CHAPTER XIX. £07 Note, These were the persons who had so much corrupted the law in our Saviour's time, and made it void by their tradi- tions: Yet their doctrine generally prevailed among the Scribes and the lawyers, who were writers and explainers of the law ; and the bulk of the common people had them in high esteem and veneration, so that they were the most numerous of any sect. 13. Q. Is the sect of the Pharisees still in being ? A. The present religion of the Jews, in their several dispersions, except among the few Karaites, is wholly formed and practised accord- ing to the traditions of the Pharisees, rather than according to the law and prophets : So that they have corrupted the old Jewish religion, in the same manner as the papists have the christian. 14. Q. What were the opinions of the Sadducees ? A. The Sadducees at first are supposed by Doctor Prideaux, to be no more than the Zadikim, who only stuck to the written word of God, renouncing all other traditions : And that probably they went no further than this in the days of Hyrcanus ; though the Talmudical writers derive their name, and their dangerous doc- trines, more early, from one Zadok, as is before related. But it is certain that afterward the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead, and the very being of angels or spirits, or souls of men departed, and any existence in a future state: They supposed God to be the only spirit, and that he rewarded and punished mankind in this world only, and there was nothing tò be hoped or feared after death : Which principles render this sect an im- pious party of men. 15. Q. What did they profess as the rule of their religion ? A. They not only rejected all unwritten traditions, but all the written word of God, except the five books of Moses ; for the doctrine of a future state is not so evidently taught therein And therefore Christ argues not with them out of the psalms or pro- phets, but only out of the law of Moses ; when he proves a future state or resurrection from God's being the God of Abra- ham, Isaac, and Jacob ; Luke xx. 37. 1ß..Q. How long did this sect of the Sadducees continue ? A. Though all the common peopleltad the chief veneration for the Pharisees, yet most of the richest and the greatest among them fell into the opinions of the Sadducees for several genera- tions, but they were all cut off in thedestruction of Jerusalem ;. nor do we find any mention of them as a sect for many ages after, till their name was revived and applied to the K.araites byway of reproach. 17. Q. Whowere these Karaites ? A. Amuch better sect among the Jews, who, in the sixth century after Christ, began to he so much offended with the incredible stories and fooleries of the Talmud whichWas then published, and with the strange mys- tical senses which some of the Jews put on the scriptures, that Kk2 iN
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