First, The Pharisees[101] ascribed some things to Fate, or Destiny, and some things to mans Free-will.
[101] Joseph. l. 13. c. 9.
Secondly, They confessed that there were Angels, and Spirits, Acts 23. 8.
Thirdly, Concerning the resurrection of the dead, they acknowledged it, and taught[102] that the souls of evil men deceased, presently departed into everlasting punishiment; but the souls, they say, of good men, passed by a kind of Pythagorean μετεμψύχωσις into other good mens bodies. Hence it is thought[103] that the different opinions concerning our Saviour did arise; Some saying that he was John Baptist; others, Elias; others, Jeremias, Matth. 16. 14. As if Christ his body had been animated by the soul either of John, Elias, or Jeremias.
[102] Joseph. de bello Judaic. l. 2. cap. 12.
[103] Serar. Trihæres. l. 2 c. 3. It. Drus. in præter.
Fourthly, They did stifly maintain the Traditions of their Elders. For the better understanding what their Traditions were, we must know that the Jews say the Law was twofold,[104] one committed to writing, which they called תורה שבכתב Thorah schebitchtah, The written Law; the other delivered by tradition, termed by them, תורה בעל פה Thorah begnal pe. They say both were delivered by God unto Moses upon Mount Sanai, the latter as an exposition of the former, which Moses afterward delivered by mouth to Joshua, Joshua to the Elders, the Elders to the Prophets, the Prophets to those of the great Synagogue, from whom successively it descended to after-ages. These Traditions were one of the chief Controversies between the Pharisees, and the Sadduces.[105] The Pharisees said, Let us maintain the Law which our fore fathers have delivered into our hands, expounded by the mouth of the wise men, who expounded it by tradition. And lo, the Sadduces said, Let us not believe or hearken to any tradition or exposition, but unto the Law of Moses alone. The Traditions which they chiefly urged, were these;
[104] Moses Kotsen. in præf. lib. præcept.
[105] Gorionides, c. 29.