Seat

SEAT. The Seat of Moses, upon which the Scribes and Pharisees sat, is to express the Authority of the Doctors of the Law, and the Office of Teaching which was granted to them, or which they took upon themselves. Our Lord commanded that they should be heard and respected, but he forbid that their Actions should be made Precedents and Examples.

Psal. I. 1.The Seat of the Scorners, of the Pestilent, of which there is mention in the first Psalm, stands for scandalous Discourse, the licentious Manners of Libertines, who corrupt as much by their scandalous Example and Conduct, as by their loose Principles, all those that hear them and keep them Company. Instead of Pestilent, the Hebrew says Scorners, Revilers, those pretended Free-thinkers, that deride the Credulity and Simplicity of plain and honest Minds. Solomon often speaks of them in his Proverbs¹, and takes great Care to secure his Pupil against the Strokes of their dangerous Tongues.

The Seat of Honours, mention’d by EcclesiasticusEcclus. vii. 4., the chief Places in the Synagogues, which the Pharisees assum’d to Matth. xxiii. 6.themselves; the Seat that was prepar’d for Job in the Assemblies, the Seat or Throne of the King, and of God, are clear enough of themselves. The Throne belongs to God, and to the King, the Seat of Honour to the Friends of the King, and to great Men. The Seat of the Doctors belongs to such as make it their Profession to teach and instruct.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages