[11] The Talmud is the Tradition, or _unwritten_ law of the Jews, the Law of Moses being their _written_ Law. This Tradition has, in process of time, been set down in writing; and two different Collections have been made of it: the one, in the Jerusalem School, about three hundred years after Jesus Christ, which is called the _Jerusalem_ Talmud; the other, in the Babylonian School, five hundred years after Jesus Christ, and is called, the _Babylon_ Talmud. The latter is that which is usually read among the Jews; and when they simply say, the _Talmud_, they mean the Babylon Talmud. [12] Buxtorf, the Author from whom the above facts are drawn, is mentioned with great praise in the _Scaligerana_, which is a Collection, or mixture, of Notes, partly French, partly Latin, found in the papers of J. Scaliger, and printed after his death. Buxtorf is called, in one of these Notes, the only Man learned in the Hebrew language; and Scaliger adds, that it is surprising how the Jews can love him, though he has handled them so severely; which shews that he has been impartial in his accounts. _Mirum quomodo Buxtorsius à Judæis ametur, in illâ tamen Synagogâ Judaicâ illos valdè perstringit._ [13] It is to be supposed, that the Jew Priests had been well freed for the above benign interpretations they gave of the law of Moses. CHAP. III. _Voluntary flagellations were unknown to the first Christians. An explanation is given of the passage of St. Paul_: I chastise my body, and keep it under subjection[14]. Flagellations are mentioned so often as eleven times by the Holy Writers of the New Testament. Of these, five relate to Jesus Christ. The first is in the _xxth chapter_ of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, v. 19; and in the _xxvith_ of the same, v. 26. In the _xvth chapter_ of St. Mark’s Gospel, v. 33. In the _xviith chapter_ of the Gospel according to St. Luke, v. 33; and in the _xixth chapter_ of the Gospel according to St. John, v. 1[15]. No just conclusion, as the Reader may see, can be drawn from the above-mentioned passages, in support of voluntary flagellations, and of those _Disciplines_ which Monks now-a-days inflict on themselves; since it is plain that our Saviour did not whip himself with his own hands: and we might as well say that we ought to inflict death upon ourselves, and nail ourselves to a cross, as that we ought to lacerate our own flesh with scourges, because Jesus Christ was exposed to that kind of punishment.