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
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
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-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 it was not generally believed that she remain'd a Virgin after her delivery that no mention hath been made of her assumption and that there is a passage in the works of S. Irenaeus which is not favourable to the immaculate conception 2 That the Holy Scripture contains the principal Articles of our Faith and that it was lawful for all Christians to read it 3 That the Elements of the Eucharist were ordinary Bread and Wine mingled with water That the consecrated Bread was divided into little pieces that the Deacons distributed it to those that were present who receiv'd it in their hands and that they likewise gave them some of the consecrated wine That in some Churches this distribution was reserved to the Priests but that in others every one approached to the Table and took his Portion of the Eucharist 4 That during the three first Centuries there is no account concerning the unction or annointing of the sick mentioned by St. James 5 That the Clergy were forbidden to be engag'd in Civil and Temporal Affairs 6 That Priests were permitted to keep their Wives whom they had espoused before they were Ordained and not to marry any after their Ordination but that both was allow'd to Deacons 7 That there have scarcely been any disputes or different sentiments in the Church concerning Moral Duties We find divers Tables at the end of this Work some of which are Chronological and shew the time of the Nativity Death and Principal Transactions of the Sacred Writers and Ecclesiastical Authors others serve to distinguish the genuine Works from those that are forg'd There are also Alphabetical Indexes of the Authors and Principal matters Mr. Du Pin hath observed in the Second Volume the same Method as in the preceeding all the difference is that the Works of the Fathers of the fourth Century being generally more known and in greater number than those of the three first there are likewise inserted more frequent reflections on the Protestants perhaps to satisfie the importunate clamours of some Zealots who otherwise would have suppressed the Book However the same sincerity and liberty of speech which was so acceptable to all judicious Readers in the first Volume is every where conspicuous throughout the second It is apparent from the Life of St. Athanasius which is exhibited at large by our Author that the People began even in his time to adhere too much to the exteriour part of Religion since two of the greatest Crimes with which the Arrians charg'd this Father were that he had broken a Chalice and had administer'd the Holy Sacraments in a Church that was not Consecrated It may be also observ'd after Mr. Du Pin that Lay-men were then admitted to the Communion in both kinds that there were Women that kept their Virginity and were not shut up in Monasteries that there were married Priests and Bishops that the Monks might alter their condition and take Wives that it was not lawful to make new Articles of Faith and that Councils even the Oecumenical were only the Witnesses of the Creed of their Ages whereas they had Soveraign Authority to determine all matters that related to Discipline Thus it is expresly declar'd by the Nicene Bishops in appointing the day for the Celebration of the Feast of Easter It seems good to us we think fit that it should be so But their Expressions are altogether different with respect to the Consubstantiality of the Word since after having declar'd their Opinion as to this matter they are content only to subjoyn such is the Faith of the Catholick Church After the Extracts of the Writings of the Fathers we find those of the Councils that were conven'd in the fourth Century The Canons of that which is called the Council of Elvira are an Ancient Code or Collection of the Councils of Spain and it cannot be doubted but that they are very Authentick and of great Antiquity The 34 and 36 Canons have caused much perplexity among the Roman Catholick Divines One of them prohibits the lighting of Tapers in the Church-yards by reason that the Spirits of the Saints ought not to be disturbed and the other to set up Pictures in the Churches lest the Object of our Adoration should be Painted on the Walls Many have endeavoured to render divers Explications of these Passages but it seems to me says Mr. Du Pin to be more expedient to understand them simply and to acknowledge that the Fathers of this Council did not approve the use of Images no more than that of Wax-Candles lighted at Noon-day but continues he these things are matters of Discipline and may be observ'd or neglected without any prejudice to the Faith of the Church The 35 Canon forbids Women to remain all night in the Church-yards in regard that often under pretence of Prayer they secretly committed abominable crimes The 60 deprives them of the quality of a Martyr that are put to death for publickly demolishing of Idols because it is not enjoyned in the Gospel neither do we read that this was practised by the Christians in the time of the Apostles The same perverse spirit that hath caused the Canons of the Council of Elvira to be wrested to a contrary sense hath in like manner given occasion to some to doubt as to the truth of the History of Paphnutius related by Socrates Lib. I. Chap. XI This Egyptian Bishop oppos'd the new Law that was intended to be enacted in the Council of Nice to oblige the Bishops Priests and Deacons to live single and to abstain from their Wives whom they had married before their Ordination For although he himself was never married nevertheless he maintain'd that this Yoak ought not to be laid on the Clergy and that it was to expose the Chastity of Women to apparent danger I believe said Mr. Du Pin in speaking to the Roman Catholick Doctors that this doubt proceeds rather from a fear with which some are possess'd that this matter of Fact should in any wise impugn the present Discipline than from any solid Proof But these Persons ought to consider that this Ordinance is purely concerning Discipline that the Discipline of the Church may be alter'd as opportunity serves and that it is not necessary for the vindication thereof to prove that it hath been always uniform in all Places Moreover our Author shews that Hosins Bishop of Corduba presided in the Nicene Council and not the Popes Legats He acknowledgeth as the authentick Records of this Synod only the Form of Faith the Epistle to the Egyptians the Decree concerning the Feast of Easter and the first 20 Canons And consequently he rejects as suppositions Pieces the Latin Letter of this Council to S. Sylvester together with the Answer of this Bishop and the Canons of a pretended Synod holden at Rome for the Confirmation of that of Nice In the 59. as also the 60 and last Canon of the Council of Laodicea which Mr. Du Pin believes to have been convened between the
years 360 and 370. It is prohibited to read in the Church any other Books than the Canonical and those only are acknowledged as such which are allow'd by the Protestants excepting the Revelation The 8. Canon of the Council of Saragossa forbids the vailing of Nuns before the age of 40 years The Bishops of Macedonia being about to confirm a Censure that they had made against a certain Bishop named Bonosius and desiring the advice of Pope Siricius he replied That the Council of CAPUA having referr'd this cause to them it did not appertain to him to give any Judgment therein and that they had power to determine it The most ancient Record according to the opinion of Mr. Du Pin in which the name of Mass is applied to signifie the publick Prayers recited by the Church of Rome in celebrating the Eucharist is the third Canon of the II. Council of Carthage holden Anno Domini 390. In the end of this Volume the Author exhibits an Epitome of the Doctrine of the fourth Century as he hath done in the preceeding with respect to the first three and he avoucheth that altho' nothing was taught in the fourth Age of the Church but what was likewise believed in the three former nevertheless the principal Mysteries of the Christian Religion have been much illustrated and explained therein III. Commentaries on Latin Authors Q. HORATII FLACCI Poemata Interpretatione notis illustravit Petrus Rodellius é Soc. Jesu jussu Christianissimi Regis ad usum Sereniss Delphini huic Editioni accesserunt Odae aliquot Satyrae unà cum interpretatione continuâ quae in priori desiderabantur nec non Index rerum Phrasium Verborum memorabilium 8. Lond. Impensis Abel Swalle 1690. pag. 366. THis Edition which is no less correct than that of Paris hath moreover this advantage that it contains the entire Works of Horace Father Rodellius thought fit indeed not only to avoid the interpretation of divers Odes and Satyrs that seemed to him to be somewhat too luxuriant and offensive to chast minds but even wholly to retrench them nevertheless this defect is now supplied by reprinting these Pieces that were omitted and by Paraphrasing all the rest excepting about half of the second Satyr I. THE Author having perus'd Mr. Dacier's Translation and Critical Remarks undertakes to censure some of those that are not agreeable to his opinion The latter in his French Interpretation declares that whereas Horace makes mention of Maecenas thus Atavis edite Regibus These words are not to be understood as if Maecenas were really descended from the Kings of Etreria since there is not so much as one Historian that takes any notice of the Royal Stock of this Favourite of Augustus but they all affirm that he derived his extraction from an illustrious Family of Knights The ancient Commentators produce three Names of these pretended Kings but he avoucheth it to be a counterfeit List and that they were deceived in taking Atavus for a Great Grand-Father As for his part by the word Reges he understands Noblemen or Persons of considerable Quality insomuch that according to his Judgment the meaning of Horace was only this that Maecenas was descended of an ancient Family of Etreria It must be granted that the words Rex Regina are often used in that sense which is alledged by Mr. Dacier but on the other hand Rodellius insists that in this place the word Rex ought to be taken in its proper and genuine signification as well as in the following Verse of Propertius Maecenas eques Etrusco de Sanguine Regum The Historians might easily omit this circumstance relating to the Noble Extraction of Maecenas by reason that none of them undertook to give a particular account of his life and it is mention'd by the Poets in regard that they had receiv'd the greatest share of his favours Neither indeed could Maecenas derive his Pedigree from the Kings of Etreria but at a very great distance so that according to the judgment of Rodellius as well as that of Mr. Dacier the name of Cecina that is attributed to the Great Grand-Father of this Illustrious Person and who is reputed to have been King of Etreria is meerly feigned Besides the Kings of Etreria were not very considerable if we may give credit to the Testimony of Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Lucius Florus and other Ancient Writers There were twelve in number at the same time and altho' they had an Equipage like unto that of the Roman Consuls together with a Scepter and a Crown nevertheless they reigned only within the narrow bounds of one City as Porsenna at Clusium Therefore altho' it ought not to be accounted as a matter of no moment to be descended from those Kings Yet it is not of so great consequence as that it should be admir'd that the Historians have not made mention thereof with respect to Maecenas These are the reasons alledged by Rodellius which being confirmed by the Authority of Propertius will without doubt cause many to incline to his Opinion It is not sufficient that because a word as that of Rex is used in a certain sense in some places therefore it ought to be explain'd after the same manner wheresoever it is possible that this signification may be admitted it must also be attended with certain circumstances which favour this sense and determin that equivocal word thereto It is requisite then to enquire whether it be probable that in the expressions of Horace and Propertius the word Rex should be taken for a Rich or Noble Man but we shall leave this to the decision of those that are expert Criticks in the Latin Tongue II. Father Rodellius hath annexed a Chronological Epitome of the Roman History from the 21. year of Horace to the 57. which account indeed is useful for the more clear understanding of the Works of this Poet but the Chronology of Horace's Odes inserted in Tanaquil Faber's Letters would not have been less advantageous and Rodellius would not have acted more unjustly in borrowing from him all this little Work and in doing him that justice which is due to his merits than in taking only part of his design for altho' Faber died among those of the Reformed Religion nevertheless there is no Jesuit that can deny him the reputation of a good Grammarian which quality hath been always esteemed to be consistent with that of an ill Roman-Catholick III. Moreover Rodellius contradicts M. Dacier with respect to an explication published by the later on the 6 Verse of the 1 Ode Terrarum Dominos evehit ad Deos which M. Dacier understands not with reference to those that are properly called Gods but concerning those that had obtain'd the prize in the Olympick Games whom Horace else-where stiles Coelestes The Latin Interpretation is consonant to the ordinary acceptation of the words that is to say that they which overcame believ'd that they had acquired a great deal of Honour which might be Hyperbolically termed a Glory