(printed p. 261 — Book III)
Certainly they can, both generally and particularly. Generally, because they preserved the things that are chief in the religious state:
[margin: Sixth objection answered from Judas the Essene. Chapter X begins.]
(printed p. 262)
excellent religion toward God and, for his sake, chastity of body and soul, flight from pleasures, zeal for poverty, community of all goods, and similar things. Particularly, because they practiced certain things which particular religious later loved above others: hospitality, silence, the education of youth, and other things evident from the preceding discussion.
It is allowed to confirm this from Christian Essenes. But because I have not yet shown that there were any such, I now give only some authors of this opinion. Saint Jerome, to Paulinus, letter 8, when he was discussing the founders and authors of monks, and had already named Pauls, Antonys, Hilarions, and others, goes on: “And to return to the authority of the Scriptures: our prince is Elijah, our Elisha is ours, our leaders are the sons of the prophets, who dwelt in fields and solitudes and made themselves tents near the streams of the Jordan. From these are also those sons of Rechab who drank no wine or strong drink, who lived in tents, who are praised by the voice of God through Jeremiah, and to whom it is promised that there shall not fail from their stock a man standing before the Lord. I think this is also signified by the title of Psalm 70: of the sons of Jonadab, and of those who were first led into captivity. This is Jonadab son of Rechab, who in the book of Kings is written to have climbed into the chariot with Jehu. And his sons are those who, always dwelling in a tent, at last
[margin: Essenes as models of Christian religious life. Jerome to Paulinus is quoted. Source page 287 ends mid-sentence.]
(printed p. 263)
were compelled, because of the irruption of the Chaldean army, to enter Jerusalem, and are said to have endured that first captivity because, after the freedom of the solitude, they were enclosed in the city as in a prison.”
Philastrius says: “The Essenes are those who practice the life of monks, not taking delicate foods, not having zeal for clothing, and possessing nothing; but they persist in reading and good works and live also in separated places.” Lyra, on Jeremiah 35, says: “From this Jonadab begins the religious manner of living.” Abulensis on Matthew 5, chapter 23, question 12, and my Drusius also in the appendix, chapter 3: “The Essenes were cultivators of piety and religion, whom the French call religieux, and the Germans Geistliche.” We heard Chytraeus giving his support earlier. Now it is pleasant also to hear Hugh Broughton in his Concentus: “The third sect among the Jews was that of the Essenes, who were not unlike monks.”