our Lives is imployed only to the Knowledge of Vertue and Divine Power to the end we fall not into Sin nor be polluted by the conversation of such People in any manner whatever He hath also defended and armed us on all sides with Purity and Honesty not only in our Meat and Drink but also in what we handle touch see and hear for he hath reduced and brought all things before our natural Reason for as all things have their Being from one Power so with a most profound Judgment hath he appointed which we are to use and from which we are to abstain I will alledge you one or two for Example to the end that if you take heed to the Words and plain Speech you cannot think that Moses hath taken such Pains to ordain his Laws because of Rats Weasels and such like things For it is necessary you understand that he hath very well and wisely ordered all things to the Honesty of Living having regard to Purity and Cleanliness and to the correction and amendment of Manners And as for Birds and flying Fowls he hath permitted us to eat ordinarily of such as are tame and are different from others in Neatness and Cleanliness and that live upon Grain and Seeds such as are Pidgeons Turtles Peacocks Partridge Geese and the like And such as he hath forbidden us to eat they are wild ravenous living upon Flesh and Carrion of proud Natures inclined to Rapine and Prey and such as by force set upon others and seek not their living but to the damage hurt and injury of the other Poultry who are gentle and tame but those fierce ones not only seize upon those of their own Kind but also upon Lambs Kidds and even upon Men yet living or half dead Our Law-maker therefore noting this by way of Similitude and by a borrowed way of Translation taken from the Nature of such Fowls hath pronounc'd them unclean and infectious as being willing to reduce and bring all things to the consideration of Purity and Cleanliness of the Soul to the end that every one being admonished by ordinary and domestick Examples may understand how it behoveth to use Equity and Justiceâ— and that it is not granted to Man bâ— he never so strong powerful proudâ— bold and audacious soever to ravisâ— by force that of another nor to dâ— injury to any Person but that it iâ— convenient he should order the coursâ— of his Life in imitation of the Fowâ— I have spoken of who live by Grainâ— leading a tame and tractable Lifeâ— And that it is not lawful to vex anâ— trouble any Person of our own Kindâ— nor ravage his Goods by force as dâ— those Beasts he hath prohibited us tâ— eat and not to use Violence in anâ— case which is figured by the Naturâ— of Beasts not wholly void of Senseâ— You understand then the Reason whâ— he hath forbidden us the Use of thâ— said things that is to say because oâ— the Inclination and Nature of everâ— Beast You may therefore now well conâ—ceive how our Law-giver Moses hatâ— been careful in all things to correâ—â— our Manners and establish them bâ— the things to which we are accustomed and therefore to regard the Nature of brute Beasts for where he hath Licensed us eating the Flesh of four-footed Beasts who have two and the Hoofs cloven the Import is that we ought to direct our Operations to Justice and Bounty By this cloven Hoof figuring to us the Distribution of Rewards and Punishments For which cause we are cleft and divided from other Nations to the end we be not polluted with Sin by their Conversation and Company For many People of the Gentiles are sullied with Impiety by mixture of one with another and not only suffer the Provinces and Cities to be spotted infected and dishonoured with Sins against Nature but are fouly stain'd with the unclean blood of Child-bearing Women having no shame or regret to commit Incest with their own Daughters from which things we are wholly Alienated Moreover where he hath noted to us the sign of this Forking he hath also advised us to be recollected by the same Figure in the same Animals for he hath added further that they should be such as chew the Cud By which he manifestly admonisheth us to have this Rumination in Memory and in the Course of our Life for what signifieth the chewing of the Cud but that we ought still to have in our Minds a continual revolving of our Lives and Actions and so by a frequent Meditation the Duties to which we are obliged and what we owe to all Even as the Life of the Body is ever in our Thoughts so as our Spirit is nourished in bringing to mind her Employments And for this cause he saith in the Scripture Have GOD still in thy Memory and Thought who hath done for thee such great and wonderful things If this thou truly considerest thou shalt find it great and admirable indeed For first thou shalt behold the Architecture of the Body the Distribution and Transfusion of the Elements the Connexion and Ligatures of the Members a thing truly worthy of Admiration But it will be more admirable If thou hast regard to the Sense which is given to every Member if thou weighest the Actions of the Understanding if thou considerest the invisible Movements and how in each of them there shines a Vigour and Vivacity of Spirit from whence have proceeded the Inventions of Arts almost innumerable Wherefore not without cause Moses commanded us to have in constant Consideration that all Things have been established and made Examples by the Divine Power and Providence for so hath he finished and counterpoised every Thing agreeing with its time and place recalling always to Mind the consideration of GOD the Lord Ruler and Creator of the whole Universe And if we will begin with what concerns Eating and Drinking hath he not well and prudently commanded that we should give Praises and Thanks to GOD when we sit at Table In which he hath not permitted us to Devise or Discourse of any thing in the World that should make us forget or efface in our Memories the Power and Providence of GOD. Wherefore he hath appointed that we engrave upon the Doors and Portals of our Houses such Inscriptions as should excite us to Thanksgiving still to refresh our Memories with the Thoughts of God and his Goodness to us by a most evident sign that all our Endeavours ought always to be to mind us of Sincerity and Equity and that each Thought ought always to represent GOD before our Eyes Also he hath appointed that not only when we Sit at Table but when we Rise we should praise the Works of God not only in Word but also with a grave and composed Countenance reducing to Mind the perpetual Motion of the Heavens and that this alternative and successive Nature is Divine and incomprehensible to Man Thus to you is expounded the Reason of the forking of the
second of that Name Surnamed Philadelphus King of Aegypt of Phaenicia and of Cypres Son of the first Ptolomeus Son of Lagus began his Reign in the 271 year before the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good Letters by Strabo the Peripatetick in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplish'd Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetness and Gentleness of his Spirit accommodated with the Manners and Complexions of all worthy and deserving Persons By this means he entred so far and before in the Grace of all the World that every one in his thought wish'd he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and rejoycing in his hopes of him made him to be crowned King and devested himself of all Authority without reserving any Power Right or Preheminence to himself only a Superintendency over the Guard of the King his Son glorifying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gave occasion between them both of a most kind contention in mutual Offices the Son yielding to the Father and the Father to the Son in all and by all through instinct of Devotion and Piety so they gave lively touches one to the other in all reduceable fitting Offices which was cause that the People conceived a great Fidelity and Amity towards them so as it seemed even the Divine Providence prepared this Noble Spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Laws and Divine Illuminations wherewith God had favoured the People of the Iews above all the Nations of the World And it seemeth that even then his Almightiness made a preparative for the Vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by Communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordained Minister to call the Seventy Interpreters into Aegypt to translate into the Greek Language which then was the most used and vulgar through the whole Universe So as I am amazed at some fanatical Spirits that hinder us from the Knowledge of God in not giving his Word in the Language of the People wheresoever as is appertaining to every one in Regard of Salvation I would ask those men what Language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flavia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierom translated many Books of Holy Scriptures out of strange Tongues into Latin which was the natural Language of the said Ladies I would also know who was more Wise or better inspired then St. Hierom Further it seems they either are or would seem to be ignorant of the Institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who sung in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the People might understand them But to return to Ptolomy He undertook to erect a Library in the Capital City of his Realm Alexandria the Charge whereof he gave to Demetrius Phalerius a Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the World and it lasted until the first War of the Romans against the Alexandrians This King had to Wife Arsinoe to whom he caused a Statue to be raised in height four Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topaz the which had been given to Bernice the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of Aristeus the Author of this History ARISTEVS the near Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by St. Hierom Ptolomei Hyperaspistes the Shield of the King or he that defends the King with his Shield or Bearer of the Shield Royal which seems to me that he held some such place about the King his Master as we call at this Day the Great Esquire of the Kings Body he was the Principal Sollicitor for the Liberty of the Iews that then were held Slaves throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for he made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause he was sent Ambassadour with Andrea Prince of the Guards belonging to the King unto Hierusalem to deal with the High-Priest Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomeus six Doctors of every Tribe to go on with the Translation and Version of the Holy Books of Moses He writ diligently his Voyage where he shews openly how and by what course those seventy two Interpreters behaved themselves in the said Books Some have been of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many that they Translated but the five Books that is Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentateuck which is the Law of Moses for Aristeus speaks but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Books Historical nor the Prophets for if it had been so Aristeus would not have been silent thereof Moreover that which they Translated was finished in the space of seventy two dayes which is about two Months and a half and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Nevertheless I am not ignorant that there was a turning of other Books of the Bible that go by the name of the seventy two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Egypt unless that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Books although both in that and other Opinions I submit me to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But however this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles in Allegations of the Law use the Version of these seventy two Interpreters I have spoken these few Words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not think that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could be invisible when he listed making folks believe that he could dye and rise again when he would of whom speaks Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the Life of Romulus 3. Of Eleazer the High-Priest of the Jews ELeazar of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Just He after the decease of his Brother Simon in the year of the reign of Ptolomy first of that Name 35. was made chief of the Synagogue of the Iews by reason that Onias Son of Simon his Brother was uncapable of succeeding in his Father's Place as being under age This Eleazar therefore received the Honour that in his Time the Holy Translation of the Law was made by the seventy two Doctors that he seâ—t to Ptolomeus second of that Name King of Egypt as Aristeus hath left by Writing 4. Of Demetrius Phalerius DEmetrius Phalerius was an Athenian Orator and Philosopher as Cicero notes in the
first Book of his Offices calling him a subtil and sharp Disputant and in the rest an Orator little vehement He had been Disciple of Theophrastus he was a man of such Knowledge and excellent Carriage that foreign Kings had him in Admiration and drew him to their Service even Cassander King of Macedon And for this Reputation the Athenians gave him the Principality of the City and Common-weal in which he was Ten years in great Prosperity But some of the Citizens having conceived Malice against him chased and threw him out of his Estate and then he was honourably received of King Ptolomy of whom we speak where he was Master of the Library Royal the Athenians having formerly raised to him 360 Statues of Marble in despight cast them to the Earth and judged him to death as a Traytor of which Demetrius being advertised said The Athenians have thrown down my Statues but they cannot over-turn my Vertue for which they first erected those Statues He was wont to say that Eloquence was as necessary in a Common-weal as a Sword in the Wars He dyed by the biting of an Aspick and was buried in the Region of Busina near to Diospolis The History of Aristeus Ambassadour of King Ptolomaeus Philadelphus treating of his Voyage unto Jerusalem and the first Translation of the Holy Bible by the Seventy two Elders Written in Greek 1900 years since Aristeus to his Brother Philocrates WEll knowing your Natural and good inclination Philocrates to have always had in great esteem the knowledge of all things and that you have been desirous and even greedy to understand the occurrences and passages of good Exploits I have deliberated to frame to you in Writing a matter not only excellent in it self but well deserving to be known which unto us is hapned being sent of late to Eleazar H. Priest of the Iews But because these things shall be more easie to you I shall first declare the Causes for which we were sent and then I shall come to the Progress of the Matter so as I shall shape my Discourse to Your understanding and that the most truly I possibly can as well â—or the dignity of the Subject as to delight your Mind desirous of all good Knowledges assuring my self that man hath in him nothing more excellent and laudable than incessantly to desire Learning either by means of Histories or by the Objects of things themselves or by the course and Experience of Affairs For the Spirâ—t of Man though Rude and unâ—urnished is greatly adorned and embellished when from the beginning it delighteth to Taste and Relish those most nourishing fair worthy and excellent things that may conduct him by an infallible course to follow Piety and right Reason We therefore searching with great curiosity into the Knowledge of Divine things could not arrive at them as not understanding the Divine Law without being interpreted and rendred into our familiar tongue for which cause we undertook to go Ambassadour to one only Person who amongst his fellow Citizens and others for frankness and great worth was in the most esteem and who only did great Honour and Profit to the Citizens he conversed with but also to all other Iews of what other place or whence soever Being then well inâ—ormed that they had the Divine Law written in Hebrew Characters in skins of Parchment we were joyful to accept this charge given us by the King as also for that the Colonies of the Captive Iews here desired the same above all things of the world who had been hither led by the Kings Father that had reduced into his Obedience the City of Ierusalem and all the Countrey adjacent But since we are faln to make mention of that matter it will not be impertinent to give you light into the whole Discourse that thereby you may take your measures better knowing well that it will be more advisable carefully to inform you how to address your self to the service of God Reverently than to travel in the search of Humane Laws or Actions be they never so just Which Inclination you have sufficiently manifested since from an Isle so far remote you are come to this Country to see those things that may serve to the cultivating of your Mind without Regard to any place whatsoever I have therefore here reduced to Writing First what hath seemed to me worthy of Memory touching the Nation of the Iews as I have in some measure understood from the Learned and Wise Priests of Egypt to the end that by this means I might aid and encrease by some means Your knowledge For we ought to have in Remembrance what good we have received from othes and particularly to shew all gratitude to those who relate to us And principally You who have knowledge of Vertue deriving from your Brother not only Resemblance Proximity of Blood and Lineage but those those Principles that excite you with the same impetuosity of Courage to attain the Honour Glory and Beauty of Vertue assuring my self that neither the admiration of Gold or Riches nor the appearance of any things more precious conduce to any thing but vain-glory neither will they yield you any such fruit as we may gather from Knowledge Education and consideration of good Discipline For the rest to the end it may not seem that we make shew of ostentation in being prolix in this Preface we will return to our purpose from whence we have wandered Demetrius Phalerius Master of the Kings Library after the best care he could giving order to purchase Books from all Parts of the World And employing for that purpose great numbers of Persons as Factors dispersed in many places who had in charge to buy and transcribe them they so doing and that with Diligence the design of the King was accomplished and executed at least in the best manner that was possible For the King asking him in our Presence how many thousand Volumes he had collected for his Library he answered for the present he had no more than two hundred thousand and he hoped e're long to have to the number of 500000. But Sir said he I have understood that the Laws of the Iews deserve to be Copied and Translated and to have place in your Library And what hinders it answered the King that they be not have you not all things to serve you convenient for that purpose Demetrius Answered that it was necessary that those Laws should be Translated and Interpreted because the Iews had in use a Character peculiar to their Language far different from the Aegyptians adjusting and accommodating their Letters to the Tone of the Voice and that they were much deceived who held they spake the Syrian Tongue for their manner of Speech was far distant To which the King replied that he would write to the High Priest of the Iews to the end that all might be obtained which was requisite to bring this matter to an issue as Demetrius required Then it came to
Further because it is our desire they and all others of their Nation spread and scattered throughout the Universe may be thankful for our favours we have resolved to cause your Law Written in Hebrew Letters to be Translated into the Greek Language and that our Royal Library be adorned therewith as it is with other Books you will do well then as a thing very agreeable to us and answering our Design and Intention if you elect out of every Tribe or Line of your Nation six of the most Aged Persons and such as shall be found of the best Breeding and Sufficience and of greatest Authority in the Service of the Law and that have the best Style in Writing to make this Translation for so will the Truth thereof be better and more easily gathered if the Set of Interpreters be men of mature Judgement and well exercised in the Law well weighing that to effect well and worthily such an Interpretation and Translation it is needful there should be Pains curious Study and Reflection which may be found in the endeavours of Many who are more sharp more subtile and more discerning than One alone Moreover we judge that by the accomplishing so great a work there will redound to us great Honour and Glory For this cause therefore we have sent unto you Andrea Captain of the Guard and Aristeus men of Honourable place in our Court who have Commission on our part to present you with Jewels for your sacrifices and an Hundred Talents of Silver for other uses Herein you will give us great content and pleasure and express a courtesie resenting Amity if you have need of any thing to require it for we will not fail to furnish and accommodate you therewith immediately To which Epistle Eleazar answered as follows Eleazar the High Priest to King Ptolomeus Philadelphus our most illustrious Friend IF you are well Sir and the Queen Arsinoe and my Lady your Sister and my Lords your Children God be praised for health is a thing to be desired and acknowledged as due unto him who is Giver thereof As for us we are in good prosperity praised be the Giver We have received your Letters which brought us great Content by reason of your Counsel Enterprise and Design as also for the love and good will you bear us Having received them we made a great Assembly of the People to whom in a long Discourse we have made known your Liberality towards our Nation and exposed to view your Presents and Oblations to the end they should understand your holy Affection and Piety towards our God Shewing publickly the twenty Vessels and Viols of Gold the thirty of Silver which you have sent the five cups of Gold with the Table of proportion and the hundred Talents of Silver to be employed for the Victims and other uses requisite to the Priests Which Jewels were to us presented by Andrea one of your Princes and Aristeus Persons truly worthy of note both for external beauty and excellency of Behaviour and condition as also rare Knowledge briefly Lords worthy in all things of your Conversation and Justice by whom we have been fully informed of your will and intention agreeing with the Tenour of your Letters Wherefore we will wholly set our selves to endeavour to accomplish your desire For although it be a difficult thing to bring well to perfect effect yet for the Times to come it will be an Argument of our great Confederation and Amity For you have obliged our Citizens with a great and as it were an in inestimable Beneficence Whereupon we have offered to God the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving for you your Sister Children and Friends and the whole multitude of people hath prayed to God for your Prosperity and that it will please him to address your affection in all your Acts and that God the Ruler of all things will make your Realm to flourish and increase in Peace and Glory And that the Translation of the Sacred Law may redound unto your Profit and Advantage After these Sacrifices were accomplished all the People being together we chose Persons of better Rank and men of Honour and of good Life and Report being Six of every Tribe or Line which we have sent to you with the Holy Law which was left us by the Inspired Writer Moses Be it your pleasure Sir to return them us after the Translation of the Books shall be compleated These are the Names of those that were chosen from all the Lines and Tribes of the Jews to go to Aegypt to make the first Translation of the Holy Bible or Law of Moses Of the first Tribe JOsephus Ezechias Zacharias Ioannes Ezechias Heliseus Of the second Iudas Simon Somoelus Adeus Mathias Eschemias Of the third Nehemias Iosephus Theodosius Baseas Ornias Dacis Of the fourth Ionathas Auxeus Heliseus Annanias Chebrias Sacheus Of the fifth Iasacus Iacobus Iesus Cabateus Simon Leuis Of the sixth Iudas Iosephus Simon Zacharias Somelus Selemias Of the seventh Sabbatens Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The eighth Theodosius Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The ninth Theophilus Abrahamus Arsamus Iason Endemias Danielus The tenth Hieremias Eleazarus Zacharias Baneas Helisius Datheus The eleventh Samuel Iosephus Iudas Ioathes Chabel Desitheus The twelfth Isaelus Ioannes Theodosius Arsamenus Abiethas Ezecelus Number of all 72. Such was the Answer to the Letters of the King NOw I will declare to you the most succinctly I can possible the beauty and workmanship of the things we found in Ierusalem being with Eleazar and those also which were sent to him for all was wrought with singular Art and of most exquisite beauty the King being therein so careful and intent to perâ—orm abundantly all that was necessary for finishing so extraordinary Work that of his own proper motion he went and came visiting every one of the Master-workmen and Goldsmiths whom he kept so close to their business that he permitted them no idle time for Sport or Debauches Of the Presents sent unto Eleazer Chief Priest of the Jews by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus And first of the Table of Gold IT behoveth then that first we describe the Table for it was a work of admirable lustre The King desiring to shew therein a Master-piece of Work wherefore he demanded the measure and dimension of the Table which was in the Temple of Ierusalem and the ornaments of the same When he knew the measure he asked if they would receive a greater And being answered by some of the Priests and others if there where no let a greater might have place there The King then replyed that hâ— intended to give one five times bigger than that was there provided that might not be inconvenient for the Priests by its disproportionable quantity Further consideration ought not only to be had of the Receit and Capacity of the Place but also of its Accommodation to the Sacrifices thereon to be prepared and that he was not without consideration that the Iews had not made
Cloven-foot its Import as also of the Chewing of the Cud which you inquir'd after assuring you that there is nothing ordained which is superfluous or improper for the forming of the Mind but by this Figurative Manner and Use he hath accommodated all things according to Truth Also the said Law-giver by a like Figure hath admonished us from falling into Injustice and Sin by the hearing or too much relying upon our Eloquence Prattle and Jesting which we may learn in the consideration of vile Beasts for the Weasels are of a filthy Complexion as also Rats and such like Creatures which he hath forbidden us to handle or touch For Rats they make all things foul infectious and hurtful and are not only pernicious to eat but wholly unprofitable to Man in all things And Weasels are a sort of Vermine which are yet fouler more infectious and the most filthy and impure of all those we speak of For they conceive by the Ear and bring forth their young by the Throat which is a thing detestable in Men in what they hear and report receiving by the Ear any cursed Folly to utter and be delivered of the same by the Tongue and Report and to exasperate the same by Words odious and bitter Of which oft times there arises cause of great Inconvenience and that which of it self is nauseous and loathsom they improve and amplify with an elaborate wicked Invention by all means possible Wherefore your King as we have heard justly causes such Men to be punished capitally I think said I then that by such you mean the Emphanists for the King punisheth those without Hope or Mercy by Process with Tortures and Sufferings and even with an ignominious Death They are the same said Eleazar for their Idleness and Negligence brings nothing to Men but Mischief and most dangerous Ruine and Destruction And likewise our Law commands to do no wrong or injury to any Person either by Word or Deed. See then how I advertise you in short and shew you that all our Demeanours by the Law are directed to Justice and Equity and that our holy Scriptures allow not any thing that in Appearance is evil nor ought to be done impertinently and with Choler But we are commanded that in all our Lives we demean our selves towards all Men in all our Conversations and Deportments justly and graciously as having always in Mind God for the great Judge of Secrets Now to whom could it seem otherwise but that Eleazar had well and pertinently spoken of those filthy Vermin Reptiles and of other Creatures also manifesting thereby very properly that all the Letter of the Law tended to no other end then Justice and to shape and fashion well the Manners and Dispositions of Men. Further he delivered himself concerning the Oblations of Calves of Sheep and of Goats raising thereupon a fair Discourse shewing that it was their custom to select such Beasts from the Folds and Herds as were Tractable and Tame to make them their Offerings to God never offering Sacrifice with wild or hurtful Beasts because those that made these Oblations and offered them should not entertain Savage Thoughts or be elated with intractable Pâ—ide but instructed by the Gentle and Innocent Nature of the Victims and that they should learn from such Instances to become Humble and Patient and in their Sacrificing to have their Minds erect as raised to God the Creator of all things Hitherto Philocrates I have framed to you by writing these memorable things considering the itch you have to learn and to know which I have done to the end that by this little you may understand the Majesty of the Law the Causes and Natural Considerations that are therein contained and now I will return from whence we have Digressed The Return of the Ambassadors to Alexandria with the Doctors of the Jews and how the King adored the Holy Law seven times with Tears in his Eyes ELEAZAR then after the Sacrifices were performed as was customary having chosen the Persons as is before specified to send unto the King he sent him also many rich Presents which indeed were very splendid When therefore we had tken leave and parted from him very friendly with his Salutation of Peace and were returned to Alexandria our arrival was forthwith made known to the King And soon after Andrea and my self entred into the Kings Hall and making most humble Reverence we presented to his Majesty the Letters of Eleazar Then the King overjoyed that the Event of this Voyage had succeeded so well having obtained the Persons much to be wisht for made the Croud of those that attended on their Petitions and Suits to quit the Place and commanded that the Iewish Doctors should immediately have notice to attend which was sooner than they expected For the Custom of the Country is when any Ambassadors arrive upon any Business they are sent about it is not permited them to be presented to the King unless they are Ambassadors from Kings or from very Honourable States and Republicks nor without great difficulty to have Audience till thirty dayes after their Arrival and sometimes longer as the King is pleased to make a Difference with regard to the Degree of those that sent them But the King having cleared the Place of those he judged not necessary to this Entertainment continued in the Hall expecting till the Doctors were presented to make their Obeysance Who being introduced did their Duties in delivering the Presents sent the King from Eleazar Likewise they Presented him with divers Skins of Parchment exceeding fine smooth and delicate bound up with a Binding very rare and uncommon In which Skins was the Divine Law of Moses in Letters of Gold and in the Hebrew Language a thing very curious to behold Upon their presenting them to the King sitting in his Chair of State the King presently turned towards them taking notice of them all one after another and then required of them the Volumes of the Law Then they unfolded the Rouls wrapt up in these Skins of Parchment or Vellam aforesaid Which the King seriously beholding remained as one transported a pretty space After which he adored the Holy Law seven times saying these Words We give you Thanks my Masters and much more him that sent you hither and the High God above all of whom these are the Sacred Words Then the said Doctors and all those who were attending the King let fall great Expressions of Joy with Acclamation and there fell Tears of Joy from the Kings Eyes as we see many times that exceeding Transports will draw Tears from the Eyes especially in Excesses of a more sublime and intellectual Nature Then the King required the Skins and Volumes of the Law should be folded up again which done he saluted the Doctors saying Reason requires grave Sirs that first we pay you Honour and Regard in as much as We were the Occasion of your coming hither for which cause we give you our Hand with
consider what appertains to your Degree and what is in your Power to the end there fall not from you any thing unbecoming your Royal Dignity either in Word or Deed you must also bear in mind that all your Subjects are discoursing still of you judging all your Steps and censuring your Courses Further consider how you are exposed to Flatterers who dive into your very Thoughts upon every Change of your Countenance and Carriage from which they will make use for their own ends but in this Great King you may well understand how to demean your self not submitting your Ear to any Person that may charm you with his Syren Flattery or disguise the Truth by Dissimulation since God hath endowed you with great Affability of Behaviour accompanied with Gravity and Dispatch The King then received this Answer with great Joy and Applause and gave all the Company leave to seek their Repose to prepare themselves for meeting at the Feast the day following which was ordered as the former They being met and the time presenting it self for Discourse as before the King made this Question to the first of those that had not yet spoken Fifteenth Question What thing is most difficult for a King The Resolution THat is to Command Himself and not to permit himself to be prevailed upon by any exorbitant Appetites or Passions for all Men have a certain Bent of Inclination by which they many times permit themselves to be led according as their Genius leads them some to Banquets and Riot others to Pastimes and Pleasures wherein the greatest part of the Multitude are immerc'd But Kings should have their Thoughts more elevated as being excited by great Honour and Glory to frame their Actions to Conquests and design the taking of Cities and reducing of Nations Nevertheless it is very commendable to keep a meaâ— and to conserve carefully what God hath and shall give you and not so much to affect what is out of reason or unworthy the high Glory of your Place To the other Sixteenth Question What means he hath to avoid the Envy of Any The Resolution IF before all things you bear in mind that Riches Honour and Greatness are the Gifts of God to Kings of which no Person hath true right to dispose Wherefore if any aim to partake of this glorious Prerogative to be un-envied he will never obtain his end for it is the gift of God alone To the other Seventeenth Question What he ought to do to oblige his Enemies The Resolution IF you become gracious and favourable towards all bountiful Persons without particular Respect of any likewise in what you receive from others not to shew your self ingrateful to the Services and good Offices you have received from them for that is a sign of the Grace of God To the other Eighteenth Question How he may continue in Glory and Honour The Resolution IF towards others and above all others you excell in Bounty and Magnificence accompanying the same with a good Grace never will Glory and Honour abandon you and it behoveth you still to pray to God that such Vertues may perpetually assist you To the other Nineteenth Question To what Persons he should dispence Honour The Resolution THey commonly judge Great King that we ought to dispense Honour where we especially love but for my part I am of Opinion that we ought to dispence all we can to the Envious and to be gracious and bountiful to them according to the utmost of our Power to the end that by such means they may be induced and won to do what is good and profitable in which Choice of our Favours we must implore the Aid of God who inspireth the Understanding to the end he may accomplish in us this Perfection To the other Twentieth Question What Persons he ought to gratifie The Resolution FAther and Mother Great King before all Persons for God hath annexed a great Commandment to the Duty we owe to our Father and Mother allowing after but a second place to Friends whom he hath stiled proportionable in Nature Further I esteem it Great King no small Happiness that you engage all the World to love you To the other One and twentieth Question What is more worthy than Beauty The Resolution THat is Piety for that is a Beauty excelling all other and its Force consisteth in Charity which is a Gift of God which you have and with it you will inherit all Vertue and all that is good To the other Two and twentieth Question By what means oâ—e may recover Greatdess and Glory once lost The Resolution THat is Great King if you are full of Benignity Affability and gracious to all the World which are things charming and attracting the Love of the People it is hard if you lose your Greatness On the other side great Preparations for War give great Assurance but those who fall into such Accidents it is necessary that they abstain from what occasioned them to fall into such Inconveniences and thenceforward they acquire Friends by giving themselves to the Exercise of Justice and Equity for good Works are the Gifts of God To the other Three and twentieth Question How he may live without Anxiety The Resolution IF you wrong no Man and relieve every one doing Justice to all the World for from so doing we reap such pleasant Fruits as we shall always live pleasantly Nevertheless we ought to crave of God that what Accidents happen contrary to Expectation bring us no Damage as Death Sicknesses and such like Inconveniences which can do you no harm if you are full of Piety To the other Four and Twentieth Question What thing in this World is worthy the greatest Honour The Resolution THat is to serve God not so much with Sacrifices or Oblations as with a pure Heart and a sincere Conscience and to conform your self to the Obedience of a simple and active Faith Which if you do Great King it will firmly imprint this Truth in your Heart That all you have done and shall do hereafter will be evident and appear to all the World After this past the King with a loud Voice saluted them all ascribing to them great Praise as did also the Assistants especially the Philosophers who were there present and not without Cause For these Persons were of great Authority in all their Speeches laying the Foundations of their Answers and Opinions alwayes in God This done the King returned to Feasting and Meriment The day following the Tables were covered in the same manner as before and all the Lords as before being set at Table the King taking his Opportunity of Devising began to interrogate those who followed the others in the foregoing day of answering and made this Question The twenty fifth Question I would know if Prudence may be taught The Resolution PRudence is a certain Dress and Ornament of the Soul flowing â—rom the Divine Power having this â—roperty to embrace what is good â—nd to refuse its contrary Six and twentieth Question
Now if we will learâ—h all the Histories of all the Nations of the World of whom the Writings are arrived to our Age the most Ancient time of which they make mention shall be of their antient Destruction of Troy by the Greeks The History whereof hath been written by Dictis of the Isle of Creet which is the best Testimony they have for the present and since by Homer and many others And from this Destruction Diodorus Siculus renowned amongst the Historians began his Books now the same according with the common Judgment and Calculation of knowing men comes only to be about 358 years before the building of Rome the same time then falls to be in the sixteenth year of the Government of Elon Judge of the People of Israel mentioned in the Book of Iudges And the same was 316 years before the first Olympiade the reckoning of the Annals of the Greeks So then the said Destruction of Troy falls to be only under the year of the World 2838. VVhen therefore we shall give consent that their Writings the most certain whose Narrations we may best give Credit unto Yet the Prophet Moses shall be found much more Ancient then all the Writers of the World what Nation soever though they are in great number and of whom we see yet the old Books in these last times in their proper Tongues And that he hath put his hand to the Pen and began to write his Divine Revelations of the Creation and Conduct of the World even to his time and his sacred History and Prophesies touching the Church of God shall at least be 325 years before all other Writers of whom there is any mention or news in the World that is to say in the year of the World 2513. Whereupon we note even to this present against all those prophane Mockers that have disgorged that enormous Blasphemy amongst others that the World is eternal and of it self which if it were so as they dream and that it had no such beginning as is written by Moses they might find then by all and in all Languages many Histories of infinite times and many Chronicles of many Ages and of old times that have preceded Moses in the account of years But we see that there is no such and that the holy Bible is found even in the middle amongst all sorts of Enemies that strive to destroy lose abolish burn and extermine from the World the Books of it and for all thereto they had so long time yet nevertheless they never could nor ever shall For we see the said Bible yet in his proper Writing and Language and of all others of what Nation soever the most celebrated and renowned and if they could find any History which had been written before Moses was born into the World yet shall it contain their Time and Composition with more years and ages as we can gather from the holy Scriptures even to this present year 1633 since the Nativity of Christ. The which account of times past from the Creation unto this present year shall come to amount to 5563 years but such Histories neither can be found nor ever were But for Moses and his faithful Writings even prophane Authors and Histories of the Gentiles themselves have been even as it were divinely constrained to bear Testimony maugre their Calumnies Lyes Dreams and Disguisings through and by the invincible force of Truth And so they have served for Certificates to all Nations of the venerable and well known Antiquity of him and his Holy Writs For some of them have noted and writ thus as a thing notorious of their times to wit That in the East parts and of Syria it self there had been an Abraham an Israel and even a Ioseph who say they was a Son of the said Israel sold by his Brethren and led into Egypt Then how he was received into the Court and held very dearly with the King to whom he foretold the grievous and great Famin so as without the Divine Counsel by him given whereupon the admonished King gathered up and made Reservation of Corn before the time of the said Famin Egypt had perished And finally how his Successor Moses and all his People issued out of Egypt came to Mount Sinai how they consecrated the Seventh day for their Sabboth or resting day But I will leave this Discourse though diversified from a spark of Truth that these Historians have mixed with their own Devices as prophane and in which they were poorly advertised and deceived by the subtilty of Satan as we may well know by conferring their Writings with the Holy Bible And be it that these Scoffers of God and his Holy Word dare be so bold to say and affirm that Moses and his have suppressed and abolished all Precedent Histories making their Writings to be before all others thereby to Authorize them the better yet we will leave those their Calumnies to the Judgment of any of sound Sense and Understanding If that could be or can have any place or shadow of belief amongst men of sound Judgment or reasonable Discourse For if they will put into mature Consideration the small means and contemptible Quality in the World of these poor Israelites but Shepherds and breeders of Cattel and which is worse People exposed to the Oppressions and hard Servitude under their puissant Enemies and evil disposed Neighbours Then who shall make comparison of them with great Kings and People of the Earth Babylonians Aegyptians Syrians Romans and other Potentates who with all their Authority their Edicts Forces and Armies had never power to abolish the Holy Books written simply by our poor Shepheards when they could not conserve their Royal Libraries favoured of all the World Truly this may well put to the blush these wiselings that shew themselves fools in so speaking and discoursing without Discourse and will Judge of things without inquiry Now for the Integrity of Moses for us Christians we are sufficiently cleared and satisfied by the Authority of the Holy Spirit of God who hath given excellent Testimony by all the Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament of his Original and Lineage being descended from the latter Levi Nephew of the Holy Patriarch Abraham Also of his miraculous Conservation and Deliverance from Death and Waters from whence he was drawn forth and then had that name of Moses in their Language Then his Royal Education and Breeding his Love to his afflicted People and his Magnanimity to despise humane Greatness in preferring the just cause and sufferance of Christ the Redeemer then look'd for before all the Regal Estate and great Treasure of Aegypt Moreover his sufferance long and bitter for the defence of Right and Equity and for the Deliverance of the poor afflicted His Divine calling to the Charge and Government of his People his Patience Gentleness and Perseverance with such Faithfulness in the difficult Execution of this weighty Charge and the singular gift of Prophecy and of his Divine
this Assurance that this very Day shall be to us the Day that all the Days of our Life we will hold Great and Memorable and shall be solemnized every Year with Feasting in perpetual Memory of your Visit as also of our Victory which we obtained this day against Antigonus at Sea wherefore it is our Will that this very Day you solace your selves in Feasting with us Forthwith he required the Princes should be invited Amongst whom he did me the Honour to make me to be seated Moreover he caused to be exposed to view all the rich Furniture wherewith the Pallace Royal was upon great Festivals used to be decked Likewise he commanded they should fit up Lodgings near to the Castle in the most splendid Manner they could And in like manner the King ordered that the Feasts should be set out in the most Sumptuous and Magnificent Fashion that was possible And then the King enjoyned Nicanor his chief Physitian to bid Dorothea Controuler of the House as from the Will and Pleasure of his Majesty that he should and that with all Diligence deliver out all things necessary for every one of the Doctors as well for their Accommodation as for the Furniture of their Lodgings and that without fail as from the Ordinance and Command of the King which was forthwith accomplished with great dispatch by many Hands Conformable to the usage of great Cities when they prepare to make great Feasts and publick Banquetting whenas there are selected Officers that are appointed to furnish every one according to his Post and Station Such were the Appointments of the King who was not wanting to assist in Person and his People to speak Truth were such as spared for no Labour or Pains to execute his Orders for with all Alacrity and Cheerfulness they provided whatever was necessary and requisite putting in execution what the King required with glad and chearful Hearts Thus was the Kings Will exactly and freely comply'd with in this and all other Regards whatever For Dorothea was very Franck and Bountiful and very Industrious in his Charge and Employment which was principally to have a due regard to the accommodating these great and venerable Men not employing what had been formerly Allotted to such Uses but fresh and valuable Stuffs sparing nothing that was in his Power He assigned every one of them his Couch of Ease besides his Bed with fair Carpets as the King had commanded Moreover the King required the half of them should be placed and seated at the Table so as that they might front his Person and the other half distributed on each side his Chair of Stateâ— Omitting nothing which any way might do them Honour or contribute to their utmost Content and Satisfaction After the Seats of the Table were duly fixed and proportioned for each the Kings command to Dorothea was that all those who came from Iudea should have Victuals distributed and such as they Affect after the Usage of their Country and Appointment of their Law Nevertheless that they should want for no Plenty or Variety as also for performing their Oblations Vows and Sacrifices according to the Custom of their Nation After all these Ceremonies the King besought one of them named Eleazar the most Aged of all those that came with us to make his Orisons Who as he was very Venerable being then risen from his Seatâ— began in this manner The Prayer of Eleazar God Almighty fill thee O King with all Goodness and give Grace to thy Wife and to thy Children and that thy plenty may be Permanent without Alteration or Change all the course of thy Life and theirs Hardly had he ended this Prayer but there followed a Noise and Acclamation of Joy with a pleasant Murmur and Applause that lasted a pretty while All things being thus disposed and prepared for Jollity all the Company betook themselves to make good Chear and those who waited on the Table repaired readily to their several Posts which the Controuler had given them in Charge Amongst those who served at the Table were the Children of the King and all the most considerable Peers and Lords The Answers of the Jewish Elders to the Questions propounded by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus WHen the time came and a fit Opportunity offered for Discourse the King by certain Pauses began to ask them one by one in order several Questions as they were marshall'd at his Table according to Seniority To him therefore that was set uppermost he made this Question First Question How he should conserve his Kingdom entire and safe to the end The Resolution AFter the Doctor had a little studied he answered You shall great King dispose the Estate of your Kingdom well and wisely if in all and by all you propose to your self the Example of the Benignity and Indulgence of God for your Imitation using Patience and Gentleness raising to Honour those that are Worthy and bringing down the haughty and ambitious proud Spirits to Repentance and a true Sense of themselves by giving them due Example of Humanity Affability and fairness of Access To the other Second Question How he might bring all things justly to a fair Issue The Resolution IF in all things answered he great King you have your Eyes open and Thoughts fixt upon your Actions watching over your self in all things you will do nothing that will not be well done and if you consider that a true Sense of our selves and right Reason is no other than the Gift of God of whom we always ought to have the Fear before our Eyes and present to all our Operations for that is the means never to go astray To the other Third Question How he should have Friends agreeable to him The Resolution IF they know Great King that you have no Thoughts but what are employed upon that which is just and profitable and conducing to the publick Good and that you are excited to it by considering how God supplies the Wants of Mankind providing Sustenance for the Necessities of the Body and for the Necessities of Life bodily Health and other Gifts and Abilities Fourth Question How he should acquire and conserve a solid Reputation in expediting of Affairs in doing Publick Iustice and punishing Offenders The Resolution IF you carry your self as Reason and Equity requires indifferent to every ones Right and if you proceed not against Malefactors according to your uncontroulable Power or with Partiality You may get Knowledge in this Point if you bear in Mind the Providence and wise Disposal of God who granteth the Requests and Petitions of those are worthy and to the Malefactors and Vicious he shews them that he denies nothing but what is hurtful and which appears such by their own Experience or by the Admonitions and Terrors of Dreams also he punisheth not the Sins of Men neither in proportion to their great Demerits nor to his Almighty Power but rather courts their Amendment sweetly winning them by mild and gentle Methods To the