(37) tuns ; whereas it is much more likely that many of there were given on purpofe to alienate the People by Prohibi- tions , from any compliance with the Æglptians , or any of her Nation , whereof Maimon-ides in his Mene Ne6uchim gives us fundry inflances. This Af'ertion I fay is rath and fáfie. For (I) As unto the Inflances given for its confirma- tion , who ¡hall affure us that they were then in ufe and pra&ice in the Synagogues when the Apoftles gave Rules un- to the Churches of the New Tellament. We have no Re- cordof theirs , not one word in all the world, of what was their way and pra&ice, but what is at lead z5o years younger and later than the writings of the NewTeilament; and in the firft of their writings as in them that follow, we have innumerable things ailerted to have been the T radi- tions and Pra&ifes of their Forefathers; from the days of Mofes , which we know to be utterly falle. At that time when they undertook to compote a newReligion out of their pretended Traditions , partly by the Revolt of many Apo - flates from Chriftianity untó them , efpecially of the Elic- nites and Nazarenes , and partly by their own Study and Obfervation , coming to the knowledge of fundry things in the Gofpel Churches , their Order and W,ortlhip, they took them in as their own ; undeniable Inflances may be given hereof. (z) Wherein there is a real coincidence, between what was ordained by the Apofiles and what was pra&tifed by the Jews, it is in things which the light of Nature , and the general Rules of the Scripture do dire& unto. And it is difhonourable unto the Apoftles and the Spirit of Chrift in them, to think, or fay, that in fuch things, they took their Pattern from the 7ews, or made them their example. Surely the Apoftles took not the Pattern and Example for the Inilitutionof Excommunication, from the Druids, among whom there was Tome things that did greatly referable it, fo faras it bath its Foundation in the light of Nature. CHAP.
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