the Sacred Scriptures long before Writâ—en of which they having heard some â—â—ckling and received it as from hand to hand or drawn it from his Writings â—or heard it recounted by the Father to the Son and they from theiâ— Aâ—cestors which were the Children aâ—d Successors of the three Sons of Noah who was the second Father of humaâ—â— kind and restorer of the Nations of all the World all issuing from his Posterity after the universal Flood His three Sons as Holy Scripture hath acquainted us with where Shem Ham and Iaphet of whom are descended all the Earth And this before spoken is easily and sufficiently discovered in the Writings of the said Pagans by the proper Names of the said Children of Noah and of their Successors which of long time before these Writings and prophane Histories had been named by Moses For the Pagans testifie that the People had made of these Ancient Fathersâ— Idols and Gods As of Iaphet Iapetus they drew Iavan Ianus and Ion and because they were Names held in the Hebrew Letters or value of them they accommodated them to their Tongues and Letters and to make them more easie and glib in their accustomed Pronunciation came near but with alâ—eration And if we will go more high and weigh the old Times of the first Age which preceeded the Flood as we have it from that only History of Moses in the Holy Bible We shall easily perceive that the Pagan Poets and Writers have received even the Ancient Names and mingled them amongst their Fables and Dreams and drawn them from the Holy Scriptures And so it shall appear plainly that their false God Vulcan is not very hard to unmask that he was a mortal Man and one of the Sons of the other Lamech the prime Bigamist and corrupter of Marriage who descended of that accursed Race of Cain And this appears by the faculty of this Vulcan which was a Smith or forger of Armour And Moses declares him so and by his Name too for he is by him called Thu-vulcain and every one any thing skill'd in the Hebrew knows that if they leave the first Letter which is servile and put to form the Name according to the manner of the Hebrews it will appear mere Vulcain for their Letter Beth B. having not a prick in him is pronounced as our v Consonant And for the name of Vulcain's Wife by Moses call'd Nehama which signifieth Fair in their Language or as speak the Latines Venusta It is a plain course to discover vain Beauty or their so much celebrated unchast and wanton Venus A goodly Race and fair Family of that accursed murtherer Cain And here may we see some of the proper Gods and Idols of the poor Pagans amongst that Anthill of such and other ill stoln Names unhandsomely fetch'd from the Holy Scriptures with and by the subtilty of the Devil to the end that a wicked Troop of execrable Gyants violent oppressors of men Thieves and Adulterous desperates shaken off and damned by the Word of God of whom the first Apostate and Lyer Sathan made his counterfeit Gods and Idols the old Serpent expert and knowing in all malice that there was no better way for him to muffle and blind humane Judgement from the knowledge of the true God at first ingraven in the Souls of men but by this counterfeit device with Posterity But to pass farther in our begun purpose touching the fabulous Writings of the Pagan Poets we shall find that their Discourse in the best we can of it is but Corruptions of the Truth in the Holy Scriptures of God or things therein revealed turn'd by them into Dreams and prophane Narrations As we may see in that they writ of the Creation of the World and Government of the same of the Divine vertue that sustains and interiourly nourisheth all things of the Consumption of Heaven and Earth with Fire at the last Day and also of the Restoration of the World and of all things in such good order for all so many Confusions proceeding from Sin All which things they might obtain and by some dark means draw from the Books of Holy Scripture and Sacred Prophets translated out of Hebrew into other Languages or understand something by means of the dispersion of the People of Israel spread through all the Provinces of the Roman Empire and through all the Quarters of the World For the Iews had for the most part leave in all Places to hold their Synagogues and to have publick Lectures of their Law and Prophets When these Poets flatterers of men turn'd all that spoken of the Person of Christ the promised Redeemer and that then was expected falsely to apply them by flattery to their Princes false Gods and Idols But let us leave all those Juglers and Lyers that durst be so prophanely bold to corrupt the pure Verity of God's Word and speak we of the Gentiles Writings how long they came after Moses and Writ since he and that even they have given Testimony to him and his Divine Writings which may at least suffice to convince all Contradictors that Moses was in Nature and before them all We understand that his reckoning is a perpetual following all the years since the Creation of the World even unto his time as it is easie to gather by his Books and his account of the Years and Lives of the first Fathers from Adam unto the Patriarch Abraham and after from his Successors as from Father to Son to wit Isaac Iacob Levi Caath Amram and then Aaron and Moses himself Children of the said Amram And that he had express charge to Write to the very last the year since the Creation of the World 2513. and of his Life the 80. Year and hath continued his Holy Stories even to the year of his Death and of the World 2553. Now since that timeâ— God hath always so provided for the advancement of his Glory and the edification of his Church that the perpetual History of her and the certain account of the years of the World hath been continued and still put in Writing by his Prophets As it is to be seen in the Holy Books that treat of and contain the Government of Ioshua and the Iudges then to Samuel and the Kings of the People unto the Transmigration into Babylon and of other Governours which have succeeded them after their return from thence And finally the Prophet Daniel hath declared the rest of the time that is The 490 years since the said Deliverance of the Jews and return from Babylon by the means of Cyrus King of Persia even to the Death and Resurrection of Christ the Redeemer promised to the Holy Fathers which is our Lord Iesus the eternal Son of God true God and true Man who appeared living after his Death and Resurrection to more than five hundred faithful Witnesses at one time besides his other manifestations and mounted visibly into Heaven in the year of the World 3961.
my mind that a fair opportunity presented for the freedom of all the Iews which his Father Ptolomaeus Lagus had led Captive from Iudea into Egypt For whose enlargement he had often entreated Sosibius the Tarentine and Andrea Captain of the Guard to the Kings Body For these two Commanding in the Army had reduced to obedience all that were in Syria and Phenicia filling all those Regions with fear and terrour and then were the Iews some of them led Prioners others disposed in manner of Colonies in such numbers as there were brought into Aegypt to the number of 100000 men of whom were chosen well near 30000 effective who were established as the Guard of the Province True it is before that time many had been sent with the Persians and other Companies that were commanded against the K. of Aethiopia under the leading of Psammiticke but those that were there were not of so great number as those which were led away only by Ptolomeus Lagus For as we have said he train'd to Arms all those whom Age or Ability shew'd to be proper and all the rest of the People as well Children as Old men and Women he made use of for Colonies determining with himself that if at any time his men of War grew insolent because none could surpass them in course or necessity of War he had means to check their presumption by such as might be drawn from these Colonies Now then seeking an occasion to bring about the Liberty of these poor men as I have formerly said and having found my opportunity I opened my desire to the King proposing after this manner The Proposition of Aristeus to King Ptolomeus Philadelphus for the delivery of the Jews IT is nothing strange my Gracious Lord and Soveraign if many times it happen that those very Affairs which we manage thwart and run counter to our Proceedings for all the Nations of the Iews have one and the same Law which we desire to be ours not only Copied but also Translated into the Greek Tongue How then expect you to succeed in this Affair when the greatest part of them are here in your Kingdom kept Prisoners unless it may please Your August and Generous Spirit to request their Holy Books after you have restored to free Liberty those who live here in great calamity and pressure having before all things Regard to that God who makes your Kingdom flourish and hath crowned You with great prosperity which is the same God that hath given them that Sacred Law which we desire to have For they worship that God who hath Made and Created all things and is the very same whose wonderful Works all Mankind see and admire though some not so clearly as others for Sir We and others Call him Iupiter and not without reason for it hath so seemed good to our Ancestors because by him are Procreated and live all Creatures the same also they esteem the Directer and and Governour of the Universe And although he holds all Mortals in Subjection nevertheless he neither frustrates nor disappoints the Prayers and Vows of those who illuminated with Spiritual Light implore his aid We then ought humbly to desiâ—e that he would incline our hearts to such good resolutions as to do good and that freely to every one and especially to deliver and free those that indure Slavery and Bondage for that since Mankind is the Work and Creation of God who hath power to turn the heart and bend it which way it pleaseth him We many times after different Methods desire it would please him to lead us to a Perfection of Goodness as the principal Ruler of all Hearts and Spirits By this acknowledgment I conceive great hopes to consummate this Affair principally because I know God to be favourable to those that pray for things Reasonable and Equitable For when men set themselves wholly to seek and accomplish what hath a tendency to Justice and Perfection of Goodness God the Lord of all things conducts and addresseth their Actions and Affections to blessed happy Effects and Ends. The King then as something gained with a contented Countenance said to Andrea How many are there of the Iews detained Captive He answered in few words more than 100000 It is a small Request then said the King Aristeus requires of us Sosibius and some others then there present answered It is a thing Sir worthy Your Grandeur and Generosity to make an agreeable Present to God by their Deliverance in testification of your Thanks and Acknowledgement and since the Governour of Heaven and Earth hath raised you to a greater Height than all your Predecessors it is but just that you make thus a greater more solemn Expression of your Thanks The King then disposed to Banquetting and pastimes in a full Feast and Assembly of his Nobles commanded that the Iews should be all search'd out and that every man of them should be redeemed for the summ of 20 Drachms by pole and to confirm the same that his Edicts should be issued and that herein all the dispatch and readiness should be expressed that was possible And so it seemed that God accomplished and brought to pass our desires for he pleased to put it into the heart of the King to set at Liberty not only those that by the Army of the King his Father were led Captive into Aegypt but also all others that before or since had been carried Prisoners into Aegypt by what means soever the summ then of those that were freed amounted to 400 Talents Moreover I hold it not beside my purpose to send you the Copy and Tenour of the Edict whereby you may understand the greatness of the Attempt and the frankness and gracious Inclinations of the King who hath been moved by the Goodness of God for the Salvation of Many The Edict of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus for the delivery of the Jews WE Will and Command all those that took up Arms under our deceased Father through the Countrey of Syria and Phaenicia entring the Land of Iudea and there taking the Iews and leading them Prisoners having imposed them their Tasks and Employments in Town and Country that they shall deliver and restore them to full Liberty Moreover we Will that all the Iews that either before or since have been taken and led away in what fashion or manner soever shall be delivered frank and free for the ransome we have set that is to say twenty drachms for every head which summ the men of War shall receive from the Fond of the Staple and Stores of Victualsâ— and the rest shall be received from the Allowance of the Kings Table or be Reserved For we are duely informed that those Iews were appointed and led away Prisoners against the Will of our deceased Father and against right Reason And that by the boldness and insolence of the Men of War they were carried into Aegypt and their Countrey wasted and laid desolate when it was sufficient to have the
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