present, and among them some of the Roman Clergy, who were sent on purpose by the Pope. How comes it then that no one writer of that period should have noticed so remarkable and public an event, except this obscure pamphleteer, who in the other parts of his tract commits the greatest outrages upon geographical truth? Surely if such a council actually metin Hungary, or any where else, its proceedings would have been pub·lished, or, at least, the simple circumstance itself would have been recorded. But I need not engage any more of your valuable time upon this subject; for, at the close of the narrative, the author says, that when he was in Syria, he conversed with the Rechabites, who then adhered to their old customs and rules." This completes the catalogue of lies. I shrewdly suspect, that the writer of this pamphlet was the author of another at that period, giving an account of Moses's tomb on Mount Nebo," which Wood says, was written on purpose to puzzle the Presbyterian Rabbies." 66 66 London, July 9th, 1806. I am yours, &c. IOTA. DOUBTS RESPECTING Mr. G. SHARPS's RULE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S I SIR, MAGAZINE. HAVE read with pleasure the London Curate's communication on the subject of Mr. Granville Sharp's Rule, and am of opinion, that he has clearly shewn the prophets mentioned in the two passages cited by me, viz. Ephes. ii. 20, and Ephes. iii. 5, to be prophets, not of the Old, but of the New Testament. This might be further manifested, if it were requisite, by considering the expression, "Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone," i. e. as Parkhurst (after Doddridge) interprets it, "the foundation corner-stone;" for it seems natural and necessary A necessary, that all the other parts of a foundation should be subsequent in order of time, as well as inferior in importance and dignity, to the corner-stone of it. I have, however, my doubts whether it does not appear from the following passage of Scripture, that the words apostles and prophets are not meant to be descriptive of different persons, and different orders of persons, in the Christian. Church. "And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1 Cor. xii. 28, 29, 30. The same distinction is observed in the epistle to the Ephesians, the very epistle in which the words are supposed by the London Curate to refer to the same persons. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Ephes iv. 11. I am, Sir, Rempstone, July 5, 1806. E. PEARSON. SHEKALIM OR THE SHEKELS. (* Continued from Vol. IX. p. 180.) CHAP 4. The manner of disposing of the oblations.-The case of one who consecrates his property to the use of the Temple.Expenses of the Temple paid monthly. "Α § 1. ND what did they do with this money that was separated? They bought with it the daily sacrifices, and the additional ones, and their drink-offerings, the Omer, and the two loaves, and the shew-bread, and all the offerings of the congregation. The keepers of the plants * The translation of this tract has been discontinued in consequence of some domestic occurrences which have happened to our correspondent; but the three remaining chapters will now follow regularly without interruption, C 2 of of the seventh year received their wages from this obla tion of the chamber. R. Jose says, If any one chuse to offer himself voluntarily, he may be a keeper for nothing. They answered him, You yourself say that they are not to be maintained otherwise than at the charge of the congregation. 2. The red heifer, (*) and the scape goat, and the scapegoat, scarlet tongue (t), were procured with the money of the chamber. The causeway (+) for the red heifer, and that (I)for the scape goat, and the tongue which was placed between his horns, and the water-courses, and the walls of the city, and its towers, and all that was required for the city, were provided from the money of the chamber. Abba Saul says, The causeway for the heifer was erected by the high priests at their own charge. 3. What did they do with the money which yet remained of the residue of the chamber? They bought with it wines, oils, and fine flour, and the gain belonged to the sanctuary. These are the words of R. Ishmael. R. Akiva says, They do not traffic with the money of the sanctuary, neither with what belongs to the poor. 4. What do they do with the residue of the money which has been separated? They make golden plates to overlay the Holy of Holies.-R. Ishmael says, The remainder of the fruits is to procure summer-offerings for the altar. But the remainder of the money separated is to procure the vessels required for the service of the Temple. R. Akiva says, The remainder of the money separated is to procure summer offerings for the altar, and the remainder of the drink-offerings is to procure the vessels for the service. R. Chanania, the vicar of the priests, says, The remainder of the drink-offerings goes to procure summer fruits for the altar, and the remainder of the money separated, to the vessels for the service. But they do not agree with one another as to the fruits. 5. What do they do with the residue of the incense? They set apart from it the wages of the workmen; or make it profane on account of the wages of the workmen Numb. xix. ✦ See Joma, or the Day of Expiation, Chap. 4. § 2. 413. Vol. 7. P. This was erected from the mountain of the temple to mount Olivet. Vida Maimonid. de Vacca Rufa. c. 3. § 1. See Joma, chap. 6 § 4. Vol. S. p. 254. That is, additional sacrifices above what were injoined, in the same way as the fruit in a dessert is an addition to the dinner. (another (another copy reads, on account of their monies), and give it to the workmen for their wages. And they then procure fresh incense from the new payment of Shekels. And if the new payment has been made at that time, they procure the incense from the new payment, but if not, from the money of the last year. 6. If any one sanctifies his property, and there be among it things worthy to be presented as the offerings of the congregation, these are given to the workmen for their wages. These are the words of R. Akiva. Ben Asai saith to him, That is not the process: but they set apart from them the amount of the wages of the workmen, and make it profane, in order that it may serve for the money of the workmen, and they give them to the workmen for their wages, and then they take the amount of them from the new oblation. 7. If any one sanctifies his property, and there be among it any cattle fit for the service of the altar, whether male or female, R. Eliezer says, The males shall be sold to those who need burnt-offerings, and the females shall be sold to those who want peace-offerings, and their price, together with the rest of the property, shall be appropriat ed to the repairs of the temple. R. Joshua says, The males shall themselves be offered as burnt-offerings, and the females shall be sold to those who need peace-offerings, and burnt-offerings shall be procured with the price; and the rest of the property shall be applied to the repairs of the temple. R. Akiva says, I prefer the sentence of R. Eliezer to that of R. Joshua; since R. Eliezer decides according to equity, but R. Joshua makes a distinction. R. Papias said, I have heard a case proposed according to each decision. When a person sanctifies his property with restrictions, the decision is according to R. Eliezer: when a person sanctifies his property absolutely, the decision is according to R. Joshua. 8. If a person sanctifies his property, and there be among it any things fit for the service of the altar, such as wines, oils, or birds; R. Eliezer says, They shall be sold to those who stand in need of them, and with the money which arises thenoe burnt-offerings shall be procured, and the remainder of the property shall be applied to the repairs of the Temple. 9. Once in thirty days they pay what is due from the chamber. If any one has taken upon himself to furnish fine flour, for instance, four measures, at a certain price, and for the same price three measures only can be bought, he he must furnish four: if he have agreed to supply three, and four can be bought for the same price, he must supply four. Because the holy things must have the upper hand. If the flour be worm eaten, the loss is his; and if the wine turn sour, the loss is his, and he does not receive his money until the service of the altar be supplied. СНАР. 5. Presidents of the different departments of the Temple service. Method of checking the expenses. - § 1. THESE were they who were presidents in the sanctuary. Johanan the son of Phinehas was over the seals. Achias was over the drink-offerings: Mathia the son of Samuel was over the lots. Petachia was over the nests of turtle doves. Petachia is the same with Mordecai. Why is his name called Petachia? Because he laid (*) open matters and expounded them; and he knew also seventy (†) languages. The son of Achia was over (†) the sick. Nechonia dug the water-courses. Gebhina was the crier. The son of Gebher was to take care of the shutting of the gates. Ben Bavi was over the scourging. Ben Arsa was over the cymbals. Hogrus the Levite was over the singing. The family of Garmu was over the making of the shew bread. The family of Aftines over the making of the incense. Eleazer had the care of the veil; and Phinehas of the vestments. 2. There were not fewer than three treasurers, nor fewer than seven door-keepers. And they did not commit the care of the congregation, in money matters, to fewer than two; except the son of Achia, who was over the sick, and Eleazer, who kept the veil, because the congregation had appointed these over them. *His name was given him from D to open, to explain. The Jewish expositors pretend that at the confusion of language which took place ou the building of Babel, the number of languages occasioned by that confusion was seventy: and they ground this notion on Gen. x. 5. "By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." This fancy prevails also among the Turks. In the articles of capitulation for Temeswaer, taken from them by Prince Eugene in 1716, part of the 1st article is, "No wrong or damage shall be offered unto us by any nation whatsoever, altho' there should be 72 nations." The priests; who from attending in the temple thinly clad, and eating plentifully of meat, and drinking water, were troubled with pains in the bowels. Literally, the son of Achia was over the diseases of the bowels. 3. There |