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
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
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