Potent an Enemy and restoring his Country that was almost ruin'd to its Primitive state and lustre These are matters of fact that cannot be call'd in question but we shall leave it to the Readers judgment to determine whether these are of the like nature that afford the Subject of this Medal (c) f. 28. Victori perpetuo Ob expugnatas Vrbes ducentas To the Eternal Conqueror for having taken by Storm 200 Cities I know not how it can be affirmed that Cities which have surrendred themselves as soon as the Enemy appear'd before their Gates or those that went forth to meet him and to deliver their Keys into his possession were taken by force of Arms expugnatae But I am of opinion that it would be very difficult to reckon up twenty whereof the French King hath made himself Master after another manner at least before the breaking of the Truce The word Perpetuus which Father Menêtrier translates Eternal calls to my remembrance the (d) f. 2â— 6 Viro Immortali and the (e) 10.6.27.6 Aeternitas Imperii Gallici The former Epithete hath been generally exploded and it hath been very ill resented that they durst presume to call Lewis the XIV The Immortal Man The Eternity of the French Empire does not appear to me to be more tolerable and to say the truth both the Expressions savour too much of Paganism and Blasphemy as well as this Counter wherein Joshua is represented giving a Signal to the Sun to stop and the French King doing the like to the New Moon with these words (f) f. 37.42 Solem ille hic Lunam sistit and under the Medal Germaniae Pax. However the Germans are not willing to allow that his most Christian Majesty should assume to himself the Glory of setting Bounds to the Progress of the Turks and of restoring Peace to the Empire but if this power be disputed none will deny him the honour of exciting those Insidels to break the Truce with the Emperor and of furnishing them with Officers Arms and Ammunition Amongst so many prevarications it was not expected to find a publick Affirmation of a matter of fact which the French Writers have for a long time disowned that is to say that the Protestants of that Kingdom had not been reconciled to the Communion of the Church of Rome but by making use of the utmost extremity For what else can be meant by (g) f. 50. the labours of Hercules placed in the Constellations The Thunder with these words Deorum jura tuetur the Giants crush'd to pieces under the Mountains the Hydra slain the heads of this Monster sever'd and burnt Trees cut down and their Branches lopt off Nay they confess that those pretended Conversions could not be otherwise performed in a Device the Body whereof is the Gordian Knot cut asunder with a Sword and the Motto Frustra tentassent alii Others would have attempted it in vain And Father Menétrier ingeniously explains the meaning of it without any evasion having caus'd the (h) f. â—â— Titles of 36 Declarations publish'd at several times against the Reformed to be grav'd on a Plate The Printers of Holland have added to their Edition of this Work five new Plates comprehending divers very Satyrical Emblems and Devices which I shall not here mention but only observe that one Mâ—dal grosly reflects on the Honour of the English Notwithstanding this Book taken all together deserves a place in the Library of the ingenious not only on the account of several publick Monuments therein contained as the prospect of the Square call'd la Place des Victoires the Obelisk of Arles c. but also in regard that there are inserted the Arms of the Principal Houses or Families of France of the Prinees Dukes Prelates and other Noblemen of the Order of the Holy Ghost together with those of the Marshals of France of the Colonels and other Military Officers as also those of the Regiments that have been lately raised and lastly those of the Presidents of the Soveraign Courts I shall add one Inscription worthy to be Printed in the next Edition of the Jesuits Book and made upon the Building Versailles Hic fuit ante Chaos dixisti Regia Verbo Fit Ludovice tuo sic faâ—ta est machina Mundi Which may be properly Paraphrased in English thus That the Eternal Word the World should frame A Wonder 't was till Lewis did the same II. NOUVELLE BIBLIOTHEQUE DES AUTHEURS ECCLESIASTIQUES c. Or a new Library of Eccle scastical Authors containing the History of their Lives a Catalogue and Chronology of their Writings and an Epitome of whatsoever is comprehended therein together with divers Critical Reflections on their Style and Doctrine as also an Account of the several Editions of their Works In five Volumes in Quarto which compleat the History of the six first Ages of the Church Printed at Mons and to be Sold in London by Abel Swall and Timothy Child at theVnicorn in St. Pauls Church-yard 1692. the 1. Vol. pag. 342. THis Work hath been every where so much talk'd of and hath been generally so well esteemed among the Learned that although this is only a second Edition and a large account hath been already given of the two first Volumes in the Bibliotheque Vniverselle nevertheless we are perswaded that it will not be altogether unacceptable to the ingenious of our own Nation who perhaps have not seen it or at least have receiv'd but little information concerning the Subject and design thereof to represent to them a more particular Character both of the Author and the Book Mr. Du Pin is a Professor of Divinity in the College of Sorbonne who according to the Testimony of divers learned * Vide Caâ—e Pres Hâ—sl Lâ—tter Men and even that of his own Works hath been for a long time addicted to the Study of Ecclesiastical Antiquity And as he is a man of great Parts and endued wiâ—h a clear and sound Judgment it may be easily imagn'd that by frequent reading he hath discover'd many things that are Contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of that Church wherein he hath been Educated But in a Society which cannot endure to be Contradicted in the least matter and that hates even the very Name of Reformation it was dangerous to Communicate his Discoveries to the World at least until some favourable opportunity did enable him to use a greater Liberty It is probable that as soon as the Controversies between France and the Court of Rome concerning the Regalia and the nomination to great Benefices began to arise Mr. Du Pin was incited to publish his Remarks but observing judiciously that this contâ—st would not be soon appeas'd under a Prince so jealous of his Honour and Right as Lewis XIV and a Pope so obstinate as Innocent XI he judg'd it to be expedient to afford them longer time to be exasperated one against another to the end that he might be more secure and might
discourse more freely and with greater weight concerning the matters The event happen'd as the Author had foreseen for the Pope vindicated the persecuted Jansenists either as being of their opinion or designing by the Publick expressing of a Compassion that cost him nothing to strengthen his party with the acceâ—ssion of so considerable a number of Learned Divines and of he best Writers in France Whereupon the King being incenseâ—d that his Holiness should attempt as it were to prescribe Laws to him and should endeavour to withdraw his Subjects from their Allegiance to him took other measures and having Summon'd an Assembly of his Clergy †In the Year 1682. caus'd it to be declar'd therein 1. That the Pope hath no Authority directly or indirectly over the Temporalities of Kings 2. That much less hath he any power to depose them 3. That he is not infallible 4. That he is inferiour to a Council At that time the breach seem'd to be irreparable and it was generally believ'd that a Patriarch would e're long preside in France It is true indeed that the persecution of the Protestants whose entire Destruction was then hasten'd afforded but little hope of a Reformation to the moderate part of Roman Catholicks However many of them that were willing to flatter themselves with vain Expectations gave it out that none ought to be discourag'd by these rigorous Persecutions that the Court not being ignorant of the commotions that a too much precipitated Reformation hath produced in other places intended to proceed therein by degrees And that even on this account they had very good grounds to abolish the Exercise of the Reformed Religion either to avoid a Schism like unto that which vexes yet England at this present or insensibly to gain the consent of the old Catholicks by the Conversation of the new Upon the whole matter this is sufficient to induce us to believe that the Court of France is not unwilling that their Divines should take the Advantage of this Conjuncture obliquely to assault the Superstitions of the Church of Rome However Father Simon to vindicate himself in regard that our Author had refuted (a) 〈◊〉 4. Disseâ—â— Prol. P. 30.38 â—9 his too presumptuous Conjectures on the Pentateuch hath written against him with much animosity accusing him as one that had employed his Pen to revive Calvinism that was so lately extirpated Nevertheless all these loud Clamours produced no effect serving only to promote the Sale of the Book neither have they oblig'd Mr. Du Pin to blot out these passages that were offensive to his Adversary but only to add certain Notes in this Second Edition to prove that Moses really composed the Pentateuch And the Author is so far from having been reprehended for bringing allegations in favour of the Protestants that the Censors of Books have loaded him with extraordinary Commendations in the beginning of the second Volume which they conclude in these words That not being able to determine whether the vast extent of his Learning the Sagacity of his Judgment or the continual solidity of his Reflections ought most to be admin'd they find themselves oblig'd to declare that that which would serve for the Commendation of many is not sufficient to discharge all the Obligations that they judge to be due to his singular merit A large Preface is prefixed to the first Volume wherein the Author explains and justifies the Title that he hath given to his Book gives an account of his Design and Method and propounds certain Critical Rules to determine whether a Work be forg'd or whether it really appertains to the Person to whom it is Attributed This Preface is follow'd with a Preliminary Dissertation concerning the Books of the Bible in which he treats 1. Of the Authors of the Books of the Old Testament in general 2. Of the Canonical and Apocryphal Writings And indeed the judgment of Mr. Du Pin on this Article is very Remarkable seeing he is a Roman Catholick for according to his opinion the Six last Chapters of the Book of Esther are not extant in the Hebrew Text but were taken from divers places and contain several pieces apparently Collected by the Hellenist Jews St. Jerom expresly rejects the Book of Buruch as not being included in the Canon of Sacred Writings in his Preface to the Prophecy of Jeremiah The History of Tobit is likewise excluded in all the Ancient Catalogues from the number of Canonical Writings as well as that of Judith In a word Christian Antiquity hath follow'd the Canon of the Jews as to the Books of the Old Testament there are no others Cited in the New and a great part of these are often alledged therein Moreover the Primitive Catalogues of Canonical Books composed by the Greek and Latin Ecclesiastical Authors do not contain any others In the Chronicon of Eusebius the Books of the Maccabees are separated from those of the Holy Scriptures and placed in the Rank of Josephus and Africanus The Books of Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus are inserted in the Ancient Catalogues among those Writings that are esteem'd to be very useful but such as are not Canonical Nothing can be inferr'd to prove their being Divinely inspir'd from those passages that are produc'd by the Fathers in regard that Origen St. Jerom and St. Hilary by whom they are cited reckon them among the Apocryphal Writings Moreover these Books were not admitted into the Canon of holy Scripture even in the time of Gregory the Great Forasmuch as this Pope speaks to this effect †Greg. Lib. 12. Moral We do nothing that is unreasonable in exhibiting the Testimony of Books that are not Canonical since they were Published for the Edification of the Church Many Ecclesiastical Writers both Greek and Latin reckon only 22 Canonical Books annexing the History of Ruth to that of Judges and the Lamentations of Jeremiah to his Prophecies although they lived after the third Council of Carthage and after Innocent I. who is reported to have inserted the Maccabees and other Apocryphal Books into the sacred Canon which shews adds our Author that these definitions were not follow'd by all Authors and by all the Churches until this was at last entirely determin'd by the Decision of the Council of Trent Insomuch that these Ecclesiastical Assemblies partake of this general property with the others that the Decrees of the later should abolish all those of the preceeding or otherwise it is but just that the Church of Rome which hath a power to make new Articles of Faith should likewise be invested with that of causing the Books from whence they are taken to be esteem'd as Canonical In the third Article of this dissertation the Author gives us the History of the Hebrew Original of the Translation of the Septuagint and of other Greek Versions of the Old Testament 4. He discourseth anfterwards concerning certain Authors whose works have some Relation to the Sacred Writings of the Hebrews as Philo Josephus Aristaeus c. 5.
He treats of the Authors of the Books of the New Testament And 6. of the Canon of these Books Let us now proceed to the Body of the Work Mr. Du Pin hath thought sit to reject the Liturgies (a) p. 8. that are attributed to the Apostles in regard says he that we need only to reflect a little on what we Read in the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians concerning the Celebration of the Eucharist and on that which hath been alledg'd on this Subject by St. Justin and the Primitive Fathers of the Church to be convinc'd that the Apostles and their Successors celebrated the Sacrifice of the Mass with great Simplicity A very small number of Litanies were recited therein but by little and little some other Collects were added together with certain exterior Ceremonies to render the Service more venerable to the People lastly the Churches proceeded to regulate and to commit these particular Methods to Writing and this is that which we call Liturgies Our Author is not only content to disallow the Works of the Counterfeit St Denis (q) p. 24. b but he likewise proves in one of his Notes (c) p. 38. that the true Dionysius the Arâ—opagite never was in France that Photinus first propagated the Christian Religion in that Kingdom and that in the time of St. Irenaeus his Successor Christianity was establishd only in that part of the Country call'd Gallia Viennensis Lugdurensis since there were no Martyrs any where but within the Limits of these two Provinces concerning whom he produceth (d) p. 50. an Epistle of the Church of Smyrna to those of Pontus which deserves to be remembred in more than one place The Pagans having hindred the Christians from carrying off the Body of Polycarp that remain'd entire in the midst of the Flames lest as was pretended by these deluded Heathens they should adore it instead of Jesus Christ the Church of Smyrna made this reflection thereupon certainly these People were possess'd with an extravagant frenzy as being ignorant that the Christians adore Jesus Christ only because he is the Son of God and that they honour the Martyrs who are his Disciples and followers only on the account of the Love that they testifie for their King and Master Afterward The Centurion having caus'd the Body of this Martyr to be burnt the Christians took away his Bones being more valuable than the most precious Stones and more pure than Gold which they BURIED in a place where they Assembled together to Celebrate with joy and Chearfulness the Day of his Martyrdom thus HONOURING the MEMORY of those that had fought Gloriously for their Religion to the end that they might confirm and instruct others by such Examples These are the Sentiments adds our Author of the Ancient Church concerning the Respect due to Martyrs and their Relicks explain'd after a very clear and distinct manner equidistant from the contempt that is cast on them by our Modern Hereticks and from the Superstition of some Catholicks But Mr. Du Pâ—n would have extreamly oblig'd the World in shewing who those Hereticks are who despise the Holy Martyrs and their true Relicks and refuse to afford them this sort of honour that was done to their memory by the Church of Smyrna In this Edition is an extract of Origen's Book concerning Prayer (e) p. 142.145 which the Author had not seen when he publish'd the first and on the occasion of the dispute that rose between St. Cyprian and the Bishop of Rome concerning the Repeating of Baptism he produceth a remarkable passage (f) 164 2. taken from the Acts of the last Council of Carthage holden in the Year 256. Wherein this Father exhorting the 87 Bishops that were there present freely to disclose their mind without any design of excommunicating those that were of a different opinion gives them this reason For none ought to Style himself Bishop of Bishops to endeavour to constrain his Colleagues by a Tyrannical Authority by reason that every Bishop hath liberty and power to make use thereof as he shall think fit and that he can no more be judg'd by another than he can judge him But we ought all to attend to the judgment of CHRIST who alone hath power to set us over his Church and to judge of our Actions In this Controversy both parties pretended to have Tradition on their side and St. Cyprian oppos'd to that which was alledg'd against him by Pope Stephen the truth of the Gospel and the Primitive Tradition of the Apostles The Edition of the Works of this Father which is declar'd by Mr. Du Pin to be generally most esteem'd is that which hath been Published some years ago by two English Bishops and Printed at Oxford but the Annotations of Pamelius are not much reguarded by reason that he applies himself rather to confirm the Doctrine and discipline that is received and maintain'd by those of his own Society than to explain the difficulties that occur in the Text of the Author Mr. Du Pin doubts (g) â— 199.1 whether the passage recited by Joannes Damascenus in his third Homily concerning Images appertains to Methodius it is declared therein that the Christians made certain Figures of Gold representing the Angels for the Glory of God if it were written by this Bishop it must be taken said he in another Sence different from that which is attributed to it by Damascenus and by these words Angels Principalities and Powers the Kings of the Earth are to be understood as may be inferr'd from the preceeding expressions Moreover he rejects all the Decretals that are imputed to the Primitive Popes and believe that they were forg'd by Riculphus and his Successor Benedict in the ninth Century Lastly he concludes this Volume with an Epitome of the Doctrine Discipline and Moral Instructions of the Church in the three first Ages thereof There are no notes subjoined to this Abridgment because it is taken for granted that sufficient prooss of all that is asserted therein have been already exhibited in the body of the Work Nevertheless it cannot be discerned by what Arguments alledg'd in the preceeding Treatise Mr. Du Pin supports the following Propositions that are afterward maintain'd by him in the said Epitome viz. 1 That altho' all the Fathers are not agreed that Infants are born in Sin and liable to Damnation yet the contrary opinion was more agreeable to the Church 2 That the Sacrifice of the Mass was Celebrated in Memory of the Dead 3 That the ancient Christians invocated the Saints and Martyrs deceas'd and that they were perswaded that they prayed to God for the living However there are other Principles that are grounded on better Authority and such as are of great importance with respect to the present differences among Christians 1 That the ancient Writers always mention'd the Virgin Mary with a great deal of respect tho' they have not exceeded their due bounds as it hath been afterwards practised
there is neither Table of the Chapters nor of the Matters nor any Titles upon the Chapters nor is the design of the Author to be apprehended either in the Preface or Introduction So that a man must have read the Book which the Author refutes and know what it treats of if he intends to make any advantage by the reading of this That want of order might offend the Reader and hinder the selling of the Book and yet neither Dr. Maurice nor his Bookseller have any reason to complain But this Book is otherwise so well written and contains so many learned Observations that 't is great pity it should not be as well known as it deserves And therefore we shall in a few words give you an account of what it treats Mr. Clarkson was a Non-Conformist of the number of those who are call'd Independants or Congregational Men because they believe that every Congregation is a Church apart or a Society of Men by themselves over which no other has any thing to do so that the Minister they have made choice of is very near as Soveraign as the Pope of Rome or to make use of a Phrase which less offends those Gentlemen as a Bishop in his Diocess To prove that this opinion is not so new as it seems at first Mr. Clarkson wrote a Book entituled Primitive Episcopacy which was not Published till after his decease The principal thing which he drives at is to prove that during the three first Ages no Bishop had above one Flock under his charge that is to say so many Christians as the Place could contain wherein they assembled To make this out he endeavours to shew 1. That in the first Age there were none but Jews and Proselytes that embrac'd the Christian Religion and those but few in number 2. That the Pagans that were converted in the second and third Age were inconsiderable in respect of the Jews and other Pagans 3. That there was a Bishop almost in every Village 4. That the greatest part of the Cities were no bigger than the Villages and Borough Towns of England 5. That such as were bigger were but thinly peopled at least that it is certain there were but very few Christians in ' em 6. That it ought to be considered that the Christians were divided into several Sects which had every one their particular Bishops or Pastors Dr. Maurice refutes these objections with a great deal more pains and Learning than they deserve in the six Chapters of which the whole Treatise consists But these answers would engage us in a too long discussion besides that we are convinc'd that the greatest part of those that will read this Journal are almost able to discover the weakness of Mr. Clarkson's Arguments VIII An Accurate Description of the Vnited Netherlands and of the most considerable Parts of Germany Swedeland and Denmark containing a succinct accompt of what is most remarkable in these Countries and necessary Instructions for Travellers together with an exact relation of the Entertainment of his most Sacred Majesty K. WILLIAM at the Hague Written by an English Gentleman 8o. London for Tim. Child 1691. p. 192. TRavels are always full of divertisement provided they be well written but they are not always equally beneficial for that they who do no more than slip into a Country or make but a short stay therein can never thoroughly inform themselves of the manners and customs of the people or of the form of their Government which is the principal thing to be inquir'd into Therefore the Remarks of Sir William Temple are admir'd for so much as they give an account of such things The Author of this description seems to have judgment enough to have been able to do the same especially having liv'd sixteen years in the Countries of which he speaks But it seems that he has avoided tracing the Footsteps of that learned Polititian and that he has only applied himself to make remarks more profitable for Travellers only and more proper for the common sort of People Therefore it is that you shall here find the descriptions of the most famous Cities of Holland Germany Sweeden and Denmark of their scituation their Building the Charges of travelling thither and living there besides several Remarks upon their Trade their Riches the Inclinations of the Inhabitants and which way to converse with 'em and win their Friendship In the Observations which he makes upon these things he seems still to have had in view the good of his Nation and to incline those that sit at the Helm to reform certain abuses which if remov'd the Nation would be in a more flourishing condition You shall there find one example in the extract of a Letter of a Merchant who preferr'd living at Amsterdam before living in London for reasons very requisite to be read (a) p. 11â— 113 in the Author himself To render his admonitions grateful to his fellow Countrymen he ends with a discourse very curious and much to their advantage He gives you a Catalogue of the 18 Cities of Holland that have voices in the States of that Province of 53 the most famous Cities of Germany and the Low-Countries of 22 of France of 14 in Italy besides some others in the Territories of the Duke of Savoy and the Cantons of Switzerland He sets down the number of their Houses which he says he had out of the publick Registers and comparing them afterwards with the Houses in London which he demonstrates to be above 100000 he makes it out by that Calculation that all the Cities of the Province of Holland joyned together do not contain so many Houses as London and the Suburds not having above 88909. That the 53 Cities of Germany do not exceed the Capital City of England above a little more than two thirds and that the 22 Cities of France have not once as many The Relation of the King of England's first Voyage into Holland is worth reading especially for persons of Wit who will there meet with very ingenious Devises and Inscriptions IX The new Method of Fortification as practised by Monsieur Vauban Engineer General of France 8o. London for Abel Swalle 1691. p. 183. THo' this Book has been published by the Chevalier de Cambray one of Mr. Vauban's Pupils it is certainly the work of that great Engineer who composed it for the benefit of certain young Noblemen and Cadets residing in divers Cities within the Dominions of the French King To the end that they might be able to avoid the pains and trouble of reading over so many Voluminous Books that are written in the German and other Languages on this Subject the Author of this Tract hath taken care to epitomize all that he judged to be necessary for the attaining to perfection in this Art And indeed besides a large Treatise of practical Geometry prefixed at the beginning the several Methods of almost all the Eminent Engineers that have hither to appear'd in the World are
shew the large Extent and Certainty thereof he propounds a general (b) 3. Theorem which he afterwards resolves more particularly in Two Propositions Then he proceeds to illustrate his Method by Examples (c) 5. in 32 Problems wherein is exhibited the Resolution of Equations of all manner of Dimensions taken from the Resolution of a Simple Equation Whereunto he adds Examples of Quadratick Equations All his Operations are described at large and to render the Practice more plain and obvious the Author hath taken the Pains to compose certain Tables which are inserted at the End insomuch that if he continue to prosecute these Studies as he hath begun it is not to be doubted but that he will become one of the most skilful Mathematicians that are now living since at the Age of 22 Years he hath already attained to so great a Knowledge in those abstruse and difficult Sciences Wherefore what improvement may we not expect from the extraordinary Judgment of his riper Years XV. Cursus Mathematicus Mathematical Sciences in Nine Books Comprehending Arithmetick Vulgar Decimal Instrumental Algebraical Geometry Plain and Solid Cosmography Celestial and Terrestrial Astronomy Theorical and Practical Navigation Plain and Spherical Trigonometry Rectilinear and Circular With the Description Construction and Vse of Geometrical and Nautical Instruments and the Doctrine of Triangles applyed to Practise in Mensurations of all kinds as in Longimetry or taking of Heights Distances c. Planometry or Surveying of Lands Woods Roads c. Military Architecture or Fortification and in Navigation Dyalling c. All which are dispos'd in such a Method as they ought to be read and practis'd by such as would attain to a competent Perfictency in them by their own Industry By William Leybourn Philomathes in Fol. London for Benjamin Took c. 1690. p. 984. IT is not at all to be wondred that the Body of this Work does not perfectly answer to the Title For that the Mathematicks are of so vast an Extent that it is impossible to include them all in one single Volume therefore how careful soever Mr. Leybourn has been to be concise he could not treat in this Volume of Mechanicks Civil Architecture Conick Sections Musick Opticks Diopticks and the Parts that belong to them and which he seems to reserve for a Second Part. Now in regard the Title of this Book sufficiently shews what it contains and that we cannot discourse of all the Matters therein contain'd we shall only give you here the Extract of one single Treatise to shew the Author's Method And we have made choice of that of Navigation because we thought it would be most delightful to a Nation so much concern'd to be perfect in the Knowledge of it 'T is in the Seventh Book that Mr. Leybourn undertakes to unfold the Art of Navigation In the Preface (a) p 605. he ascribes the Invention of it to God only and not to the Egyptians or Phoenicians as some Authors do for that it was God who first discoverd to Noah the Knowledge of Ships and Navigation in the Time of the Deluge and for that it was according to the Model of the Ark which rested upon the Mountains of Ararat that the Neighbouring Nations built their Ships The Body of the Work is divided into Four Parts The First contains five Chapters which are subdivided into Sections when the Matter requires it In the First Chapter (b) p. 106. the Author speaks of Navigation in general the Rules of which are only to furnish a Pilot with the safest ways to steer a Vessel whither he designs it To which purpose he must have a regard to four Things the Longitude the Latitude the Course and the Distance They who are but never so little vers'd in the Sphere know what the Longitude is But the most Judicious are still ignorant of the Secret how to find it exactly upon the Sea There is not the same Ignorance about the Latitude for there are several Ways to know it either by the Meridional Heights of the Sun or by some known Star by the rising and setting Amplitudes or by the Pole-Star If Mariners could find the Longitude as well they would have all that they seek for But in regard we have but an imperfect Knowledge of the Longitude we are oblig'd to have recourse to the Ship 's Way and the Distance of the Vessel but more especially to the Latitudes to determine the most exactly that may be the Place where it is The Ship 's Course is the Way which it steers upon the Sea which is easily known by the Compass or Needle great Care being taken to observe its Variation As for the Distance which is the Length of the Way which the Vessel makes it is not so easie to conclude it But this is the way to take it They let down into the Sea a Plummet of Lead fix'd to a Line and at the same time they turn an Hour-Glass then they observe what quantity of Line the Log-Line draws out of the Vessel thereby to know how much way the Vessel makes in such a prefix'd time with the same Wind and the same Number of Sails But there are several Inconveniences in this way of Practice so that there is no building upon it For it is not certain that the Log-Line stays in the same place where it was thrown 1. By reason of the Tossing of the Waves especially in a rough Sea 2. The Wind does not always blow alike and it is a hard thing to measure the Briskness of a Gale 3. The Tossing and Shogging of the Ship will not let the Hour-Glasses which they make use of to measure the Time run exactly true 4. The strong Currents which are met with in certain places may occasion Mistake in the knowledge of Distances so that you must endeavour to discover them by their Strength their Rapidness and their Course But you may in some measure attain your Ends if instead of the Log-line you make use of a piece of Wood or a small Bucket with a piece of Lead fix'd to it to make it sink into the Sea about 60 or 80 Fathom For then by observing the quantity of Line the Sand and the Compass you may in a great measure avoid the Mistakes which the Currents may occasion in the Distances Now suppose that you know the Distances in Feet or in Miles and the Rumb or Course of the Vessel it is easie to observe the Point and under what Degree you are provided you know the Latitude of the Place from whence you set Sail and where you are and how many Miles and Feet there are in a Degree The Author tells you according to Mr. Richard Norwood that there are in a Degree 367200 Feet But for the easiness of Calculation and because it is better to suppose that there are less than more he allows but 360000 Feet to a Degree C. 2. After this (c) p. 600 617. he discourses of the Instruments made use of
take not only for the Peace of his Conscience but also in order to a quiet Life is not to meddle at all with Affairs of State when he has no Call to the Government For Liberty and the Ease of the People are loud Words which the Factious make use of but that signifie nothing in their Mouths they always found it mischievous who believ'd 'em and the Disorder must be very great indeed if a Civil War be not a Remedy worse than the Disease As for Religion the Author maintains That how specious soever the Pretence may be 't is no better than that of Taxes and Imposts That the Seditious who make the most of this Argument are they who have the least value for it that it is well known that the Heads of the League against the Kings of France Hen. 3. and Hen. 4. made use of Religion as a Cloak to cover their ambitious Designs and that it is better to follow the Example of the Primitive Christians who during the first Four Ages obey'd the Pagan Emperours without murmuring and resistance FINIS A Catalogue of some Books lately Printed in Foreign Parts to be Sold by Abel Swallâ— and Timothy Childe at the Vnicorn in St Paul's Church Yard Some whereof were designed to have been inserted in this Journal but we wanting room have deferr'd it till the next when they shall be more sully describ'd SAncti Caecil Cypriani Opera omnia Recognita Illustrata per Joan. Oxoniens Episc Accedunt Annales Cyprianiâ—â— five XIII Annorum quibus S. Cyprianus inter Christianos versatus est Brevis Chronologice delineate per Joan. Cestriensem Huic Editioni annexae sunt Dissertationes Cyprianicae ab Henrico Dodwello Juxta Exemplar Oxonii à Theatro Amst 1691. Folio Though this Book is very much known to the Learned yet we have resolv'd to give a large Account of it in the next Journal The Writings of that Father being one of the most Venerable Monuments of Antiquity and his two Commentators Dr. Pearson â—iâ—hop of Chester and Dr. Fell Bishop of Oxford two of the most Learned Men of this Age to say nothing of Mr. Dodwell since he being yet alive it would look too much like Flattery We shall only now add that this Edition is very well Printed in a fair Character and Paper and with the Addition of Mr. Dodwell's Dissertations Phil. à Limborch de Veritate Religionis Christianae Amica Collatio cum Erudito Judaeo Amst 1691. in Quarto This Book contains some Conferences between a Jew Doctor of Physick at Amsterdam who died there some Years ago and the Ingenious Philip van Limborch Professor or Diviâ—ity amongst the Arâ—inians at the same City and is an excellent Defence of the Christian Faith answering all the most specious Arguments of the Jews against it But there being several things relating to both the Authors and the Boak wherewith the World is not acquainted it is thought fit to defer till our next to give an Account thereof Ejusdem Phil. à Limborch Theologia Christiana ad Praxin Pietatis ac Promotionem Pacis Christianae unice directa Amst in Quarto Lud. Ellies du Pin de Antiqua Ecclesiae Disciplina Dissertationes Historicae excerptae ex Conciliis Oecumenicis Sanctorum Patrum ac Actorum Ecclesiasticorum Scriptis Quarto Amst 1691. Whatever hath relation to the Primitive Ages of Christianity is so much look'd upon by the English Divines and Dr. du Pin though a Roman Catholick is so impartial a Person that we believe they will be well pleased to find an Abstract of it in our next Joan. Spencer de Legibus Hebraeorum Ritualibus carum Rationibus Editio secunda priori Indice Locorum S. Script locupletiore necnon Indice Rerum Verborum memorabilium novo aucta in Quarto Lud. Thomasini Vetus Nova Ecclesiae Disciplina circa Beneficia Beneficiarios In tres Tomos seu Partes distributa Opus ex Sanctis Patribus Conciliis ex quorumque Temporum Historicis decerptum 3 Vol. Folio Paris This Book being one of the best Pieces of this Age and written by one of the most eminent in Learning we shall give an account of it in our next Anglia Sacra five Collectio Historiarum partim antiquitus partim recenter scriptarum de Archi-Episcopis Episcopis Angliae à prâ—ma Fidei Christianâ— susceptione ad Annum 1640. nune primum ex MSS Cod. in lucem editarumâ—â—â—s Primâ— de Atchiâ—p Episcop Ecolesiarum quas Monachi possiderunt Ediâ—â—re Henrico Wharton â—olio Lond. Of this we shall give a particular account in our next Edmund Richerii Historia Conciliorum Generalium in IV Libros distributa ejusdem Vindiciae Doctrinae Majorum Scholae Parisiens de Authoritate Infallibilitate Ecclesiae in Rebus Fidei Morum contra Defensores Monarchiae Universalis absoluta Curiae Romanae Lib. IV. etiamque Libellus ejus de Ecclesiastica Politica Potestate 7 Tom in Quarto Which with his late Treatise de Potestate Ecclesiae in Rebus Temporalibus compleat the Works of this Learned Author Lud. Eâ—â—ies du Pin Bibliotheque des Autheurs Ecclesiastiques Quarto Vol. 4 â—â— 5um sâ—paratim Joan. Leusdenâ— Compendium Graecum Novi Testamenti in quo omnes Universi Novi Testam Voces una cum Versione Latina inveniuntur Editio ultima ab Authore Recognita Aucta Lugd. Bat. in Octavo Testamentum Novum Latine Sebastiano Castalione Interprete cui in Margine addita sunt Loca parallela S. Script quae Steph. Curcellaeus Graecae suae Edition adiunxit necnon Variant Lection Amst Octavo Well Printed in a fair Character and good Paper and is by much the fairest Edition of this esteemed Book Petri Gassendi Metaphysica Disquisitio Anti-Cartesiana seu Dissertationes Instantia adversus Renati des Cartes Medit. Vltraj 1691 in Octavo D Aug. Quirin Rivini Introductio ad Rem Herbariam CLXXIX Figur aeneis Plantarum Rariorum illustrata Fol. Charta mag Lips 1691. In which not only the excellent Figures of several very rare Plants but the Author's Method express'd in his general Introduction before the Book deserves the esteem of all the Lovers of Natural Philosophy Opuscula Philosophica quibus continentur Principia Philosophiae antiquissimae recentissimae ac Philosophiae Vulgaris Refutata in duodecimo Amst 1691. This Book contains Two different Tracts The First is made up of some Eâ—agments found as t is pretended in the Closet of an English Countess who by the reading of the ancient Philosophers forsook the Opinions of Des Cartes The other hath several Dialogues between a French and a Spanish Philosopher in which the Frenchman hath the better of it and vindicates the new Hypotheses Authores Classici varii cum Interpretatione Notis Doctissimorum Virorum Jussu Christianisimi Regis editi ad Usum Serenissimi Delphini in Quarto Paris Most of which are here to be had Authores ad Usum Delphini quos juxta Editionem Parisinam Londini editi sunt in Octavo viz. Virgilius Terentius Horatius Cornel. Nepos Juvenal A Prospect of Châ—lsey Colledge curiously drawn and engraved in a large Copper-Plate with a Prospect also of the Country contiguous By J. Kip who designs to Publish the Draughts of all the King's Houses Books now in the Press which will be Published in a few Weeks Les Oeuvres d' Horact Lat. Franc. avec des Remarques par M. D'Acier 10 Vol. in 12. Les Comedies de Plante Lat. Franc avec les Remarques du la Même 〈◊〉 3 Vol. 12.
THE HISTORY OF LEARNING OR AN ABSTRACT Of Several BOOKS Lately Published as well abroad as at home By one of the Two Authors of the Vniversal and Historical Bibliotheque LONDON Printed for Abel Swalle and Timothy Childe at the Vnicorn at the West-End of St. Paul's Church-Yard 1691. To the Right Honourable the Earl of DORSET and MIDDLESEX Lord Chamberlain of Their Majesties Houshold My Lord THis Work does every way belong to your Lordship for besides the many Obligations your Honour has been pleas'd to lay upon me and to advise me to the composing of it I know not a Person more universally Learned and more capable of Judging all sorts of Learned Writings I doubt not My Lord but your wonted Goodness and Affability will vouchsafe me a favourable Acceptance of this Present Though I must acknowledge 't is with some Reluctancy that I make it There is so much difficulty in making Abstracts and one finds so rarely wherewith at the same time to Please and Instruct that I can hardly hope I have done any thing worthy to be Presented to so delicate a Judgment as your Lordship's I have been unfortunate in that I write not in my own Language by which Means some Improprieties may escape of which I am ignorant and which I hope your Lordship will pardon I presume to offer this Essay to your Lordship partly because I have the Honour to be known to your Lordship by other Works and that I hope under your Lordships Patronage to be assisted for the Future from Men of Parts and Learning with something more considerable and more deserving your Lordships perusal I am with all Duty and Respect My LORD Your Lordships Most Humble and most Obedient Servant J. D. de La Crose THE PREFACE THE following Essay is not as one lately Published a Translation of the Journals Printed abroad but a real Abstract taken from the best Books lately Printed both at home and abroad which if it finds Encouragement shall be continued as oft as Matter occurs Monthly or otherwise 'T will be unnecessary that I enlarge upon the great Vse and Advantage of these sort of Works the great Encouragement they have receiv'd in Holland France Germany c. does sufficiently evidence their Worth and seem to reproach us for having so long neglected it 'T is true it has been twice attempted here but those having been barely Translations and the Readers generally understanding the Original seems to be the Reason they were no better received But not to detain the Reader too long I shall pass over what might be more said upon this Occasion and proceed to give an Account of my Design in as few Words as may be I design then to Publish an Abridgment of all new Books as they shall appear in the World to which purpose I shall keep a Correspondence abroad in order to the being furnished with every thing rare with the first But in regard this Design is of too large extent that is the abridging of every Book that is Published especially in this Age where so many trifling Impertinencies pass the Press I shall chuse only such to insert in this Work as may most deserve the perusal of the Studious Reader I shall enlarge upon such as shall publish any Novelty to the World and such as discourse the most rationally upon any Subject and shall endeavour to mark out the most considerable Passages and the Places best writ of every Author The Reader must excuse me if I omit giving a Judgment upon the Style and Language of Authors which I shall avoid and chuse rather to give Account of Things than Words I shall also as little as possible take any Side in the Disputes of Learned Men or if it should happen that I adhere to one Party in such Disputes I hope the Ingenious Reader will believe it to be the Force of Reason and Truth that draws me to its side As for those Authors that fill the World with Books ill digested and wherein there is nothing to be learn'd they ought to esteem it a Favour in being passed over in silence Manuals of Devotions and Sermons we shall but rarely take notice of they being of such general Vse so well known and read almost in as little time as an Abstract Dictionaries Collections Abridgments and such like the Authors must pardon us if we take no notice of Also law-Law-Books Treatises of Practical Physick or any thing too particular in one Faculty will be improper for us to speak of for though they may be excellent in their kind yet their Abridgment will appear but tedious and dull to any not of that Profession But I would not be thought upon this Pretence to excuse my self from abstracting such ingenious Treatises as shall be Published in Anatomy Natural Philosophy Mathematicks c. For though such Abstracts may indeed be unpleasant to such as understand them not they must bear with the Evil and remedy it by turning over the Leaf to a Place that pleases them better for in a Work of this Nature which is writ for all the World and every Profession such inconveniences cannot be avoided And thus having given an Account of our Design we doubt not but all Learned and Ingenious Gentlemen will assist promote it by communicating to us such things as may be convenient to insert in this our Journal which if at any time they please to direct to the Publisher they shall be thankfully received and Published accordingly By this we mean in such Cases where a Person may have made any Discovery in Natural Philosophy Physick Mathematicks Critick or the like and would not give themselves the Trouble of Writing a Treatise upon it if they please to communicate it to us we shall give it place in our Journal and preserve and publish it to the World better by far than if it was Printed by it self Which Advertisement considering the present discontinuance of the Philosophical Transactions will not we hope seem impertinent to the Learned World The Reader must excuse the Imperfection of this first Essay it being but a rude Dranght of what we intend for the Future if the Author be so happy to see his Labour encouraged and his Design favoured by the Approbation of Worthy Persons This is all we thought necessary to tell the Publick at present only this we have further to say That the Abstract of the Phytographia is of another Hand and that through Inadvertency we sent the Copy to the Printer's without having digested it into proper Order but the like Fault shall happen no more We have added at the End a Catalogue of some Books which we intend for the next together with some others most eminently recommendable to the Learned The CONTENTS I. History of Lewis the Great taken from the Medals c. Character of this Book The French King's Religion toward his Allies Of his giving Peace to Europe and taking 200 Cities by Storm The immortal Man French Protestants
how reconciled to the Church of Rome Blasphemies of the French Panegyrists Pag. 1. II. A New Bibliotheque of Ecclesiastical Authors An History of the Author and his Book Canonical Scriptures Ancient Liturgies whether St. Denis was ever in France What Honour is due to the Saints No Bishop of Bishops Doctrine of the Three first Centuries Of the Power of Councils Invocation of Saints Worship of Images and Celibacy Pag. 2. III. Horatius Rodellii Whether Mecoenas was descended from the Kings of Etrury Deus esse Oculo irretorto Descendere Vinum Pag. 14. IV. The Comedies of Terentius by Madam D'Acier Character of Plautus and Terentius and their Comedies Contaminare New Explication of a perplex'd Passage in the Andria Pag. 19. V. Cornelius Nepos Nic. Courtin Pag. 23. VI. Juvenalis Persius Lud. Pratei Passage of Persius explain'd Pag. 3. VII A Defence of Diocesan Episcopacy Opinions of the Independents Pag. 25. VIII Description of the United Netherlands c. Vsefulness of Travels London bigger than all the Cities of Holland together Pag. 27. IX Vauban's New Method of Fortification Character and Contents of this Book Original of Fortification Situation of Places to be fortified Orillon Flank retired Bastion c. Pag. 28. X. Haver's Osteologia Nova An Idea of the Formation of the Foetus of the Periosteum the Bones and the Teeth Of Growth and Nourishment Of the Marrow Of the Mucilage and Mucilaginous Kernels Of the Cartilages Pag. 33. 2. Ruyschius Observationes Anatomico-Chirurgicae Wonderful Cure of an Aneurisma Of the Membrant Hymen Pag. 46. XI Leonardi Plukenetii Phytographia Pag. 42. XII Praxis Mayerniana .. Whether the Smoak of Tabacco can reach the Brain Pag. 47. XIII Richerius De Potestate Ecclesiae Votes of the Third Estate in France against the Pope's Power The Doctrine and Practice of the Gallican Church prov'd agreeable with them Rules to examine whether a Doctrine be orthodox or no Whether it be lawful for the People to depose Princes Of Ecclesiastical Power and Excommication Sentiments of Marsilius of Padua Blasphemy of Pope Gregory VII against Royal Dignity Pag. 48. XIV An Universal Analysis of Equations Pag. 53. XV. Leybourn's Cursus Mathematicus How to know the Length of the Way which a Vessel makes XVI Some Observations made in the great Congregation of Waters communicated by the Honourable R. Boyle That Sta-water is colder on the deep below than by the Surface Pag. 58. XVII Inscriptionum Antiquarum Sylloge Whether the Daughter of the first Christian Emperour builded a Church to S. Agnes Whether the Idolatry of the Heathens be excusable Pag. 59. XVIII The Falshood of Humane Vertues Whether Subjects may rebel against their Kings Pag. 62. THE HISTORY OF LEARNING I. HISTOIRE DU ROY LOUYS LE GRAND par les Medailles Emblemes Devises c. History of Lewis the Great Taken from the Medals Emblems Devices Inscriptions Armories and other Publick Monuments Collected and Explained by Father CLAUDIUS FRANCIS MENESTRIER Jesuit A new Edition augmented with five Plates Fol. Paris 1691. F. 64. IF the Contents of this Work were answerable to its Title and if the Author had given us an exact and continued History of the Exploits of his Hero and had proved the most remarkable Actions that were performed under his Reign by the Medals that were coined and other publick Monuments that were erected on that occasion it would without doubt have been a very useful Book but nothing of all this is to be found therein for the Medals are confusedly placed the order of time which is the most principal matter in a History is not well observ'd and instead of a Commentary there is only a licentious Interpretation of the Latin Inscriptions or some other trivial Circumstances and that too but very rarely insomuch that it can neither be esteemed as an History nor a Panegyrick but a gross and imperfect Collection of whatsoever could be invented by Flattery to aggrandize the Idea of a Prince that delights in Vain-Glory and is perhaps too much addicted to the love of popular applause And indeed what can be devised more vain than the Medal (a) 25.5 wherein he is represented in the midst of the Cities of Genoua and Luxemburg turning the Globe of the World on the point of his Sword with this Motto Quod libet licet I do whatsoever I think fit Altho' the Character of a Jesuit and a Panegyrist doth not well agree with that of a sincere Writer never heless we are induc'd to believe that Father Menêtrier hath found it to be a very difficult task to produce these Medals as undoubted proofs of the Historical matters and facts related by him as being conscious to himself that the greatest part of them were founded only on Hyperbolical exaggerations or on the false reports of hired News mongers As for example it is well known to all the World that in the War that happen'd between England and Holland in the Year 1666 France amused this Commonwealth with feigned Succours that those few French Vessels that joyned with de Ruyter served only to molest and perplex him by breaking all his measures or giving an account thereof to the Enemies and that the Forces that were sent thither by Land marched only to espie out the Country and to contrive intrigues and plots against them as it afterwards appeared by the design which was discovered in the Year 1672. Therefore we may very well turn the reverse of the Medal and instead of (a) f. 13.2 Batavis terrâ marique desensis Religio foederum put Batavis terrâ marique proditis Derisio foederum There are others likewise that are absolutely repugnant to evident matters of fact particularly that which is consecrated to Lewis the Great for granting peace (b) p. 26.3 to the Hollanders whom he had Conquer'd to the Germans whom he had every where Vanquished and almost to all Europe that had combined together against him For without reckoning Switzerland Italy and the most part of the Princes of Germany Poland and Moscovy who were not engag'd in this quarrel France was assisted by England Sweeden and the Bishop of Colen and Munster through whose Territories they attacked the Hollanders at unawares Moreover in the beginning of the War all Europe seemed unanimously to concur in promoting the ruine of the United Provinces since Spain opened a passage to their Enemies and the Emperour for a long time stood still as it were a Spectator to which if we add the Intelligence that the French obtain'd within the Country and the Cowardise of some of those that had the Command of the Principal Posts it may well be concluded from thence that these Conquests are not so Glorious as they would have them to be believed But on the contrary there accrues to King William Everlasting Glory which cannot be eclipsed by the most inveterate Envy for rescuing by his Valour and Prudence at the Age of about 22 Years four Great Provinces out of the Hands of so Haughty and
that this word was ever taken in a good sense Terence after he hath produc'd the accusation of his Enemies in the same odious terms as they had exhibited it doth not reply decet contaminare fabulas but simply proves that it was lawful to do that which they call'd contaminare They pretended that Terence defil'd if we may use the expression Menander's Plays by adding to them somewhat of his own or by annexing certain passages taken from other pieces of the same Poet which being transpos'd lost a great part of their Primitive Beauty and Elegancy Therefore altho ' Madam D'Acier as to the main point is of the same opinion as the other Interpreters nevertheless every one will not admit that signification which she ascribes unto the word contaminare The other passage of the Prologue to the Andria which seems to stand in need of a small alteration is this Favete adeste aequo animo rem cognoscite Vt pernoscatis ecquid spei sit reliquum Post haec quas faciet de integro Comedias Spectandae an exigendae sint vobis prius Give attention favourably and examine this Piece that you may be able to judge what may be expected from our Poet and whether the Comedies which he shall hereafter make may deserve to be acted before you or whether they ought to be rejected without hearing Now let judicious Criticks determine whether this correction which consists in reading pernoscat is in two words be not more consonant to the words and design of the Poet. Give attention favourably c. To the end that he may know whether there be any grounds for him to hope for the future and whether you will vouchsafe to grant that the new Comedies which he may hereafter compose shall be acted or whether you will explode them without seeing At least this sense is more agreeable to these words Ecquid spei sit reliquum c. Which after whatsoever manner they are understood may be much better attributed to Terence than to the People of Rome Perhaps this Comedy was acted after the Hecyra or some other Play of this Poet was rejected which caus'd him to fear lest the like accident should again happen As for the People of Rome they had no reason to despair of the sufficiency of Terence's Pieces which they had already often approv'd but the Poet having once receiv'd a repulse might suspect lest this should have done some injury to his credit and should occasion the loss of the publick approbation The word reliquum joyn'd with spes seems altogether to favour this sense and is contrary to that of Madam D'Acier who by spes understands expectatio Moreover it is a frequent custom of Terence to make use of the Pronoun is instead of ille hic ipse as appears from the examples produc'd by Robert Stephen in his Thesaurus linguae Latinae V. CORNELIUS NEPOS de vita Excellentium Imperatorum Interpretatione notis illustravit NICOLAUS COURTIN Humanitatis Professor in Vniversitate Parisiensi Jussu Christianissimi Regis in usum Serenissimi Delphini juxta Editionem Parisiensem 8o. Londini apud Abel Swalle 1691. p. 264. THo' Cornelius Nepos appears to be a very plain Author and easie to be understood he is so succinct and gives us the knowledge of so many Events and Antiquities that the publick is without question oblig'd to those who took care of the Education of the Dauphin of France and appointed a person of so much learning and judgement as Monsieur Courtin to unfold the knotty difficulties of this Author He has not given himself the trouble to make an unprofitable Paraphrase upon this Historian He has only explain'd his most extraordinary Idioms of Speech by the more common Phrases and tho' his Notes appear not very long however they leave no difficulty in this Author unexplained Now in regard the Ancients are no very exact Chronologers Mr. Courtin has plac'd before his Commentary a Chronology of 44 Olympiads or 176 years Which space of time includes all the lives which Cornelius Nepos has written and his Interpreter has taken care to mark out to what year the several Historical Actions therein recounted particularly refer This Chronology begins from the 72. Olympiad that is to say according to his accompt from the year of the World 3480. and the 261 year after the building of the City of Rome To the lives of Cornelius Nepos Mr. Courtin has added all the Fragments of that Author which are extant upon which he has also made Notes At the end there is an Index of all the words of that Historian conformable to the method of other Commentaries for the use of the Dauphin VI. D. JUNII JUVENALIS A PERSIS FLACCI Satyrae Interpretatione notis illustravit LUDOVICUS PRATEUS Rhetoricae Preceptor emeritus Jussu Christianissimi Regis in usum Serenissimi Delphini 8o. Lond. apud Abel Swalle 1691. p. 606. MOnsieur PRATEUS has translated these two Poets into other Latin with so nice an exactness as if he had studied for a Version of the Bible For as he is oblig'd to add words to the Text to make the construction and contexture of the discourse he has taken care to mark them in other Letters You will say perhaps that if he had made a freer Paraphrase he might have better explain'd his Authors but he might as well have run himself into a mistake of sense So that there is no question but there are many people who will commend him for having been a little precise especially when they shall see that he has supply'd with ample Notes what might be wanting to compleat the perspicuity of the Paraphrase And indeed how was it possible to translate clearly and in few words those verses of the 4 Satyr of Persius Esto Dum ndetcrius sapiat Pannucia Baucis Cum bene discincto cantaverit Ocima vernae Ocimum is an Aromatick Herb which they never sow'd but with Curses and Maledictions believing it would grow the better Baucis was the name of a poor old Woman and proverbially taken for any old Herb-woman Socrates who in this Satyr represents the person of Persius tells Alcibiades representing the person of Nero that tho' he might have reason to boast of the Nobility of his Extraction and the Comliness of his Person yet for all that he might have no less cause to fear his being reproach'd for having no more wit than a Herring-wife that abuses a Footman This is the Interpretation and meaning which next to Casaubon Mr. Prateus gives of this passage in Persius You shall find in his Notes all that the most subtle Criticks have said to render Persius intelligible VII A DEFENCE OF DIOCESAN EPISCOPACY in answer to a Book of Mr. David Clarkson lately Published Entituled Primitive Episcopacy by HEN. MAURICE D.D. 8o. London 1691. p. 470. IF all Books were written like this I do not believe there is any Mortal would be so adventurous as to undertake to be a Journalist for
Humors affect the Muscies they cause the Rheumatism and when they fall upon the Joints they breed the Gout Dr. Havers bestows a whole Article (t) p. 223 249. upon both these Distempers and observes that the Humors which infect the Mucilage upon these occasions are of three sorts the one sharp and thin the other salt und the last which are the most usual acid and corroding You will read with delight the Author's manner of explaining the three Sources of these Distempers which gives a great Light to understand their Cure V. The Fifth Discourse is concerning the Gristles (u) p. 288. It has been already observ'd that they are only imperfect Bones which being subtle and flexible are apt to comply with the several motions of the Muscles The Author describes at large their Nature and their outward and inward Structure as also their different Uses and particularly of those in the Breast p. 284. II. FREDERICI RVISCHII Anatomes Chyrurgiae Botanices Professoris Observationum Anatomico-Chirurgicarum Centuria Accedit Catalogus Rariorum quae in Musaeo Ruyschiano asservantur adjectis ubique I conibus aeneis naturalem magnitudinem representantibus Amstelod apud H. Boom 1691. pag. 274. Prostant apud Abel Swall Timo. Childe THere are few Books that look more curious to the sight than this The Paper the Print the Figures draw the Eyes of the Reader and there is no body but will give a favourable Judgment of the Work when he reads in the Preface that the Author has been Twenty Years Professor of Anatomy at Amsterdam That he has had all the Conveniencies in the World to make Experiments in the Hospitals of that great City and that he has spent all his Life in making Collections of whatever he has observed most remarkable Upon these Foundations it is that he has rais'd the Hundred Observations which compose the first Part of this Work The Second is a Description of the Author's Study where are to be seen several Rarities of Anatomy Mr. Ruyschius is not of the number of those that build in the Air a Systeme of Physick which has no other Foundation than Chimerical Conjectures He maintains that Experience only is the Mistress of that Art and he advises that Men instead of guessing at the Causes of Diseases should chiefly busie themselves in collecting together the most surprizing Phanomena's that offer themselves in Practice But withal it would be necessary that all who undertake this Employment should have seen every thing with their own Eyes and that they should be endued with a Conception and Judgment so sufficiently clear as not to look upon as extraordinary Accidents Things that happen every day The cutting of an Artery (a) Ob. 11. p. 5. especially in the larger Vessels is an Accident difficult to cure and the Author would have obliged the Publick had he explained a little more at large how he stopt that Aneurisma in the Arm to the Cure of which he says he was an Assistant When he prepared to make the Incision to discover the wounded Artery that he might close it up again he says he made use of an Iron-Ring lin'd with a thick and soft Skin which he intended to apply to the upper part of the Arm above the Aneurisma to stop the motion of the Blood that way That that same Instrument not answering their expectation they had recourse to another which took effect but the Author is so far from describing it that he does not so much as name it In a Journal of Eight Days relating to that Malady which Mr. Ruyschius gives us we find the Wound grew continually worse and worse till it broke out into two new Aneurisma's the one of which being as large as a great Pea open'd it self but bled not much because the Chirurgeon stopt it presently and a few days after it was throughly healed by opening the Vein a slender Diet and a due compression As for the other they had much ado to squeeze it down it continued several days but at length it vanish'd and the Patient recovered Paucis diebus secta Vena tenuiori diaeta praescripta debita compressione facta sanatum fuit Alterum vero Aneurisma quantumvis comprimeretur perplures dies curationi remoram fecit tandem vero quoque disparuit convaluitque aeger It would be a strange Thing (b) Obs 22. p. 27. that a Woman should conceive and yet that the Membrane call'd the Hymen should not be broken But the Relation which Mr. Ruyschius gives us is not sufficient to make us believe it He adds another Circumstance more incredible asserting That the Vagina or Sheath of the Womb was covered and stopped up with an extraordinary Membrane at the Time of the Woman's Lying in He says That these two Membranes were cut and that the Infant came forth sound and vigorous and that the Mother received no harm However in my Opinion there is nothing in this Relation of his but what might have been unfolded without supposing any thing but what is very common The Bed wherein the Foetus is contained and which is made up of several double Membranes sinks down by little and little through the weight of the Waters that fill it Then the Infant separates from the Body of the Mother and falls with his Head downward toward the Orifice of the Womb. Many times it happens that the Foetus falls on the Side and incumbers it self Head and Neck together in the Membranes of its Bed Those it seems were the Membranes which Ruyschius caused to be cut and which hindred the Birth of the Infant At least there is nothing in all his Observation which forces us to have recourse to two such wonderful Events XI Leonardi Plukenetri PHYTOGRAPHIA sâ—â—â— Stirpium Illustriorum minùs cognitarum I CONES Tabulis aeneis 120 Fig. fere 800. summâ diligentra elaboratoe Fol. Londini 1691. WHerein the Author has given impregnant Instance at his own expence of his earnest desireâ— of improving Botâ—â—y The Subject of this Book hâ—s been the stâ—â—died Collection of several Vears and unites in it self the scattered and most distant Parts of Vegetable Nature which if we consider as to their Number or Novelty it will appear such an Acâ—omulation of Network Science as few Books of this Nature can boast of Not can we sufficiently admire the vast Variety of curiously engraâ—â— do 〈◊〉 â—iâ—â—â—ent or unheard of Plants communicated to the World in so â—iorâ— and compendious a Voluâ—e The Method he takes in explaining these Eâ—â—ticks is both conspicuous and fuccirct his Names adapted from their essential Notes and proper Characteristicks such as without help of Iâ—â—n might convey to the Mind a true Idea of the Things they denominate as being entire Descriptions of them The Work divides it self into Two Parts and by a fresh addition of Parts may be â—â—ngtâ—linect out ad infiâ—â—â—â—nâ— For our Author pursues the Alphabetical Order in his Design yet not so as to break in upon Affinities
or Cognations but had rather commute a Name than not preserve a Clan or Tribe as may be observed throughout the whole Work As for instance what others call a Peâ—â—â—â—es Africana Caâ—â—â—â—â— Palâ—stris foâ—â—â—â— with beâ—â—eâ— reason he terms a Bâ—iâ—o and ranks iâ— among its Cognominals in the Letter B. By this way of exploding improper Appellations and assigning new ones to some late discovered Plants he comes to assert the stragling Vegetable into its proper Family and such Alliances that lay before promiscuous or disjoyned and stood at distance with each other into a closer kind of Consortium Thus the Aâ—â—â—e Orientaâ—â—â—â—â—ppâ—câ—â— fruoâ—â—â— of others which indeed is no Alcea is made by him a Lappâ—â—â— tetraspermâ—s and subjoyned to the â—â—atina Tragâ— Hist Lâ—gd which is a Tetraspermoâ— too by many most untruly stiled a Cynoglossâ— as of more congruity with it and near akin thereto and in this way of Distribution he still preserves both Alphabâ—â— and Affâ—â—â—â— How clear his Artâ—ol â—igurations has made that cloudy Stella Leguminosa of the Great John Bauhine when here as through a Beam of Light it manifests it self a true Astragalus and discrepant from all others of the Kind The Jacca's however perplex'd in other Authors are set to rights in this and Thapsla's no less confus'd are here distinct in the Iconisms of our Author There are some of those many curious Figures the needful Emendations of vitiate or mistaken Icons in elder Authors which are by him made genuine from the Truth of Things on purpose to clear the Doubts and decide the Controversies of our most celebrious Moderus This he esteems a Service done the Publick as well deserves his Pains and equal to that of introducing Plants de novo A rare Example of this kind is the Jacea fruticans Pini folio of the renowned Caspar Bauhine which from the miserable Cut in Pona in his Description of Mount Baldus under the Title of Staebe capitata Rosmarini folio from whence all later Writers derive their Pictures of it hath been so puzling to the most sagacious Botanists of this present Age that it hath been wellnigh lost in their suspicion of its being the same with the Stachas purpurea of Peliterius in the Illustrations of Lobel That Figure of it in Prosper Alpinus his Exoticks pag. 77. under the Name of Chamaepeuce is indeed more tolerable but much inferiour to this Noble and Illustrious Knapweed which owes its Restauration to the more acâ—urate and lively graven Image of our Author Whose studious care in stating References to obscurer and less intelligible Writers as Marcgrave Laet and Hernandez he takes to be a proper means to ease Nature of the Tympany some others would affect her with by multiplying Species without sense or reason in their proposing Plants for new which under other Names are to be found in the dark Obscurities of former Writers But let us now descend to some Particulars of the many hundred rare Exotick Plants this Author represents to view in curious Sculpture for to recount them all were to transcribe the Book it self He there presents you with a stranger Maple from Bengal that hath the Leaves of Bay with an Herbaceous Plant from China from which they rase their Moxa so celebrated all over India for curing of the Gout He gives you Three sorts of Serpentaria the Roots whereof are Remedy against the Bitings of the Rattle-Snake two from Virginia and one from Maryland all boasted Antidotes of America There is another from those Parts they call a Serpintary figur'd in his first Appendix with a fattisll Birthwort or Briony sort of Leaf and a long Scries of stamineous Flowers dispos'd into a Spike with a jointed creeping Root much differing from the former a Plant of its own kind and truly Heteroclital Moreover he gives a true and genuine Figure of the Ninzeng or Ginzeng together with its Root of great value in its Native Country it being esteem'd a Panacea throughout the Oriental Indies He obliges the World with several rare Adianthums from China and elsewhere with various Amaranths and Amaranthioides from both the Indies an odd sort of Antirrhinum with very slender Leaves turn'd up like Mustachoes and that Peruvian Shrub so ostentatiously shewn by some for the Tree from whence the Jesuit's Bark is taken so famed a Remedy for all sorts of Fevers He proposes to the World a numerous Train of Indian Grasses unknown before to Europe among the rest a most illustrious sort one of the Glories of Carolina Several new and elegant Evonymi from America and one from Maderospatan with Leaves not much unlike that sort of Cassia lignea that 's cover'd with the Bark of Winterane The Indian Tea with its Fruit and Flower by him stil'd Evonymo adsinis nucifera Orientalis as also that other Evonymo adfinis Occidentalis alatis Rusci foliis nucifera which at its first arrival came under the Name of Jasminum Americanum and is the Guaiacum folio Lentisci of the Fagel Garden in the second Prodromus of Jacobus Breynius He also pronoses to your view in this most excellent Work two sorts of the true Guaiacum or Indian Pockwood with their Flower and Fruit. Several kinds of Hemionitis from Antego Wales and the East Indies and one especially of the Composite Order akin to this Moon-Fern Family with petalous and perfect Flowers growing to the Crenatures upon the Rim and on the back-part of the Leaves a goodly Native of the flourishing Island of Jamaica The Liquid Amber or Storax Tree of the West Indies together with its Fruit which shews it to be neither Platanus nor Acer are here exhibited in Icon. The Cock spurs together with the Plum-leav'd Medlar of Virginia without Thorns are here distinctly plac'd That kind of Bastard-Myrile from Bermudos so like the Elaeagnus Cordi which our Author with good reason takes to be the same with Laurus serrata odora of the Cape in the Learned Commentaries of Bodaeus a Stapel another most elegant bacciserous kind from Carolina that bears its Berries on its Branches in clusters like so many rugged Coriander-Comfits and a Third Sort both Juliferous and Fruit-bearing with an echinated Fruit like the prickly Involucrum of a small Chesnut and Leaves of the Tree like our Asplenium An Onobrychis with the Face of a Mimosa from the Kingdom of Bisnagar Another with a single Leaf from one of the Mouths of the River Ganges and a Third bifoliate from Maderaspatan are the surprizing Wonders of Botanick Nature A mimerous Tribe of strange Phaseoli come to pay homage to the cerious Phytognostick a small one from Bisnagar witha short and knobbed solitary Pod like that of Orobus but covered with a brownish silken Down whose Leaves are of a soft and silver hue another from Maderaspatan I whose Leaves are somewhat like the former but its Podds are smooth and blackish bloated like a Bladder with several Flowers spike fashion There is another larger sort with many corner'd Leaves and toberous Root
imparting to it the Remedies which hâ—â—â—maderuse of with scâ—nâ—â—tiâ—n ness It were to be wish'd that the Deceased Sir Theodore had himself pursued his own Work and put in Order it would have doubtless been much more useful for our Instruction But in short since all the Remains of Great and Learned Men are esteem'd as precious Relicks there was Reason sufficient for not suffering these Observations which were found among the Collections of that Famous Physician to be lost You must not expect to meet with many Chymical Remedies because the Use of such Medicines was but newly begun to be introduc'd in his Time But there are other Receipts which will appear to be Novelties to the Physicians beyond Sealâ— as several Preparations of Tabacco and other Herbs to be smoak'd in Pipes which he prescrib'd in sundry Distempers There are some Persons who will hardly believe that the Smoak of Tabacco will reach the Brain and the Reason which they bring for so saying is this because Tabacco is an Herb so sharp and vehement that if the Smoak of it attended and reach'd the Substanne of the Brain it would beget Convulsions in those that took it But this is no convincing Argument For besides the Trouble which they who first begin to smoak Tabacco have to accustome themselves to take it and the Noysomness of it to those that love it not the great Effects which Smoak produces will doubtless prevail with all Persons not prejudic'd against it to believe that Dr. Mayern's Practice was not without very good Grounds XIII Edmundi Richeri Doctoris Parisiensis De Potestate Ecclesioe in Rebus Temporalibus Libri IV. Nunquam antehac editi 4º Coloniae Londini for Abel Swall 1691. pag. 526. THere are few People but have heard of Richer Doctor of Sorbonne who has made himself so famous for maintaining in Times of Danger and Trouble the Sovereign Authority of Kings against the Usurpations of the Popes of Rome These Pontiffs always upon the Watch to take the Advantage of all Opportunities to enlarge their Power laid hold of the Occasion which the Minority of Lewis XIII put into their hands and the Intrigues of Cardinal Perron who was all in all at that Time in France to spread abroad that monstrous Opinion of their having Power to excommunicate and depose Kings The Clergy was devoted to the Interest of the Roman See The Nobility was drawn to their Party by Promises and Threats so that the Third Estate only stood firm because it was composed of Learned Civilians and Doctors well skill'd in the Canon-Law But the Pope's Nuâ—cio so well knew how to scare the Queen Regent the Chancellor being besides a Pensioner to the Clergy that he silenced the Third Estate and prevented the Publishing of the Declaration which was made and included these Eight Articles 1. (a) p. 3. That it should be declared by the Three Estates that the King held his Authority only from God and that he has no Dependence upon any Authority whatever either Spiritual or Temporal upon Earth 2ly That all the Subjects in the Kingdom of France shall be obliged without Distinction or Equivocation to declare That this Doctrine is confirm'd by Scripture 3ly That the Commissioners of the Three Estates shall swear to it and subscribe it as likewise all that hold any Office or Benefice 4ly That all the Instructers of Youth Doctors and Preachers shall promise upon Oath to teach this Doctrine and refute any Opinion to the contrary as detestable 5ly That all Books which maintain that it is lawful to excommunicate and depose Kings shall be suppressed as seditious 6ly That all Foreigners that shall Publish the like Opinions shall be look'd upon as Enemies to the Crown 7. That all the King's Subjects who declare themselves to be of their Opinions shall be proceeded against as guilty of High Treason 8. That if any Religious Foreigner shall maintain any Proposition contrary to the Law of the States of the Kingdom those of the same Order in France shall be obliged to condemn it solemnly and without Equivocation as also to refute the Author if it be thought necessary C.l. You will find more at large the History of all these Disputes in the First Chapter of the First Book of this Work In the Second Chapter the Author shews That the Practice of the Catholick Church is conformable to the Declaration of the Third Estate In the Third he proves That it is no less conformable to the Practice Doctrine of the Gallican Church which has all along defended the Authority of Kings against the Usurpations of the Popes with an extraordinary Zeal for which the Author brings many Examples (b) p. â—0 1. Hinkmar the Archbishop of Rhemes's Letter to Pope Adrian the Second 2. The Refusal of the French Clergy to obey Gregory VII who would forbid the celebrating of Divine Offices in France 3. The Answer which the Ministers of Philip Aug. gave to the Legat of Innocent III. who would have excommunicated Lewis VIII Philip's Eldest Son because he had taken Arms to maintain the Right which the Election of the Barons of England revolted from K. John for submitting himself a Vassal to the Pope gave him to the Crown of that Kingdom 4. The Constancy of St. Lewis who would never yield to his Clergy That their Excommunications were of any force till they were examin'd and confirm'd by the Secular Magistrate 5. The Acts of the Three Estates against Boniface VIII which constrained his Successor Clement V. to revoke his extravagant Vnam Sanctam To this the Author adds the Decrees of Parliament against the Books of John Tanquarelli Bernardin Castori Cardinal Bellarmin of the Jesuits Decanus Suarez and others who advanc'd the Power of the Popes above that of Kings II. In the Second Book the Author marks out the Method which he intends to observe and sets down Three General Heads (a) p. 66. by which we are to examin whether a Doctrine be Orthodox or no. 1. He would have it so clearly contain'd in Scripture that it may be clearly drawn from thence without any tedious Ratiocinations 2. If the Sense of the Passage be contested to have recourse to the Tradition of the Church that is to say to the unanimous Opinion of the Ancient Fathers 3. To assure your selves that this Tradition is true and that it proves something it is requisite that it should be universal that is to say receiv'd believ'd in all Times and in all Places Afterwards the Author examines a little Scholastically nevertheless with good Judgment the Essential and Formal Causes of Politick Power There he makes an Analysis (b) p 73. of that famous Passage of Rom. 13.1 2. and shews that the most Learned of the Fathers Tertullâ—an Origen St. Basil St. Chrysostom c. and the most Famous Modern Doctors Tho. Aquinas Tolletus Estius Cornelius à Lapide c. believed that that same Passage prov'd the Independency of Princes from all
other humane Authority He proves the same Thing (c) p. 109. by the Commentaries of the Ancients upon the Words of David Psal-50 Against Thee only have I sinned He examines the Difference between the Mosaick Priesthood and the Gospel and shews that though Princes were to submit to the Priests in Spiritual Things it did not follow that they had any Superiour in Temporals After he has confirm'd his Opinion by the Canons of several Councils and given Examples of the Fidelity of the French to their Princes (d) p. 123. before they were corrupted by the Jesuits he examines the Question Whether it be lawful for the People to depose Princes and refutes those that hold the Affirmative The Reasons which he alledges (a) p. 133. amount to this That the Publick Good Peace and Repose of Society are of Divine Right whence it follows 1. That it is unlawful to prejudice or disturb them 2. That Religion cannot be a just Pretence to take Arms since War can only pretend to regulate the Temporalty 3. That in Moral Things that which cannot be obtain'd but with extream difficulty and a very great and inevitable danger is look'd upon as an Impossibility and therefore it is better to bear with a Tyrant than to expose Society to be turn'd Topsie Turvy by endeavouring to take him out of the World 4. That the Maxim That no Faith is to be observ'd with him that has violated his own takes no place in Publick Contracts where the Interest of the whole Society is concern'd 5. That it only appertains to Sovereigns to make War because they have no other way to preserve their Rights and prevent the Subversion of their Dominions After this the Author answers the Objection drawn from the Example of the Maccabees and examines the Hypothesis of M. Antonius de Dominis who maintains That Kings are immediately established by God whereas our Author pretends that it is the Society that has Divine Authority and communicates it to those into whose Hands the Society commits the Sovereign Power III. In the Two following Books the Author treats of the Nature of Ecclesiastical Power and shews (b) p. 162. That it has no other Aim but to remove the Clergy from the World and oblige them only to mind the Salvation of Souls 2. That the Ecclesiasticks did not succeed Jesus Christ in the quality of Governor of the Universe but only as Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel 3. That Excommunication is a cutting off from the Communion of the Church and that it does not deprive those that are smitten with it of their Natural and Civil Rights and that it is of no force unless it be pronounced with the Consent of the whole Church 4. That when the Publick Tranquillity is concern'd the Magistrate has a Right to take Cognizance of Ecclesiastical Censures In the Fifth Chapter the Author examines the Errors of Marsilius of Padua and John Duns which Pope John XXII condemn'd in the Year 1320 p. 323. The Bull reduces these pretended Errors to Five Heads 1. That when Jesus Christ paid Tribute to Caesar he did not pay him out of a bare Submission but through the Necessity of the Obligation he was in as he was a Man to obey Superiour Powers 2. That St. Peter had no more Authority nor was any more the Head of the Church than the rest of the Apostles That Jesus Christ did not establish any visible Head or leave any such Vicar as the Pope 3. That the Emperor has a Right to establish correct and punish nay to depose the Pope 4. That all Ministers of the Gospel are equal by the Institution of Jesus Christ and that the Difference which is between them is only founded upon the Concessions of Princes and may be revok'd 5. That neither the Pope nor the whole Body of the Church have any Right to punish Criminals farther than Sovereigns give them Authority In the Eighth Chapter Monsieur Richer treats of the Immunities of the Clergy and refutes the Arguments of Suarez and Bellarmin who affirm That the Pope has a Right to exempt Ecclesiastical Persons from the Civil Jurisdiction without the Consent of the Emperor or any other Sovereign Princes IV. In the First Chapter of the Fourth Book the Author sets down a History of Investitures or the Collation of Benefices He shews how the Election of Pastors pass'd from the People to Kings and the great struglings of the Bishops of Rome to make themselves Masters of it In the Second Chapter he answers the Arguments of Bellarmine and Baronius against Secular Investitures The Third and last Chapter contains the History of Gregory VII the first who usurp'd to himself the Power of deposing Kings and first presum'd to put this pretended Power in execution The Author gives himself the trouble to answer the Arguments which that unworthy Pontiff alledges for advancing himself above God's Vicegerents on Earth according to the Prediction of St. Paul 2 Thes 2. We shall mention only one because it shews the Genius of that Pope and the Esteem which Popes like him have of Crowned Heads To prove that the Church is above Kings observe how he argues Royal Dignity was invented by Seculars who knew not God but by the instigation of their Prince the Devil Principe Diabolo agitante (a) p. 482. whereas the Ecclesiastick Power was instituted by the Providence of God and and aims at his Glory Therefore as much as God is above the Devil c. XIV Analysis Aequationum Universalis c. An Vniversal Analysis of Equations Or A Short and General Method of resolving Algebraical Equations deduc'd and demonstrated out of the New Doctrine of Infinite Series By JOSEPH RAPHSON Fellow of the Royal Society 4o. London Printed for Abel Swall 1690. pag. 50. WE are in a manner indebted to Chance for the composing of this little Treatise since Mr. Raphson the ingenious Author thereof accidentally invented this Method on the Occasion of a Problem that had been propounded to him by one of his Friends For he declares that he never saw any thing of the like Nature And indeed the Novelty of the Subject might be alone sufficient to recommend it to the World and to induce the Author to appropriate to himself the sole Reputation of so considerable an Invention were he not prevented by his innate Modesty and the little regard that he hath for popular Applause However we shall leave it to those that are skilful in those Matters to determine whether any thing hath been hitherto Publish'd tending to the same effect and in case there hath nevertheless it cannot be imagin'd but that they will readily allow the just Commendation that is due to this worthy Member of the Royal Society for it is not to be admir'd that Learned Men have often like Notions and Sentiments with respect to the same Subject Moreover Mr. Raphson explains his (a) 1. Method after the very same manner as he invented it and to