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.
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
equal to that of the Gods Horace makes use of the same Figure twice in this Ode Me doctarum hederae praemia frontium Dis miscent superis And Sublimi feriam sidera vertice It is likewise known that this expression Deus esse is commonly taken to signifie to be esteemed happy moreover the Epithet of Terrarum Domini entirely determines the sense and it may justly be admir'd that M. Dacier hath not observ'd it since he hath so clearly explained divers passages that are far more difficult It is true indeed that he is not the first Interpreter who through a commendable emulation and earnest endeavour to offer somewhat that is new and to excel others hath been induc'd to deviate from his Authors meaning and to seek for too many Mysteries therein We are sometimes apt to lose our Subject by too intense an application of the mind and by how much the greater our efforts are so much the farther we depart from the true sense to which it is afterwards very difficult to return On the other side if we do not apply our selves with a great deal of attention to the reading of an Author either we understand not what he says or we let slip very considerable difficulties without illustrating them To be successful we must take care to keep the middle path between these two extremities but this precept is more easily given to others than followed by themselves However it may be observ'd much better than it is generally done if we could be perswaded to remain in suspense for a while as touching the meaning of those passages wherein we suspect that others have been deceived and in the mean time if it be possible often to read over that Paragraph concerning which we are doubtful But as soon as a new explication comes into our mind if it have never so little shew of probability we are immediately restless and impatient till we have committed it to Writing and when it is once written we find it to be extreamly difficult to deface or revoke it IV. TANAQUIL Faber had endeavour'd to shew in his Epistles that the 14. Ode of the 1st Book ought to be understood literally where it was generally believ'd that Horace designed to represent the State of the Roman Common-wealth that was ready to be engaged in a new Civil War after the defeat of Brutus and Cassius under the Idea of a disabled Vessel that was again to be expos'd to the tempestuous waves He affirmed that there was nothing Allegorical in this Ode but that the Poet address'd himself to the Ship that had convey'd him from Philippi into Italy and that was about to return by the same way with those that had accompanied him in this Voyage Father Rodellius who seems to fear lest there should be something of danger in opposing the Torrent of Interpreters as his Divines aver that it is not lawful to depart from the general consent of the Doctors maintains the contrary opinion viz. That there is an Allegory in this place They that are desirous to be further informed in this matter may at their leisure compare his assertions with the reasons that are alledged by Tan. Faber V. THERE is a passage in the 2d Ode of the 2d Book which hath very much perplex'd Interpreters and it is this Quisquis ingentes occulo irretortor Spectat acervos M. Dacier explains this Phrase Occulo irretorto with a streight or direct Eye that is to say without envy for the property of envy is to look askew and Rodellius insists that this is the Character of a man of whom it may be said That the brightness of Gold does not at all dazle his Eyes and he is never blinded thereby This indeed comprehends the sense in general and several Commentators have observ'd it before them as may be seen in an Ancient Edition of Horace's Works together with the Annotations of 40 Grammarians Printed at Basil in the year 1580 in Fol. But without injuring the reputation of those Gentlemen it may be justly affirmed or that they have not sufficiently express'd the sence of the word irretorto Torquere oculos signifies to turn our eyes to a certain place Oculosque ad maenia torsit Retorquere oculos is to turn the head backwards to look on something that we have left behind us thus Cicero in his second Oration against Catilina which he made after he had compel'd that Traytor to abandon the City of Rome from whence he departed with great indignation Retorquet oculos profecto saepe ad hanc Vrbem quam ex suis faucibus ereptam esse luget He often turns his head to view this City and grows desperate by reason that his attempts against it have failed It may be said of a man that leaves his Native Country without expressing any sorrow Spectavit maenia patriae exiens oculo irretorto or egressus maenibus non retorsit oculos Horace represents a man that despiseth Riches after the same manner as it were passing through vast Mountains of Gold but beholding them only whilst they are before him without vouchsafing to look back on them when he is past which shews that he doth not regard them for we are accustomed to turn our heads that we may retain those things longer in our sight which we are constrain'd to leave with much regret VI. IN regard that it hath been observ'd by those that have seen this Edition of Rodellius that he therein often opposeth the judgment of M. Dacier it might be expected that he should have made some Critical Remarks on a passage in his Notes on the 21 Ode of the 3d. Book but he hath taken no notice thereof Horace addressing himself to a certain Bottle or Pitcher hath this expression Descende Corvino jubente Promere languidiora Vina Go down since Corvinus hath commanded me to entertain him with the most delicate Wine M. Dacier observes on the word descende that the Romans kept their Wines in Ware-Houses built on the top of their Houses that they might be ripened with the Smoak He would have done well if he had quoted his Authors for none can imagine that Wine above twenty years old at least such as that which is here mentioned being as old as Horace should be kept in a Garret to ripen it with the Smoak This perhaps might have been a good method to make Vinegar thereof but by no means to render it more delicate He might then have affirmed on much better grounds that the Romans usually hung their Bottels on the walls of their Cellars as may be inferr'd from the 23. and 24. Chapters of Cato's Treatise de re Rustica This is one of those things which it were to be wished that M. Dacier had always observed at least to produce his Authors when he exhibits any remarkable circumstance or assertion for we live in an Age that is extreamly distrustful by reason that divers Criticks have been known to avouch those things whereof they could alledge no proof
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