The Second Officer we are to take notice of) was employ'd to provide all manner of Things proper and neceflary for Sacrifices, who therefore upon fight of the forefaid Tickets delivered to the Parties respectively the Things which they had purchas❜d.

The Third Officer was he that prefided over the Lots (whereby the Miniftries which every Priest was to perform were deter min'd) and his Business was to take Care that those Lots were rightly diftributed, so that every Prieft might understand his own proper Duty in Attending at the Altar according as his Lot fell.

The Fourth, was he that provided thofe particular Offerings of a pair of Turtle Doves or Pigeons, for the Ufe of fuch as applyed to him by Virtue of Tickets from the firft Of ficer.

The Fifth, was he that adminiftred Phyfick to the rest of the Priests when indifpos'd: For because they were oblig'd to perform the Service of the Temple Bare-footed, and to eat the Flesh of the Sacrifices, they were liable to several Diftempers, and his Bufi nefs was to apply proper Remedies, which were prepared by others under him, and kept for that End and Purpose.

The Sixth, was the Overfeer of the Waters in and about Jerufalem, whofe Business it was to provide that the Wells and Cisterns were kept in good Order, that fo there might be plenty of Water to fupply the Neceflities of the Temple in that Respect, and of fuch as

were

were oblig'd to present themselves in Jeru falem Three Times a Year.

The Seventh did the Duty of a Cryer, and his Employment was to call upon the Priests to prepare themfelves for their Attendance on the Work of their proper Ministries in the Temple.

The Eighth Officer was he that had the Over-fight and Charge of fhutting up the Gates of the Temple when the Service was over, and of opening them the next Day: The Amarcholim, of whom we have spoken already, delivering their Keys to him to that End, and receiving them again when he had done his Duty.

The Ninth was he that was impower'd to chaftife the Levites whom he found negligent in their Night-Watches; fo that if in going the Rounds he found any of them a fleep, he might correct them with Scourges.

The Tenth was he that made use of a Cymbal, by the Noife thereof to give Notice to Levites that they fhould repair to their refpective Stations where they were to perform their Duties in Singing.

The Eleventh was he that appointed the Hymn which was to be Sung, and begun it to fuch or fuch a Tune, the reft thereupon joyning with him, and giving over when he was pleased to put an end to it.

The Twelfth was the Overfeer of those that made the Shew-Bread, and his Bufinels was to take care that it fhould be prepar'd with all the most exquifite Niceness and CuG4

riosity,

riosity, which requir'd a more than ordinary Skill.

The Thirteenth was he that was chief over them who were appointed to make up that excellent Perfume used in the Service of the Temple, and was therefore to be nicely skill'd in the Nature and Qualities of all the Ingredients requifite to fuch a delicate Composition.

The Fourteenth was the Over-feer of thofe, whofe Bufinefs it was to make the Veil, that divided betwixt the Holy Place and the Moft Holy, whenfoever it grew Old or unferviceable.

The Fifteenth was he that was over the Wardrobe of the Priefts; and his Employment was to deliver them the Garments proper for the Performance of the minifterial Acts, and to put them up again when they had done, that fo they might be always ready as Occafion requir❜d.

Thus having finish'd our main Design concerning the Inftitution and Exercise of the Prieft-hood among thofe of our Nation, (in the Management whereof we have used all poffible Plainefs as well as Brevity) we might further add, that by virtue of their High Character the Priests were qualified and commanded to blefs the People in the Name of the Lord, and to inftruct them in their Duty, in the Knowledge, and in the Fear of God. But because we have had occafion heretofore to speak of thefe Points, we shall wave all further Difcourfe about them; and fhall only obferve, that when any Priest was

4

of

of fufficient Age and Growth to enter upon the Duties of his Profeffion, he was initiated thereunto by offering the Tenth Part of an Ephah of fine Flour, Levit. 6. 20. And this he did but once, viz, on the Day on which he was anointed, whereas the Offering of the High Prieft (in that Kind) was to be made twice every Day during all the Time of his Ministration in that High Office.

TH

CHA P. IV.

Of the Jewish Prayers.

HE Duty of Prayer in general is fo ftrongly enforced partly by the Excellency of it, that I fhall not need to infift on any other Topicks to recommend the ferious and conftant Practice thereof. The Necellity appears as from the dependent Condition of all Creatures, fo particularly from the many Wants and Indigencies of Mankind; and neither can the one be fupported, nor the other fupplied, but by the Riches of his Bounty and Liberality who first gave Being to all Things, and establish'd by his good Providence the most proper Methods for their Subfiftance and Prefervation. For the very Notion of a Creature implies a Dependance, and confequently a Weakness and Inability to provide for it felf. And therefore 'tis equally natural and neceffary for it to have Recourfe to the Author of its Being,

and

and in a way agreeable to its Nature, to crave Relief from him. Hence is it that the Ravens are faid (in Scripture) to cry unto God for Food, and that the Lyons do feek their Meat from him, and in short, that the Eyes of all wait upon him, &c.

But to come up clofer to my Defign; as Man, though Lord of this inferior World, doth yet acknowledge a Dependance on the Creator of it, as having as many Wants as other Creatures (if not more) to be fupplied and provided for: So by the Advantage of Reafon and Understanding, (in which he excels the rest of his Fellow-Creatures) he is better qualified to know his own Wants, and to defire a fuitable Provifion for them. And forafmuch as he is fenfible, that God only can answer his Defires in that Behalf, therefore doth he difcover a Necellity of making his Application to him, which being accompany'd with a firm Belief that God is both able and willing to relieve him, commences an Act of Devotion, and is properly that Species of Prayer which we ufually ftyle Petition. Thus much even the Heathens were taught by the Light of Reason, their many Infirmities fufficiently inftructing them in the Necellity of making their Addresses to the Deity for Help and Affistance. Neither is Man only better qualified than other inferior Creatures are to beg for Mercies and Benefits at his Maker's Hands, but also to make all agreeable Returns of Praise and Thankf giving for them; and if he forget or neglect fo to do, he makes himself lyable to the