FIRST-FRUIT

FIRST-FRUIT, (primitie,) among the Hebrews, were oblations of part of the fruits of the harvest, offered to God as an acknowledgement of his sovereign dominion. The first of these fruits was offered in the name of the whole nation, being either two loaves of bread, or a sheaf of barley which was threshed in the court of the temple. Every private person was obliged to bring his first-fruits to the temple; and these consisted.

consisted of wheat, barley, grapes, figs, apricots, olives, and dates.

There was another sort of first-fruits which were paid to God. When bread was kneaded in a family, a portion of it was set apart, and given to the priest or Levite who dwelt in the place: if there was no priest or Levite there, it was cast into the oven, and consumed by the fire. These offerings made a considerable part of the revenues of the Hebrew priesthood.

First-fruits are frequently mentioned in ancient Christian writers as one part of the church-revenue. One of the councils of Carthage enjoins, that they should consist only of grapes and corn; which shews, that this was the practice of the African church.

First-Fruits, in the church of England, are the profits of every spiritual benefice for the first year, according to the valuation thereof in the king's books.