[185] Joseph. loco superius citato.

[186] Oecumenius. Act. 5. 37. Theophylact. Luc. 13. 1.

[187] Theophylact. in Luc. 13.

[188] Joseph. l. 7. de bello Judaic. cap. 28. p. 985.

Concerning the Herodians, those that number them among Hereticks, make the heresie to consist in two things: First, in that they took Herod the Great for the promised Messias; because in his Reign, he being a stranger, the Scepter was departed from Judah; which was the promised time of the Messiah his coming. Secondly, they honoured him with superstitious solemnities annually performed upon his Birth-days. Of Herod his Birth-day the Poet speaketh,

—— —— —— Cum

Herodis venere dies, unctaque fenestra,

Dispositæ pinguem nebulam vomuere lucernæ,

Portantes violas, rubrumque amplexa catinum,

Cauda natat thynni, tumet alta fidelia vino.