God, Deut. 6:5, 10:12. 4. Fear of God, Deut. 6:13. 5. Acknowledgment of God's righteousness in afflictions, Deut. 8:5. 6. Prayer unto God, Exod. 22:23; Num. 11:2. 7. Adherence unto God, Deut. 10:20. 8. To swear by the name of God, Deut. 6:13, 10:20. 9. To walk in the ways of God, Deut. 28:9. 10. To sanctify the name of God, Lev. 22:32. 11. Twice a day to repeat that section, "Hear, O Israel," Deut. 6:4, 11:13. 12. That we learn and teach the law, Deut. 5:1, 11:8. 13. To wear phylacteries or tephilin on the head, Deut. 6:8. 14. To wear them on the arm, Deut. 6:8. 15. To make fringes, Num. 15:38–40. 16. To put writings of the Scripture on the posts of our doors, Deut. 6:9. 17. That the people be called together to hear the law, at the end of the feast of tabernacles, Deut. 31:12. 18. That every one write him a copy of the law, Deut. 31:19. 19. That the king, moreover, write out another for himself as king, Deut. 17:18. 20. That at our eating of meat we give thanks, or bless God, Deut. 8:10. This is the first family; which, though it sometimes fails in educing its precepts from the word, yet good use may be made of the observation in reducing these things to one certain head.
7. The second family of the first general head of affirmative precepts, contains those which concern the SANCTUARY AND PRIESTHOOD, being nineteen in number:—1. That a sanctuary, tabernacle, or temple, should be built, Exod. 25:8. 2. That, being built, it should be reverenced, Lev. 19:30. 3. That the priests and Levites always keep the temple, and no others, Num. 18:2. 4. That the work or ministry of the temple be performed by the Levites, Num. 18:23. 5. That the priests wash their hands and feet before their ministry, Exod. 30:19, 20. 6. That the priests attend the lamps of the sanctuary, Exod. 27:21. 7. That the priests bless the people, Num. 6:23. 8. That every [Sabbath] day the shew-bread be renewed, Exod. 25:30. 9. That incense be offered twice a day on the golden altar, Exod. 30:7, 8. 10. That the fire on the altar be kept always burning, Lev. 6:12, 13. 11. That the ashes be removed from the altar every day, Lev. 6:10. 12. That the unclean be separated from the camp and tabernacle, Num. 5:2; Deut. 23:10. 13. That Aaron and his posterity have the principal place and honour in sacred things, Lev. 21:8. 14. That the priests wear the garments appointed to their special ministry, Exod. 28:2. 15. That the ark be carried on the shoulders of the Levites, Num. 7:9. 16. That the anointing oil be made to anoint king and priest, Exod. 30:25– 30. 17. That the families of the priests minister in the sanctuary by turns, but that all be present at the great anniversary feasts, Deut. 16:16. 18. That the priests mourn and be defiled for their near relations, Lev. 21:2. 19. That the high priest marry a virgin, Lev. 21:13.
This is the second family, liable to the same mistakes in many things with the former, but yet containing a collection of things suitable to each other, and belonging, for the most part, to the same general head.
8. The third family relates to SACRIFICES, containing fifty-seven precepts; as,—1. That the תָּמִיד, "tamid," or continual sacrifice, be offered every day, Exod. 29:38; Num. 28:2, 3. 2. That the high priest offer his mincha or corban every day, Lev. 6:20. 3. That every Sabbath-day two lambs of a year old be offered as a sacrifice, morning and evening, Num. 28:9. 4. That the sacrifice of the new moon be observed, Num. 28:11. 5. That during the feast of the passover the especial sacrifices appointed be added to the continual sacrifice, Lev. 23:6–8; Num. 28:31. 6. That at the feast of Pentecost the offering of new corn be observed, Lev. 23:10. 7. That it be accompanied with alms. 8. Likewise that on the day of expiation, Num. 29:7; 9. And that on the feast of tabernacles for seven days, Lev. 23:34. 10. That on the eighth, or last day of the feast, Num. 29:35, 36. 11. That on the second day of the feast of the passover an omer of meal [a sheaf of barley?] be offered with a lamb, Lev. 23. 12. That on the feast of Pentecost two new loaves be offered, with its especial sacrifice, Lev. 23:17. 13. That all things be done aright on the feast of expiation, Lev. 16. (These general things are evidently put in to fill up the number of precepts that they had fixed on, there being no special precept in them.) 14. That three times in the year an holy feast be kept unto the Lord, Exod. 23:14. 15. That on these feasts all the males appear before the Lord, Deut. 16:16. 16. That they should rejoice in all their feasts, Deut. 16:14. 17. That the paschal lamb be slain, Exod. 12:6. 18. That his flesh be eaten roasted, Exod. 12:8. 19. That on the second month, on the fourteenth day, another passover be kept; 20. That the lamb be then eaten with unleavened bread and sour herbs, Num. 9:10, 11. 21. That the sounding of trumpets be used with the sacrifice on the day of the afflicting of their souls, Num. 10:10. 22. That the creatures to be sacrificed should be eight days old and upwards, Lev. 22:27. 23. That every creature to be sacrificed be perfect, Lev 22:19. 24. That salt be used in all sacrifices, Lev. 2:13. 25. That whole burnt offerings be ordered according to the law, Lev. 1:3. 26. That so also be the sin offering, Lev. 6:25; 27. And likewise the trespass offering, Lev. 7:1; 28. And the peace offering, Lev. 7:11; 29. And the meat offering, Lev. 2:1. 30. That if the whole congregation offend, a sacrifice be offered for it, Lev. 4:13. 31. If a private man sin by ignorance, he must offer his sin offering, Lev. 4:27. 32. That a sacrifice be offered for an uncertain crime, Lev. 5:17, 18. 33. That a sacrifice be offered for sin certain and known, Lev. 5:15, 16. 6:2–7. 34. That every one's sacrifice be according to his substance or wealth, Lev. 5:7. 35. That whosoever sinneth, together with his sacrifice he make confession of his sin, Num. 5:6, 7. 36. That involuntary pollution be cleansed by sacrifice, Lev. 15:13, 14. 37. That women do so likewise in the case mentioned, Lev. 15:28, 29. 38. That the leper, being cleansed, do offer sacrifice, Lev. 14:10. 39. That a woman after child-birth offer sacrifice, Lev. 12:6–8. 40. That the tenth of every clean beast be separated unto the Lord, Lev. 27:32. 41. That every first-born male be sanctified and offered unto the Lord, Exod. 13:2; Deut. 15:19. 42. That every first-born of man be redeemed with a certain price, Num. 18:15. 43. That the first-born of an ass be redeemed with a lamb, Exod. 13:13. 44. That if it be not redeemed, its neck be broken, Exod. 13:13. 45. That any sacred beast, that is, firstling or tenth, wherein is a blemish, be redeemed, Deut. 15:19–21. 46. That which is changed, and that which it is changed for, are to be both the Lord's, Lev. 27:10. 47. That all offerings, both necessary on legal prescription and free-will offerings, be brought unto Jerusalem on the next feast, Deut. 12:5, 6. 48. That all sacrifices be offered at the sanctuary, Deut. 12:14. 49. That sacrifices vowed out of the Holy Land be offered at Jerusalem, Deut. 12:20, 26, 27. 50. That Aaron and his sons eat the remainder of the meat offerings, Lev. 6:16. 51. That the males of the house of the priests eat the flesh of the sin and trespass offering, Exod. 29:32, 33. 52. That holy flesh which hath touched any unclean thing be burned in the fire, Lev. 7:19. 53. That the flesh of the sacrifices that remain until the third day be consumed with fire, Lev. 7:17. 54. That a Nazarite suffer his hair to grow, Num. 6:5. 55. That he shave his hair after his vow is accomplished, Num. 6:18. 56. That every man perform his vows to God, Deut. 23:23; Num. 30:2. 57. That judgment be made of the obligation of vows according to the law, Num. 30.
9. The fourth family of affirmative commands respects CLEANNESS AND UNCLEANNESS, whereof they reckon up eighteen precepts:—1. He that touches that which dies of itself is unclean, Lev. 11:39. 2. Eight kinds of creeping things are unclean, Lev. 11:29, 30. 3. Sundry things that may be eaten are yet capable of uncleanness, Lev. 11:34. 4. A woman in her natural disease is unclean, Lev. 15:19; 5. And she that is delivered of a child, Lev. 12:2. 6. The leper is unclean, and defileth other things, Lev. 13:2, 3. 7. A cloth infected with leprosy is unclean, Lev. 13:47–51; 8. And an house likewise, Lev. 14:35–44. 9. He that hath an issue is unclean, Lev. 15:2; 10. And to the same purpose, Lev. 15:16; 11. And in a woman, verse
25. 12. A dead body is unclean, and defileth, Num. 19:14. 13. All cleansing must be accompanied with bathing or washing, Lev. 15:16. 14. The cleansing of the leper must be with cedar, hyssop, scarlet wool, and the other ceremonies, Lev. 14:2–32. 15. The leper must shave all the hair off his head on the seventh day, Lev. 14:9. 16. The leper must not go abroad but with the signs of his leprosy, Lev. 13:45. 17. That the red heifer be burned according to order, Num. 19:2–10. 18. That the water of the ashes of a red heifer be sprinkled in purification, Num. 19:17–19.
10. The fifth family of this sort of commands concerns ALMS AND TITHES, consisting of thirty-two precepts:—1. That alms be given to the poor, Deut. 15:8. 2. That he who promiseth the price of redemption for the first-born pay it assuredly, Lev. 27:2. 3. That he who is to pay the redemption price of an unclean firstling pay it accordingly, Lev. 27:11, 12. 4. That the price of a devoted house be so paid, according to the judgment of the priest, Lev. 27:14. 5. The same of a field, Lev. 27:16. 6. That he who deceiveth by ignorance add a fifth part unto the price of the thing itself, Lev. 5:15, 16. 7. That the fruits of the fourth year be dedicated to God, Lev. 19:24. 8. That the corners of the fields be left unto the poor to cut and gather, Lev. 19:9. 9. That ears of corn be left for the poor in harvest, Lev. 19:9. 10. That a sheaf of corn forgotten be left for the poor, not sought for again, Deut. 24:19. 11. That the gleanings of the vine branches be left to the poor, Lev. 19:10; 12. And the grapes that fall to the ground, Lev. 19:10. 13. That all first fruits of the earth be brought to the sanctuary or temple, Exod. 23:19. 14. That the words appointed, Deut. 26:5–10, be repeated over the first fruits. 15. That the heave offering, or terumah for the priest, be observed, Deut. 18:3. 16. That the tithes be separated for the use of the Levites, Num. 18:14. 17. That a second tithe be taken by the owners, to spend at the tabernacle or at Jerusalem, Deut. 14:22, 23. 18. That out of the tenth of the Levites, a tenth be taken for the priests, Num. 18:26–28. 19. That on the third and sixth year, in the room of this second tenth, a tenth be given to the poor, Deut. 14:28, 29. 20. That confession be made over the tithes, Deut. 26:12–15. 21. That a cake of the dough be separated unto the priests, Num. 15:20. 22. That the whole increase of the land every seventh year be common to all, Exod. 23:10, 11. 23. That the seventh year be a year of rest unto the whole land, Exod. 23:10, 11; Lev. 25:3, 4. 24. That the year of the jubilee be reckoned by the years of rest, or weeks of years, Lev. 25:8–10. 25. That the year of jubilee be separated or sanctified, Lev. 25:10. 26. That on the tenth day of the month Tisri the trumpet sound for the beginning of the jubilee, Lev. 25:9. 27. That a redemption or restitution of the land be granted in the year of jubilee, Lev. 25:24. 28. He that sells an house in a walled town may redeem it within a year, Lev. 25:29. 29. That debts be remitted on the seventh year, Deut. 15:1, 2. 30. That in all offerings and sacrifices for sin, the priest have the right shoulder, the breast, and the cheeks, for his portion, Deut. 18:3. 31. That the first fleece of sheep being shorn be given to the priest, Deut. 18:4. 32. That right judgment be made of things devoted, as to the part of God and that of the priests.
11. The sixth family contains seven precepts about THINGS TO BE EATEN:—1. That all creatures to be eaten, beasts and birds, have their heads taken off, Deut. 12:23, 24. 2. That the blood of beasts and birds killed to be eaten be covered with earth or dust, Lev. 17:13. 3. That the mother be left free from the nest when the young ones are taken, Deut. 22:6. 4. That the signs of clean and unclean beasts be diligently observed, Lev. 11:1–8. 5. That signs to the same purpose be observed in some birds, Deut. 14:11–20; 6. And the same concerning locusts that may be eaten, Lev. 11:21, 22. 7. That the signs in fishes be observed, Lev. 11:9–12.
12. The seventh family of affirmative precepts respects the PASSOVER and other feasts, as to the time of their observation, having twenty commands appertaining unto it:—1. That the course of the sun and moon be exactly observed, for the right constitution of the anniversary feasts, Deut. 16:6. 2. That the beginning of the months be appointed by the house of judgment, Exod. 12:2. 3. That we rest on the Sabbath, Exod. 23:12. 4. That the Sabbath be sanctified, Exod. 20:8. 5. That all leaven be thrust out of doors on the feast of the passover, Exod. 12:15. 6. That on the night of the passover, the first discourse be about the deliverance out of Egypt, Exod. 13:8. 7. That unleavened bread be eaten on that night, Exod. 12:18. 8. That the first day of the feast of the passover be a day of rest; 9. Likewise the seventh day also, Exod. 12:16; Lev. 23:7, 8. 10. That forty-nine days be reckoned to the feast of weeks, Lev. 23:15. 11. That on the fiftieth day rest be declared, Lev. 23:21. 12. That on the first day of the seventh month there be rest from all works, Lev. 23:24. 13. That the trumpet sound on that day, Num. 29:1. 14. That every one afflict his own soul on the tenth day of September, Lev. 23:27–29. 15. That there be a rest and ceasing from all works on the day of expiation, Lev. 23:32. 16. That there be a rest from labour on the first day of the feast of tabernacles, Lev. 23:35; 17. Likewise on the eighth day, Lev. 23:36. 18. That the people dwell in booths seven days, Lev. 23:42. 19. That on the first day of the feast of tabernacles branches of palms be carried, Lev. 23:40. 20. That every Israelite that is a male offer every year half a shekel to the Lord, Exod. 30:13.
13. The eighth family concerns RULE AND JUDGMENT, made up of thirteen precepts:—1. That obedience be yielded to every prophet speaking in the name of God, Deut. 18:15. 2. That the people choose a king, Deut. 17:15. 3. That judges and rulers be appointed in every city of the people, Deut. 16:18. 4. That the laws and decrees of the great council be observed and obeyed, Deut. 17:10. 5. That in doubtful cases the major part of suffrages is to determine, Exod. 23:1. 6. That all men be judged equally, without respect, Lev. 19:15. 7. That every one who can testify the truth in any cause, is of his own accord to repair to the judges so to do, Lev. 5:1. 8. That witnesses be examined strictly, and their testimony duly weighed, Deut. 13:14. 9. That false witnesses have that done to them which they would have done unto others, or brought upon them, Deut. 19:18, 19. 10. That a calf be slain where a dead body is found, the murderer not being known, Deut. 21:1–9. 11. That six cities of refuge for the man-slayer be appointed, and the ways to them be prepared, Deut. 19:2, 3; Num. 35:6. 12. That the Levites have cities and suburbs granted them, Num. 35:2. 13. That the tops of the houses have a battlement about them, Deut. 22:8.
14. The ninth family of affirmative precepts respects TRUTH AND DOCTRINES, comprehending twenty-five commands:—1. That the idolatry of the Gentiles be extirpated out of the land, Deut. 12:2. 2. That the city and citizens which fall into idolatry be utterly destroyed, Deut. 13:12–16. 3. That the seven nations of Canaan be blotted out, Deut. 7:1, 2. 4. That the Israelites remember what Amalek did unto them, Deut. 25:17. 5. That the memory of Amalek be blotted out from under heaven, Exod. 17:14. 6. That war be undertaken and managed according to the law, Deut. 20. 7. That a priest be anointed to go forth to the war, Deut. 20:2. 8. That every one carry a paddle with his arms, Deut. 23:13. 9. That a place be assigned for covering of ejections of nature, Deut. 23:12. 10. That what is stolen be restored, Lev. 6:4. 11. That an Hebrew servant be well rewarded at the end of his service, Deut. 15:14. 12. That we lend freely to the poor and needy, Exod. 22:25. 13. That the pledge be restored unto the owner, Deut. 24:13. 14. That the labourer be paid his hire or wages the same day, Deut. 24:15. 15. That the hireling working in the field or vineyard may eat of the fruits to his satisfaction, Deut. 23:24, 25. 16. That we help the beast of our neighbour fallen under his burden, Exod. 23:5. 17. That we help our neighbour in leading his beast by the way, Deut. 22:4. 18. That what is lost by one and found by another be restored to the owner, Deut. 22:1–3. 19. That we rebuke our neighbour when he sinneth or offendeth, Lev. 19:17. 20. That we love our neighbour, Lev. 19:18. 21. That we love a stranger, Deut. 10:19. 22. That weights, and measures, and scales, be exact, Lev. 19:36. 23. That wise men, or men skilful in the law, be honoured, or had in reputation, Lev. 19:32. 24. That father and mother be honoured, Exod. 20:12. 25. That they be feared, Lev. 19:3.
15. The tenth family concerns WOMEN AND MATRIMONY, in twelve precepts:—1. That marriage be entered into by all, Gen. 1:28. 2. That a contract or betrothing precede marriage, Deut. 20:7. 3. That the new married man rejoice with his wife the first year, Deut. 24:5. 4. That the male children of Israel be circumcised, Gen. 17:10; Lev. 12:3. 5. That the widow of a man dying without children marry unto her husband's brother, Deut. 25:5. 6. That he who refuseth so to take the widow of one dying without children, being next of kin, have his shoe pulled off, and be spit upon, Deut. 25:7–9. 7. That he who hath violated the chastity of a virgin by force be compelled to marry her, Deut. 22:29. 8. That he who hath defamed his wife without cause keep her without hope of divorce, Deut. 22:13–19. 9. That he who seduceth a virgin to fornication pay fifty shekels, Exod. 22:16, 17. 10 That a fair woman taken in war be dealt withal according to the law, Deut. 21:10–14. 11. That divorce be made by a writing, or bill of divorcement, Deut. 24:1. 12. That a woman suspected of adultery be dealt withal according to the law, Num. 5:30.
16. The eleventh family concerneth CRIMINAL JUDGMENTS AND PUNISHMENTS, and hath eight precepts belonging unto it:—1. That criminal persons not guilty of sins deserving capital punishment be beaten with stripes, Deut. 25:2, 3. 2. That he who slew a man at unawares be banished from conversing among the people, Num. 35:25. 3. That those guilty of it be hanged or strangled, Deut. 21:22. 4. That others, as is appointed, be slain by the sword, Exod. 21:20; 5. That others be burned, Lev. 20:14. 6. That those who deserve it by the law be stoned with stones, Deut. 21:21. 7. That those appointed thereunto be hanged up after death, Deut. 21:21. 8. That all who suffer death be buried the same day, Deut. 21:23.
17. The twelfth and last family of this sort of precepts, which is about JUDGMENTS IN CIVIL CAUSES, contains seventeen precepts:—1. That the Hebrew servant be dealt withal according to the law, Exod. 21:2–6. 2. That an Hebrew maid servant be married to her master or his son, if humbled by either of them, Exod. 21:8, 9. 3. That an Hebrew maid servant may be redeemed, Exod. 21:8. 4. That only Canaanites, or heathens, may be made perpetual servants, or brought into bondage for ever, Lev. 25:45, 46. 5. That he who procures the hurt of any one do repair it by a pecuniary mulct, Exod. 21:30. 6. That hurt done by a beast be repaired, Exod. 21:28, 29. 7. That loss or hurt from the not covering or safeguarding of a pit be repaired, Exod. 21:33, 34. 8. That theft be judged according to the law, Exod. 22:1–4. 9. That the damage done by one man's beasts in other men's fields be repaired, Exod. 22:5. 10. That damage by fire, voluntarily, be repaired, Exod. 22:6. 11. That judgment be made of any thing deposited or trusted without reward, according to the law, Exod. 22:7, 8. 12. That what is lent or hired for gain, if lost, be judged according unto the law, Exod. 22:10–13; 13. Also what is borrowed for use, Exod. 22:14, 15. 14. That things concerning buying and selling be judged according to the law, Lev. 25:14–17. 15. That the cause of the plaintiff and defendant be judged according to the law, Exod. 22:9. 16. That a man pursued by his enemy to death may be delivered with the death of his pursuer, Deut. 19:6. 17. That the rights of inheritances be determined according to the law, Num. 27:8–11.
18. These are the precepts which they gather out of the law, as affirmatively expressed. That some of them are by no means rightly educed from those texts which they draw them from, will appear at first view unto him that shall examine them. It is also justly questionable whether sundry of them be indeed precepts of God or no, especially as by them explained. But that this is the just number of the affirmative precepts of the law, that there are no more of that kind, and that these are all so many distinct precepts, is vain to imagine. Only whereas, in general, the most of the particular commands that belong unto the same things are gathered by them into certain heads, wherein they are summarily represented, I thought not unmeet to give them here in their order.
19. The negative precepts also are by them in like manner cast into twelve distinct families, which, with the same brevity, we shall pass through.
20. The first family of these precepts relates unto FALSE WORSHIP, concerning which they gather up forty-seven prohibitions:—1. That we have no other god but Jehovah, Exod. 20:3. 2. That we make no images for ourselves, nor have others make them for us, Exod. 20:4. 3. That we make no images for others, or for their use, Deut. 12:3, 4. 4. That we make no images for ornament, Exod. 20:23. 5. That we bow not down to any idols; 6. Nor serve them, Exod. 20:5. 7. That none offer his son or daughter to Moloch in the fire, Lev. 18:21. 8. That none have a familiar spirit or Ob; 9. That none have a familiar spirit or Jideoni, Lev. 19:31. 10. That none consult with Ob. 11. That none ask counsel of Jideoni, Deut. 18:11. 12. That we look not towards idols, Lev. 19:4. 13. That we set not up a statue or image anywhere, Deut. 16:22. 14. That no painted or carved stone be set up to be bowed unto, Lev. 26:1. 15. That no tree be planted in the sanctuary, Deut. 16:21. 16. That we swear not by false gods, Exod. 33:13. 17. That none lead the Jews to idolatry; 18. That none stir up any single Jew to idolatry, Deut. 13:6–11. 19. That we love not a seducer; 20. That we hate him; 21. That we aid him not in danger of death; 22. That he whom he would seduce intercede not for him; 23. That he conceal nothing which may tend to his condemnation, Deut. 13:8. 24. That we covet not, or turn to our use, any things wherewith idols have been adorned, Deut. 7:25. 25. That we make no profit of any thing that belongs to false worship, Deut. 7:26. 26. That no city seduced to idolatry and destroyed be ever built again, Deut. 13:16. 27. That nothing of its spoils be turned to private use, Deut. 13:17. 28. That none prophesy falsely, Deut. 18:20. 29. That we fear not to slay a false prophet, Deut. 18:22. 30. That none prophesy in the name of false gods, Deut. 18:20. 31. That none so prophesying be attended unto, Deut. 13:2, 3. 32. That we walk not in the ways and customs of the heathens, Lev. 20:23. 33. That none use divination, Deut. 18:10; 34. Nor sorcery, Deut. 18:10. 35. That no soothsaying be used, Lev. 19:26. 36. That no divination by times or hours be used, Lev. 19:26. 37. That there be no enchantment or conjuring, Deut. 18:10. 38. That none ask counsel of the dead, Deut. 18:11. 39. That a woman wear not the apparel of a man; 40. That a man wear not the apparel of a woman, Deut. 22:5. 41. That no cutting or incision be made in the body, Lev. 19:28. 42. That clothes made of linen and woollen be not made or worn, Deut. 22:11. 43. That the corners of the head be not rounded; 44. That the corners of the beard be not marred, Lev. 19:27. 45. That none tear their flesh with their nails; 46. Nor pull off their hair for the dead, Deut. 14:1. 47. That we walk not after the thoughts of our hearts or sight of our eyes, Num. 15:39.
21. It is evident that in this family many precepts are distinguished, and the number multiplied thereby. In particular, the second command is divided into two or three, which God makes to be but one, and general rules are made particular prohibitions; all to fill up the number which they had designed. However, most things, as we observed before, belonging to this general head, are brought into this collection.
22. The second family concerns SEPARATION FROM THE HEATHEN, in thirteen prohibitions:—1. That no covenant be made with any of the seven nations of Canaan, Deut. 7:1, 2. 2. That none of them be suffered to live, Deut. 20:16. 3. That we pity not those idolaters, Deut. 7:2. 4. That we suffer them not to inhabit in the land, Exod. 23:33. 5. That no marriages be made with the heathen, Deut. 7:3. 6. That no Ammonite or Moabite marry a Jewish woman, Deut. 23:3. 7. That no peace be offered to the Ammonites or Moabites, as to other nations, Deut. 23:6. 8. That they separate not from the Edomites beyond the third generation; 9. Nor from the Egyptians, Deut. 23:7, 8. 10. That they never return to dwell in Egypt, Deut. 17:16. 11. That they destroy not fruit trees, Deut. 20:19. 12. That soldiers in war be not fearful, Deut. 20:3. 13. That they forget not the wickedness of Amalek, Deut. 25:17–19.
23. The third family of this sort of precepts concerns the due regard that is to be had to THINGS SACRED, in twenty-nine precepts:—1. That none blaspheme, Lev. 24:16. 2. That none swear falsely, Lev. 19:12. 3. That none swear in vain, Exod. 20:7. 4. That the name of God be not profaned, Lev. 22:32. 5. That God be not contemned, Deut. 6:16. 6. That holy places be not destroyed, Deut. 12:4. 7. That he who is hanged on a tree abide not all night thereon, Deut. 21:23. 8. That the watch about the sanctuary fail not, Num. 18:5. 9. That the priest go not at all hours into the sanctuary, Lev. 16:2. 10. That none defiled come to the altar, Lev. 21:23. 11. That none defiled serve in the sanctuary, Lev. 21:17. 12. That none polluted by accident draw nigh to the holy service, Lev. 21:21. 13. That the Levites invade not the priests' office, nor the priests do the work of the Levites, Num. 18:2–5. 14. That none who have drunk wine enter the sanctuary, Lev. 10:9. 15. That no stranger serve in the sanctuary, Num. 18:4. 16. That no priest that is unclean draw nigh to it; 17. Nor on that day wherein he washeth from his uncleanness until it be evening, Lev. 22:1–7. 18. That no unclean person enter into any part of the temple, Num. 5:3; 19. Nor into the camp or tents of the Levites, Deut. 23:10. 20. That the altar be not built of hewn stones, Exod. 20:25. 21. That they go not up by steps to the altar, Exod. 20:26. 22. That no sacrifices be offered on the golden altar, Exod. 30:9. 23. That no oil or ointment be made like that of the tabernacle; 24. That no stranger be anointed with it, Exod. 30:31–33. 25. That no incense or perfume like that prescribed in the law be made, Exod. 30:37. 26. That the fire on the altar go not out, Lev. 6:12. 27. That the bars or staves be not pulled out of the sides of the ark, Exod. 25:15. 28. That the breast-plate in the high priest's garment be not loosed from the ephod, Exod. 28:28. 29. That the robe of the ephod be not torn or rent, Exod. 28:32.
24. The fourth family is comprehensive of the prohibitions given about SACRIFICES AND PRIESTS, being in number eighty-two:—1. That no sacrifice be used but at the temple, Deut. 12:13, 14. 2. That no sacred beast be killed but at the temple, Lev. 17:3, 4. 3. That no blemished thing be brought to the altar, Lev. 22:20. 4. That no blemished thing be offered in sacrifice, Lev. 22:21, 22. 5. That the blood of a blemished beast be never laid on the altar, Lev. 22:24; 6. Nor the fat of it, Lev. 22:22. 7. That no beast with an accidental blemish be offered, Deut. 17:1. 8. That no blemished beast received of a heathen or Gentile be offered, Lev. 22:25. 9. That no blemish be in any dedicated beast or firstling, Lev. 22:21. 10. That no offering be of leaven or honey, Lev. 2:11. 11. That no sacrifice be without salt, Lev. 2:13. 12. That the price of a dog or an whore be not offered to God, Deut. 23:18. 13. That a beast and its young be not killed or sacrificed the same day, Lev. 22:28. 14. That no oil be put to the offering of him that offers the sin offering; 15. Nor frankincense, Lev. 5:11. 16. That oil be not put to the gift of a woman suspected to have gone astray; 17. Nor frankincense, Num. 5:15. 18. That no devoted beast be changed, Lev. 27:32, 33. 19. That one sacrifice be not changed into another, or for another, Lev. 27:26. 20. That the firstling of a clean beast be not redeemed, Num. 18:17. 21. That the tenths of beasts be not sold, Lev. 27:32, 33. 22. That a devoted field be not sold; 23. Nor redeemed, Lev. 27:28. 24. That the head of the bird to be offered on the day of expiation be not separated from the body, Lev. 5:8. 25. That sacred beasts be not used to labour; 26. Nor be shorn, Deut. 15:19. 27. That the paschal lamb be not slain whilst any leaven remains, Exod. 23:18. 28. That nothing be left of the paschal lamb, Exod. 12:10. 29. That nothing be left of the paschal lamb to be offered on the second month, Num. 9:12. 30. That no bone of the paschal lamb be broken, Exod. 12:46. 31. That its flesh be not eaten raw or boiled, Exod. 12:9. 32. That nothing of its flesh be carried out of the company by whom it is to be eaten, Exod. 12:46. 33. That no stranger or hireling eat of it, Exod. 12:45. 34. That no uncircumcised person eat of it, Exod. 12:48. 35. That no Israelite that hath been changed do eat of it, Exod. 12:43. 36. That the fat of it abide not one night, Exod. 23:18. 37. That the flesh of the peace offerings be not kept until the morning, Lev. 7:15. 38. That nothing remain of sacrifices to the third day, Lev. 7:16, 17. 39. That the priests' portion of the sacrifices or meat offerings be not baked with leaven, Lev. 6:16, 17. 40. That no unclean person eat that which is holy, Lev. 7:20. 41. That the holy things once defiled be not eaten, Lev. 7:19. 42. That what remains of the sacrifices above the time appointed be not eaten, Lev. 19:18. 43. That nothing be eaten which is an abomination, Lev. 7:18. 44. That no stranger eat of holy flesh; 45. Nor a foreigner, Exod. 12:45; 46. Nor the hired servant of the priest, Lev. 22:10; 47. Nor he that is uncircumcised, Exod. 12:48. 48. Nor the priest when he is defiled, Lev. 22:3; 49. Nor the daughter of the priest which is married to a stranger, Lev. 22:12. 50. That the offerings of the priests be not eaten, Lev. 6:20–22. 51. That the inwards of the sin offering be not eaten, Lev. 6:30. 52. That beasts made holy that are any ways corrupted be not eaten, Deut. 14:3. 53. That the second tenths of fruits be not eaten out of Jerusalem; 54. That the tenth of the wine be not drunk; 55. That the tenth of the oil be not eaten elsewhere, Deut. 12:17, 18. 56. That the priests eat not the firstlings out of Jerusalem, Deut. 14:23. 57. That they eat not the sin offering out of the holy place, Deut. 14:23. 58. That none of the flesh of the burnt offering be eaten, Deut. 12:27. 59. That the flesh of the free-will offering be not eaten before the blood of the sacrifice be poured upon the altar. 60. That the priest eat not the first fruits before he have laid it up in the temple. 61. That no stranger eat that which is most holy, Exod. 29:33. 62. That the second tenths be not eaten in mourning; 63. Nor in uncleanness. 64. That the money it is sold for be not laid out in any thing but what is to be eaten or drunken, Deut. 26:13, 14. 65. That no meat be eaten before the things to be separated from it be taken away, Lev. 22:25. 66. That the order of tenths, and first fruits or heave offerings, be not perverted, Exod. 22:29. 67. That vows be not deferred, Deut. 23:22. 68. That none go up to the passover without a sacrifice, Exod. 23:15. 69. That none break his vows, Num. 30:2. 70. That the high priest marry not an whore; 71. Nor one any way corrupted; 72. Nor one divorced; 73. Nor a widow, Lev. 21:7; 74. Nor defile himself with a widow, Lev. 21:13–15. 75. That the priests enter not the sanctuary with long hair; 76. Nor with torn garments, Lev. 10:6, 21:10. 77. That the priests go not forth of the temple at the time of divine worship, Lev. 10:7. 78. That no inferior priest defile himself for the death of strangers, Lev. 21:1. 79. That the high priest defile not himself, no not for his parents, Lev. 21:10, 11. 80. That he go not in where is any dead, Lev. 21:11. 81. That the tribe of Levi have no lot in the land; 82. That they have no lot in the spoils of war, Deut. 18:1, 2.
25. The fifth family of negative precepts compriseth thirty-eight prohibitions about MEATS, or what may be eaten:—1. That no unclean beast be eaten, Lev. 11:4–8. 2. That no unclean fish be eaten, Lev. 11:9– 12. 3. That no unclean bird or fowl be eaten, Lev. 11:13–23. 4. That no creeping thing that also flieth be eaten, Lev. 11:23. 5. That no creeping thing of the earth be eaten, Lev. 11:41. 6. That no creeping thing of the waters be eaten, Lev. 11:43. 7. That no worms of the earth be eaten, Lev. 11:44; 8. Nor the worms of fruit, Lev. 11:42. 9. That what dieth of itself be not eaten, Deut. 14:21; 10. Nor that which is torn, Exod. 22:31. 11. That no blood be eaten, Lev. 7:26. 12. That the fat be not eaten, Lev. 7:23. 13. That no member taken from a living creature be eaten, Deut. 12:23. 14. That the sinew which shrank be not eaten, Gen. 32:32. 15. That flesh be not boiled in the milk of the beast whose it is; 16. That the flesh be not eaten with milk, Exod. 23:19. 17. That the flesh of an ox stoned for pushing or goring be not eaten, Exod. 21:28. 18. That new bread be not eaten until after the offering of the omer; 19. That parched corn, 20. That green ears, be not eaten until an offering be first given, Lev. 23:14. 21. That the fruit of a young tree be not eaten until it hath borne three years, Lev. 19:23. 22. That a mixture of fruits from the vineyard be not eaten, Deut. 22:9. 23. That wine of drink offerings offered to idols be not drunk, Deut. 32:38. 24. That none eat as a glutton, Deut. 21:20. 25. That none eat on the day of expiation, Lev. 23:27, 28. 26. That no leaven be eaten on the passover, Exod. 12:15; 27. Nor any thing mixed with leaven, Exod. 12:20. 28. That no leaven be eaten on the even of the passover, Deut. 16:3. 29. That no leaven be found in our houses after that time, Exod. 12:19. 30. That no leaven be found in any place under our power, Exod. 13:7. 31. That the Nazarite drink no wine, nor any thing that comes of it; 32. That he eat no green grapes; 33. Nor pressed grapes; 34. Nor the kernels of the grapes; 35. Nor the husks of them, Num. 6:2–4. 36. That he shave not his head; 37. That he defile not himself for the dead; 38. That he enter not an house where any is dead, Num. 6:5–7.
26. The sixth family compriseth eighteen prohibitions about FIELDS AND HARVEST:—1. That the whole field be not mowed or reaped; 2. That the ears which fall in reaping be not gathered up; 3. That the grapes left by vine-gatherers be not sought after; 4. That the unripe grapes be not gathered, Lev. 19:9, 10. 5. That men return not for a sheaf forgotten, Deut. 24:19. 6. That mixed seeds be not sown in the same field, Lev. 19:19. 7. That plants of several kinds be not set in the same vineyard, Deut. 22:9. 8. That there be no mixture of beasts of several sorts, Lev. 19:19. 9. That we plough not with an ox and an ass, Deut. 22:10. 10. That the mouth of a beast labouring in that which may be eaten be not muzzled, Deut. 25:4. 11. That in the seventh year the land be not ploughed; 12. Nor the trees dressed; 13. Nor things moved that grow on their own ground; 14. Nor the fruits gathered as in other years, Lev. 25:1– 7. 15. That the earth be not tilled in the year of jubilee; 16. Nor things cut down growing on their own field; 17. Nor the fruits of that year gathered, Lev. 25:11. 18. That no field in the Holy Land be sold for ever, Lev. 25:23.
27. The seventh family they call the HOUSE OF DOCTRINES, unto which head they refer things of sundry kinds which they know not well how to reduce unto one general sort, or head of one name, and it is branched into forty-six prohibitions:—1. That the Levites be not forsaken, Deut. 12:19. 2. That the fields and suburbs of the Levites be not changed, Lev. 25:34. 3. That no debt be claimed after the year of release, Deut. 15:2. 4. That we forget not to give to the poor what they want, Deut. 15:7, 8. 5. That we omit not to lend to the poor because the year of release draws nigh, Deut. 15:9, 10. 6. That a Jewish servant be not set at liberty empty, Deut. 15:13. 7. That debt be not exacted of the poor, Lev. 25:35. 8. That no money be lent unto an Israelite on usury, Lev. 25:35–37. 9. That what is lent be not received again with usury, Deut. 23:19. 10. That we be not arbitrators between lenders and borrowers on usury, Exod. 22:25. 11. Not to delay payment of wages, Lev. 19:13. 12. That a pledge be not taken of a borrower with rigour or violence, Deut. 24:10, 11. 13. That the pledge of a poor man that wants it be not detained, Deut. 24:12, 13. 14. That a pledge be not taken of a widow's garments, Deut. 24:17. 15. That things necessary to sustain human life be not taken to pledge, Deut. 24:6. 16. That none steal, Exod. 20:15; 17. Nor take the goods of any by robbery, Lev. 19:11. 18. That we oppress not our neighbour; 19. Nor take his goods by violence, Lev. 19:13. 20. That no man deny his neighbour's goods that are with him; 21. That none swear falsely concerning any thing deposited with him, Lev. 19:12, 13. 22. That we straiten not the bounds of our neighbour, Deut. 19:14. 23. That none deceive his neighbour in buying and selling, Lev. 25:14. 24. That the land mark be not removed, Deut. 19:14. 25. That we deceive him not in words, Lev. 25:17. 26. That no stranger be deceived in words; 27. Nor in buying or selling, Exod. 22:21. 28. That the widow and orphan be not oppressed, Exod. 22:22–24. 29. That a servant fleeing from his master unto the Holy Land be not given up to him; 30. That he be not defrauded in any thing, Deut. 23:15, 16. 31. That an Hebrew servant be not used as a bondman; 32. That he be not sold for a slave; 33. That service be not exacted of him with bitterness; 34. That no heathen be suffered to treat him hardly, Lev. 25:39–55. 35. That a Jewish maid-servant be not sold to another; 36. That the three things required in the law be not denied to such a servant, Exod. 21:7–11. 37. That a fair woman taken in war be not sold; 38. That she be not used as a bond-woman, Deut. 21:10–14. 39. That we covet not, Exod. 20:17. 40. That nothing of other men's be desired, Deut. 5:21. 41. That the hireling eat whilst he is in the field; 42. That he take no more out of the field than what he can eat, Deut. 23:24. 43. That what is lost be not hidden, Deut. 22:1–3. 44. That we leave not a beast under his burden, Deut. 22:4. 45. That there be no deceit in weights and measures, Lev. 19:35. 46. That we keep no false weights or measures in our houses, Deut. 25:13–16.
28. The eighth family relates unto JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT, in fortysix prohibitions:—1. That justice be not violated, Lev. 19:15. 2. That gifts be not received in judgment, Exod. 23:8. 3. That none be respected in judgment, Lev. 19:15. 4. That none fear a wicked man in judgment, Deut. 1:17. 5. That we pity not a poor man in judgment, Exod. 23:3. 6. That we have no pity for a manslayer, or other criminal person, Deut. 19:11–13. 7. That the judgment of the poor be not perverted, Exod. 23:6; 8. Nor of the stranger, widow, or orphan, Deut. 24:17. 9. That one party be not heard in the absence of another, Exod. 23:3. 10. That we decline not after many in the judgment of law; 11. Nor shall a judge condemn according to the opinion of another, but his own, Exod. 23:2. 12. That none be chosen a judge that is not learned in the law, though he be wise in other things, Deut. 16:18. 13. That none bear false witness, Exod. 20:16. 14. That no offender be justified, Exod. 23:1. 15. That kinsmen be not witnesses, Deut. 24:16. 16. That none be condemned upon one witness, Deut. 19:15. 17. That none be condemned to death on conjecture, opinions, or thoughts, but upon clear witnesses, Exod. 23:7. 18. That we kill not, Exod. 20:13. 19. That a guilty person be not put to death before he appear in judgment, Num. 35:12. 20. That no reward be taken for the life of a murderer; 21. Nor for him that commits manslaughter by error, Num. 35:31, 32. 22. That none be judge and witness in a criminal cause, Num. 35:30. 23. That none pity the woman mentioned, Deut. 25:11, 12. 24 She that is forced is not to be punished, Deut. 22:25, 26. 25. That none appear against the blood of his neighbour, Lev. 19:16. 26. That no cause of offence or falling be left in an house, Deut. 22:8. 27. That none lay a stumbling-block before an Israelite, Lev. 19:14. 28. That the beating with stripes exceed not the number of forty, Deut. 25:3. 29. That none calumniate or accuse falsely, Lev. 19:16. 30. That we hate not our neighbour in our heart, Lev. 19:17. 31. That none put an Israelite to reproach, Lev. 19:17. 32. That none exercise revenge on his neighbour; 33. That none bear ill-will in his mind, Lev. 19:18. 34. That the mother and its young be not taken together, Deut. 22:6. 35. That a scall be not shaven, Lev. 13:33. 36. That the signs of leprosy be not removed, Lev. 13:45, 46. 37. That the place where the heifer is beheaded be not tilled, Deut. 21:4. 38. That a sorcerer be not suffered to live, Lev. 20:27. 39. That a new married man be not bound to go forth to war, Deut. 24:5. 40. That none be rebellious against the sanhedrin at Jerusalem, and their doctrine, Deut. 17:11. 41. That nothing be added to the precepts of the law; 42. That nothing be taken from them, Deut. 4:2. 43. That we speak not evil of the judge, nor of the prince of the people, Exod. 22:28. 44. That none speak evil of any in Israel, Lev. 19:14. 45. That none curse father or mother; 46. That none strike father or mother, Exod. 21:17.
29. The ninth family of negative precepts concerns FEASTS, and contains ten prohibitions:—1. That no work be done on the Sabbath, Exod. 20:10. 2. That none go out or beyond the bounds of the city on the Sabbath, Exod. 16:29. 3. That no punishment be inflicted on the Sabbath, Exod. 35:3. 4. That no work be done on the first day of the passover; 5. That no work be done on the seventh day of the passover, Lev. 23:7, 8. 6. That no work be done on the feast of weeks, Lev. 23:21. 7. That no work be done on the first day of the seventh month, Lev. 23:24, 25. 8. That no work be done on the day of expiation, Lev. 23:30. 9. That no work be done on the first day of the feast of tabernacles; 10. That no work be done on the eighth day of release, Lev. 23:34–36.
30. The tenth family of negative precepts is concerning CHASTITY, and AFFINITY, and PURITY, in twenty-four precepts:—1. That none uncover the nakedness of his mother; 2. Of his father's wife; 3. Of his sister; 4. Of the daughter of his father's wife, Lev. 18:7–9, 11; 5. Of the daughter of his son; 6. Of the daughter of his daughter; 7. Of his own daughter; Lev. 18:10; 8. Of a woman and her daughter; 9. Of a woman and the daughter of her son; 10. Of a woman and the daughter of her daughter, Lev. 18:17;
11. Of a father's sister; 12. Of a mother's sister, Lev. 18:12, 13; 13. Of an uncle's wife, Lev. 18:14; 14. Of a daughter-in-law, Lev. 18:15; 15. Of a brother's wife, Lev. 18:16; 16. Of a wife's sister, she being living, Lev. 18:18; 17. Of a married woman, Exod. 20:14; 18. Of a separated woman, Lev. 18:19. 19. That none commit the sin of sodomy, Lev. 18:22. 20. That none uncover the nakedness of her father; 21. Nor of the brother of her father, Lev. 18:7, 14. 22. That filthiness be not committed with any beast by a man; 23. Nor by a woman, Lev. 18:23. 24. That none draw nigh to a prohibited woman, Lev. 18:6.
31. The eleventh family concerns MARRIAGES, in eight prohibitions:—1. That a bastard take not an Israelitess to wife, Deut. 23:2. 2. That no eunuch take a daughter of Israel, Deut. 23:1. 3. That no male be made an eunuch, Lev. 21:17–24. 4. That there be no whore in Israel, Deut. 23:17. 5. That he who hath divorced his wife may not take her again after she hath been married to another, Deut. 24:4. 6. That a brother's widow marry not with a stranger, Deut. 25:5. 7. That he divorce not his wife who hath defamed her in her youth, Deut. 22:19. 8. That he that hath forced a maid shall not divorce her, Deut. 22:29.
32. The twelfth family concerns THE KINGDOM, and is made up of four precepts:—1. That no king be chosen of a strange nation, Deut. 17:15. 2. That the king get not himself many horses, Deut. 17:16. 3. That he multiply not wives; 4. That he heap not up to himself treasures of silver and gold, Deut. 17:17.
33. This is the account that the Jews give of the precepts of the law, and both the number of them, as also their distribution and distinction which they have cast them into, are part, as they pretend, of their oral law: which may easily be improved unto a conviction of the vanity of it; for whereas it is evident that many of these precepts are coincident, many pretended so to be are no precepts at all, and sundry of them are not founded on the places from whence they profess to gather them, yea, that in many of them the mind of the Holy Ghost is plainly perverted, and a contrary sense annexed unto his words,—so it is most unquestionable that there are sundry commands and institutions, especially in, about, and concerning sacrifices, that are no way taken notice of by them in this collection, as I could easily make good by instances sufficient. It is evident that that rule cannot be from God whereof this collection is pretended to be a part; but, as I have said before, because there is a representation in them of no small multitude of commands, especially in things concerning their carnal worship, it was necessary that they should be here represented, though they have been before transcribed from them by others. My principal design herein, is to give light into some passages of our apostle, as also to other expressions concerning this "law of commandments contained in ordinances" in other places of the Scripture.
34. The account our apostle gives of this whole system of divine worship, Heb. 9:1, 10, "The first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary, … which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation," is very remarkable. Let any one cast an eye upon this multitude of commands about meats and drinks, washings, and outward carnal, observances, which are here collected, and he will quickly see how directly and pertinently the description given by our apostle is suited to their services, and that not only as to the manner and multitude of them, but also as to their nature. They are carnal things, and could by no means effect the great, spiritual, glorious, and eternal ends which God had designed, proposed, and promised, in that covenant unto whose administration they were annexed until "the time of reformation" should come. Hence elsewhere, as Col. 2:20, he calls them "the rudiments of the world,"—ordinances about touching, tasting, and handling, about meats and drinks, things outwardly clean or unclean, all which perish with the using.
35. A little view also of the multiplicity of these precepts, and the scrupulous observances required about them and their circum stances, will give light into that of another apostle, Acts 15:10, calling the law "a yoke which neither their fathers nor themselves were able to bear." For although the weight of this yoke did principally consist in the matter of it, and the performance of duties required in it, yet it was greatly increased and aggravated by that multitude of commands wherein it consisted; whence our apostle calls it "the law of commandments contained in ordinances," Eph. 2:15, consisting of an endless number of commands, concerning which their minds could never attain any comfortable satisfaction whether they had answered their duty aright in them or no.
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