Читать книгу Moses and Aaron - Goodwin Thomas Aiken - Страница 3

Wee having seen the most remarkable changes in the Common-wealth of the Hebrews; we will note the chief Observations concerning the persons there inhabiting: and first concerning the Publicans, who were, in the latter times, an heterogeneous Member of that Common-wealth. After that the Jews became Tributary to Rome, (which19 was effected by Pompey threescore years before the Birth of our Saviour) certain Offices were appointed by the Senate of Rome, unto whom it belonged, as well among the Jews as in other Provinces, to collect, and gather up such custome-money or tribute, as was exacted by the Senate. Those that gathered up these publique payments, were termed Publicani, Publicans; and by reason of their covetous exactions, they commonly were hated by the People of the Provinces:20 Every Province had his several Societie, or company of Publicanes: Every Society his distinct Governour: in which respect it is, that Zacheus is called by the Evangelists, ἀρχιτελώνης princeps Publicanorum, the chief Receiver of the tribute, or chief Publican, Luke 12. 2. And all the Provincial Governours in these several Societies, had one chief21 Master residing at Rome, unto whom the other subordinate Governours gave up their accounts. These Publicans were hated in all Provinces, because of their exactions; but chiefly in the Commonwealth of the Jews, because though it were chiefly maintained by the Galileans, yet it was generally inclined unto by the Jews, That tribute ought not to be payed by them: this hatred is confirmed by that Rabbinical proverb,22 Take not a Wife out of that family wherein there is a Publican, for such are all Publicans. Yea a faithful Publican was so rare at Rome it self, that one Sabinus for his honest managing of that Office, in an honourable remembrance thereof, had certain images erected with this superscription23; Καλῶς τελωνήσαντι, For the Faithful Publican. And therefore no marvel, if in the Gospel, Publicans and sinners go hand in hand.

It is now generally received as a truth undoubted, that not only Heathen people, but sometimes Jews themselves became Publicanes. Tertullian was of another opinion,24 and thought that all the Publicans were Heathens; but he hath been in that long since confuted by Jerome25, and reason it self perswadeth the contrary. First, Matthew who was a Publican, was afterwards an Apostle, and therefore unlikely to have been an Heathen. Secondly, Zacheus his name was a pure Hebrew name having no affinity with Roman names. Thirdly, the ground or principal argument on which Tertullian built, was meerly26 erroneous.