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.
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
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