Schools partly to their own private use and partly to slatterers many good men contributed of their own substance to the maintenance of Students who being content with a little defended true Doctrine stoutly against the Priests of Baal Object Doth not Beza in his marginal Note on Acts 6.9 call Universities Flabella Satanae Satan's slaps to keep away slyes Doth not Luther call them Cathedras pestilentiae Antichristi luminaria the seats of pestilence and lights of Antichrist Doth not another call them the Synagogues of perdition the pits of the Abyss by the smoak whereof the sun of the Gospel is obscured Answ What some worthy men have spoken of Jewish and Popish Universities See Dr. Arrowsmiths Orat. 1. Antiweigel pag. 3. that others have out of little Candor and great fury transferred to Universities reformed as what Beza spake of the Jewish Academies his words are Academiae jamolim falsis Doctoribus addictae and what Luther and others spake of the Pontifician or Popish Academies But the corruptions of some will not prejudice the Usefulness of Universities in general or of others Reformed and free from the same infection SECT III. Of Religion flourishing when Learning abounded THe second Argument Argum. 2. to prove the usefulness of Learning Learning hath not been in the same state in all Ages since Christ but ebbing and flowing like the water waxing and waning like the Moon But this is observable that in those Ages wherein Learning abounded most Religion hath flourished and the Truth of God hath had most Champipions Defenders and Witnesses of it and for it The fourth Century was as it is called Chronol ad Annum 365. a Learned Age. Hoc tempore fulserunt in Ecclesia Dei clarissima lumina saith Bucholcer Many famous Lights shone in the Church of God in this time who were the Hammers of Heretics The fifth Century was the like These two Centuries for choice of Learned men were compared to the golden Age and are stiled the two Learned Ages In the sixth and seventh Century there was as Authors observe a great decay in knowledge and scarcity of able men to defend Truth and furnish the Church withall There were few in Italy then as Baronius observes haud in promptu esset Annal. Tom. 8. Aâ—n 593. num 62. qui utriusque linguae peritus esset who were skilled both in Greek and Latine Yea Gregory the Great who lived in the seventh Century who was In his Critic Sacr. lib. 4. cap. 29. as Rivet saith Primus Papa ultimus Episcopus Romanus the last Bishop of Rome and the first Pope or the last of the good Bishops of Rome and the first of the bad ones This Gregory professeth that he was ignorant of the Greek Tongue Gregor Tom 2. 1 pâ—st lib. 9. lib. 6. Epist 29. Nam nos nec Graecum novimus That ignorant Age was a declining age wherein men came short of their Predecessors in some Truths as even Gregory himself did therefore it affords few and those not full Testimonies of the truth The Ages of the Church saith a learned man resemble the stars of the sky Dr. Featly Of the Names of visible Protest in all Ages In some Ages we may see many and glorious lights likestars of the first and second Magnitude in other Ages there are few Authors of any Note or bright lustre whose writings have come to Posterity and in some Ages none but obscure and unknown Authors The same Author saith that after we have passed the eighth Age of the Church we fall into Cimmerian darkness Of the ninth Age Bellarmine cannot speak with patience Saeculo hoc nullum extitit indoctius Lib. 4. De Romano pontifice cap. 12 ad linem aut infeliciuâ—â— in quo qui Mathematicis aut Philosophiae operam dabat vulgo Magus putabatur There was no Age more unlearned or unhappy then this in which whosoever studied the Mathematics or Philosophy was commonly accounted a Magician This is called an unhappy Age empty of men famous for wit or learning in which the light of knowledge was not to be found no not in Popes Bishops or Princes but this Age was full of palpable Egyptian darkness and it may be said of this Age that it yielded no eminent men Catholics or Heretics As this ninth Age so the tenth and some other after were barren of Learned Writers Dr. â—eatly and therefore no marvel saith my Author if the Harvest we gather in these Ages of the Professors of the Truth and defenders thereof by writing be very thin In the tenth Century Learning was decayed by the fall of the Roman Empire great corruption grew in this Century or thousandth year Biâ—ck Pâ—â—â—est 〈…〉 wherein as some think Satan was let loose For at this time Rev. 20.3 they of Rome forbad to marry and indulged uncleanness themselves they also devised a carnal presence of Christ in the Sacrament This ignorant Age was a Monkish Age much cumbred with Monkery or with the dotages of Monks and Legendary Fables wherein the Monks devised subtile tricks to delude the people as the Oracles of the Holy Rood c. and that illiterate herd of Monks and Friers bore the greatest sway and the blind led the blind into the pit In the fourteenth Century as some compute it Learning began to revive Idem there being a general Resurrection of all good Learning a little before the receiving of the Gospel at which the Monks were mad For as in the first Plantation of the Gospel in Europe Mellificâ—i Theolog. pag. 716. as Mr. Trap observes God shipped the Arts before into Greece that they might be as Harbingers unto it as Tertullian speaketh so in these latter Ages the Lord intending a Reformation of Religion set up the Turk to over-run Greece and by the cruelty of the Turks used against the Grecians such as they abhorred and by God's Providence over-ruling it divers learned men among the Greeks left as exiles those parts and fled into these Western parts and by their means the knowledge of Letters and study of Tongues especially the Greek and Latine began to spread abroad through diverse parts of the West These were God's first Instruments saith Mr. Trap to restore humane Learning that was almost lost out of the world as Chrysoloras Trapezuntius Gaza Argyrophylus Chalcondylas Cydonius and other In like sort also afterwards John Capnio brought the use of the Greek and Hebrew Tongues into Germany In the beginning of this Age Hebrew was first taught in Oxford Isaacson's Chronol ad Ann. Christ 1314. In this Age knowledge increased very much by the means of Printing ☞ which Art is said to be first invented at Strasburg in Germany by John Guttenburg Hereby the Languages were divulged and good Learning was generally communicated and Books were more easily dispersed then formerly the Manuscrips could be Shortly after there were printed at Paris Venice Antwerp and divers other places the
Works of sundry Learned men stirred up by God to fetch the Arts back out of banishment Pag. 716 and 717. Mr. Trap names divers of them After that Humane Learning began thus to reflourish and lift up the head Divinity also that had been shamefully obscured and slurried with needless and endless Doubts and Disputes was vindicated and illustrated by the knowledge of Latine Greek and Hebrew In this fourteenth Age as also in the fifteenth and sixteenth Ages God raised up divers Worthies who by their Confessions Writings and Martyrdom gave a great and glorious Testimony to the Gospel of Christ and the Truths thereof as Wickliff Huss Hierom of Prague after them Luther Zuinglius Oecolampadius and many others Then grew up that golden Age of gracious and excellent Divines famous and matchless for depth of Learning and heighth of Holiness If the Times of greatest Ignorance Neglect and Contempt of humane Learning were the Times wherein Errors most prevailed Superstition and Idolatry was advanced and Truth suppressed and Popery did not fall till Learning did rise and if Religion flourished and was best defended when Learning most abounded then Learning is useful and needful for the Ministers of the Gospel SECT IV. Learning qualifies for all public Employments HUmane Learning qualifies Argum. 3. and is needful for all Persons in publick Places and Imployments as Kings Counsellors Judges Magistrates Lawyers Physicians for who would not take advice of Learned Lawyers about their Estates and of Learned Physicians for their Bodies and indeed for every ingenuous Imployment Henry the First King of England was bred up in Learning and such a Prizer of it as he used to say ☞ That An unlearned King was but a crowned Ass Then Learning is most needful for a Minister to fit and furnish him throughly for the work of the Ministery considering that no calling requires more abilities or acquired parts then the Ministry which work I. Is most Important Weighty and Worthy for it is the Minister's office to be conversant in the Matters of God and of Souls of Heaven and of Eternity which are of the greatest Interest and highest Concernment and of the largest and longest Consequence II. Is most comprehensive and manifold As 1. To give the Sense clear the Difficulties reconcile the Differences and seeming Repugnancies of the Scriptures 2. To handle positively all Points of Religion and to discuss and determine Controversies and Doubts about them 3. To resolve and satisfie Cases of Conscience and Scruples 4. Eph. 4.24 Gal. 5.1 To detect false Teachers and discover the many Evils Artifices Cheats Fallacies and Sophistries of Seducers and Impostors and of Satan in them whereby many poor simple Souls are deluded Therefore saith Paul Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.6 Do not they call for the best accomplishments SECT V. Satan makes use of Learning to oppose the Truth LEarning is necessary to the Ministers of the Gospel Argum. 4. for defence of the Truth because Satan makes much use of Learning to oppose the Truth and fight against Religion to maintain his Cause uphold and promote his Kingdom and Satan makes choice and use of Learned men to be his Agents and Champions Advocates for Error and Adversaries to the Truth of God To this end 1. Satan stirred up Heathens who were endued with Learning to write books against the Christian Religion as Porphyry who was one of Julians bosom-birds Celsus Symmachus and others 2. Then Satan raised up Heretics within the Church men of corrupt minds destitute of the Truth but of Parts and Learning to devise defend and spread Errors Heresies and Blasphemies and resist the Truth of God with all their might as Arrius Nestorius Macedonius Donatus Pelagius and many others 3. How many learned Men hath Satan imployed and ingaged since in later times to be defenders of Popery or Romish-Idolatry as Jesuits and many others of Arminianism Socinianism Antinomianism Anabaptism Familism Libertinism and of several old Heresies newly raked up and revived It hath been the Jesuits brag that Imperium literarum est penes Jesuitas the Empire of Learning is within their Dominion and that we have not a Scholar Protestant 4. How hath Satan excited the Papists those friends of Antichrist and builders of Babylon to be at great pains cost and charges to advance Learning with them that they may the better overthrow the Truth of God with us Hence it is that they have errected so many Universities in Spain France Italy How are the Colledges of the Jesuits throughout the Pope's Dominions promoted so as to allure even foreiners thereunto Then do not the Protestant Reformed Churches stand in great need of Men eminently Learned to be able Defenders of the Faith and strenuous maintainers of the Truths of Christ against all Heathenish Heretical and Schismatical Adversaries thereof whether secret underminers or open opposers to convince and confute Learned Subtile Witty Adversaries as Heretics Jesuits and divers others May not Learning being well used be as great a help or advantage to the Truth and Cause of God as Learning abused is an hinderance to it an Engine or Bulwark for Errors Learning as one saith is part of the defensive Arms of true Religion Did not the Israelites need Smiths to make them Weapons to defend themselves against the Philistines as the Philistines did to offend Israel It is very observable how God accomplished some of his servants in all ages with excellent Gifts Graces and Learning to refute silence and non-plus the most acute and learned Adversaries of God's Truth and Grace which those times produced as Moses to withstand the learned Egyptians Athanasius to confute Arrius and Austin that learned Father to oppose Pelagius Jewel Whitaker Rainolds Cartwright Fulk Perkins men of great Learning to refute the Jesuits Moulin Ames Twiss to confute Arminius Yea the Devil can and doth sometime make use of Learning himself to serve his turn as he did in his speaking out of the possessed man See Mr. Rich. Rothwel's life in Mr Clark's Book of Lives John Fox in Nottinghamshire to Mr. Richard Rothwel he quoted many Scriptures out of the Old and New Testament both in Hebrew and Greek he cavilled and played the Critic and backed his Allegations with Sayings out of the Fathers and Poets in their own languages which he readily quoted So that the Company trembled to hear such things from the Man who understood not Learning nor moved either tongue or lip or rather from the Devil in the Man But Mr. Rothwel being not onely a gracious Man but a great Scholar was enabled by God to detect the Devil's Sophistry Was not his Humane Learning then of use to him SECT VI. Satan seeks by obstructing Learning to undermine Religion THe Necessity and Utility of Learning doth further appear by another Design of Satan Argum. 5. which is to undermine Religion by the obstructing of Learning and discouraging thereof This he hath practised by his Instruments
Church in his time He was called saith another orbis Terrarum oculus the eye of the world an eye as bright as any other in the world's orb in his time Gregory Nyssen a famous man as Suidas omnique doctrina exuberans abounding with all Learning and as excellent in Rhetoric as any of the Antients He was the light and ornament of the Nyssen Church a strenuous opposer of Eunomius his Heresie he was a diligent reverent studious reader of the holy Scriptures having a special eye to the proper and genuine sence of them Theodoret made such proficiency in Learning and piety by his own ingenuity and industry through God's blessing that he was made Bishop of Cyrus a Town in Syria while he was yet a young man One calls him Orthodoxae pietatis amantissimus propugnator haereticaeque pravitatis fortissimus oppugnator A most loving propagator of Orthodox piety and a couragious opposer of Heretical pravity He wrote much against the Heretics He of himself condemned Nestorius and put stop to his Heresie He reduced many in his Diocess to the truth with great labor and hazzard of life who were infested with the pest of Marcion He wrote a volume against all Heresies and an Ecclesiastical History which is very useful to the Church Bellarmine calls him virum plane doctissimum a very Learned man Another saith he had multifarium in omni disciplinarum genere scientiam manifold knowledge in all kind of Learnings Jerome was instructed at Rome then the only Nursery of Learning where he profited much in all sorts of Learning and afterwards travelled over the greatest part of Europe to encrease his knowledge by viewing several Libraries and conferring with the most Learned men He was a great Linguist hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 excellent in Hebrew well skil'd in the Chaldee and Syriac His stile is elegant He was vir in saecularibus valde eruditus Trithemius well versed in secular Learnings Erasmus calls him facundissimum Ecclesiae doctorem the most Eloquent Doctor of the Church He was the boldest and most judicious censurer of the Ancients John Dailie and he happily improved a critical faculty upon them He wrote against the Pelagians and was an extirpator of Heretics and defender of the truth he read over all his Library and learned Scriptures to a word and translated the Bible out of the Original into Latine Chrysostome studied hard the liberal Sciences and Philosophy and afterwards Divinity and Piety Erasmus he was famous for Eloquence and zeal He was called os aureum mellitissimus Christi concionator praecoque indefatigabilis a most hony sweet unwearied Preacher of Christ for his eloquent wisdom and wise eloquence throughout his works Sanctity and Scholarship are joyned in one He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most copious writer of any of the Greek Fathers now extant A judicious man saith of him A man cannot easily take Chrysostome amiss any where especially in his Moral Discourses He was a zealous propagator of the Gospel to dark places and opposer of Idolatry and Heresie and Heretics as of the Marcionites and the Arrians He was bold in reproving sin and not fearing sufferings as appears by his speeches to Eudoxia the Empress Nil inli peccacatum tunco Theodoret styles him eximium orbis terrarum luminare The eminent light of the whole world He was so beloved and reverenced of all men that when he was like to be silenced the people cried out Satius est ut sol non luceat quam ut non doceat Chrysostomus We had better want the shining of the Sun then the preaching of Chrysostome Augustine was educated in Learning In the fifth Century Lossidius alias Possidonius to the weakning of his Parents estate He learned Grammar in his own city and Rhetoric at Carthage He was saecularibus literis eruditus apprime c. very learned in all the liberal Sciences he writ of the Arts as Grammar Rhetoric Logic Music Philosophy c. He defended the truth against the Arrians Manichees Pelagians Circumcellians Donatists Priscillianists and whatsoever error else prevailed in his time He had several sharp conflicts with them and confuted them by many Learned writings as also by word of mouth in Disputations as he did Fortunatus and Placentius both stiff Arrians and thereby he convinced and converted one Felix a Manichee that he recanted his error and joyned to the Church as he did also one Firmus a rich Merchant and a Manichee by a digression in his Sermon when he was out and forgot the subject he thought to prosecute and fell upon a confutation of the Manichees this Firmus came afterwards to him with tears renouncing his error and promising reformation Augustine was called Malleus Haereticorum The Hammer of the Heretics Erasmus calls him acerrimum fidei Christianae propugnatorem the most sharp and valorous defender of the Christian Faith Another calls him The fairest flower of Antiquity He was an instrument in God's hands of gaining many Pagans to the knowledge of the truth Dr. Sibbs saith of him that he challenged the doctrine of Gods Predestination out of the hands of the enemies of Grace and flatterers of Nature as being a man fitted with grace learning and wit for such a conflict No Scriptures are more faithfully handled by him then those that were wrested by his opposites and such as made for the strengthning of his own cause in other writings he took more liberty His Scholars Prosper and others interessed themselves in the same quarrel Prosper retaining Augustine's Doctrine learnedly confuted the Pelagian Heresie Daniel Tossanus saith that the Palmary or Master-piece of Augustine was that he above all the other Fathers and almost alone being provoked by the Pelagians diligently discussed the Doctrine of Predestination and of Original Sin He onely of all the Ancients wrote Books of Retractations for as he professeth in his seventh Epistle he wrote by profiting and profited by writing He always kept Scholars in his house quoad victum amictum with food and raiment His usual Prayer was that when Christ came he might finde him aut precantem aut praedicantem either praying or preaching Cyril of Alexandria was famous for Piety and Learning he was President in the Council at Ephesus in which he condemned Nestorius and Pelagius with their Errors very learnedly and judiciously he spake many elegant Sentences he was so renowned that the Grecian Bishops as it is reported gat some of his Homilies by heart and rehearsed them to their people Fulgentius was Augustine's Scholar In the sixth Century and followed him foot by foot especially in ad Monimum ad Petrum the two best of his Works he had great knowledge in the Greek and Latine Tongues he contended earnestly against the Arrians whose Opinion then had overspred all Africa and other Heretics and he suffered much for defending the Orthodox Faith He was extremely persecuted by the Arrians yet would not seek revenge
no not when he had opportunity but would say Plura pro Christo sunt toleranda We must suffer more for Christ then so and as he answered Felix the Arrian that dealt so ill with him Christiani est non ulcisci sese Deus enim ulturus injuriam suis illatam Isidore was called by Casaubon In the seventh Century pius eruditus Scriptor a godly learned Writer he was admired for his Learning and Eloquence he could fitly accommodate his speech both to the learned and to the ignorant it 's said He led an Angelical and Evangelical Life in the flesh Venerable Bede was very learned in Philosophy Astronomy Poetry in Greek Arithmetic Rhetoric but especially very conversant in and studious of the holy Scriptures he was said to be the Honor of England and the Mirror of his Time for Learning so famous for it and for Piety that he was sent for to Rome to help to settle the Churches peace Damascen was educated in Learning In the eighth Century got the knowledge of all the Liberal Sciences then he studied the Scripture and Divinity he was a diligent Preacher and Propagator of the Faith and Truth of Christ and a great Opposer of Heretics he was called a great Star in the Churches Firmament in that time when there was great darkness but he by his life and doctrine illuminated many Bernard had pregnant and admirable parts for wit memory and understanding a great Proficient in Learning and had an excellent faculty in preaching His Sentences were stuffed as one saith omni amoenitate pietate with all amoenity and piety he was in great repute for his sanctity of life and doctrine Thus I have given a brief Account of the ancient Fathers that they were learned whom God made eminently useful in and to his Church Let me add two things by way of Caution 1. Though they were learned and pious yet they had their infirmities and blemishes and were subject to errors and failings even in their Writings as hath been observed by many See Daille's Treatise They were not acted with an infallible spirit as the Pen-men of sacred Writ were therefore they must be read with consideration and discretion their Writings must be tried by the Touchstone of God's Word To be altogether exempt from Errors is the Priviledge of the holy Scriptures Divers Divines have given Rules for the right understanding of the Fathers See Scultet Medull Patr. Dan. Synops de Legendis Patribus John Daille in his Treatise concerning the right use of the Fathers 2. Lest any should think these ancient Fathers had no need of their humane Learning or might have been as well without it it 's true they stood in need of more Learning in some kinde then they had attained the want whereof was the Cause of their Errors and Mistakes Ex. gr Augustine by reason of his good insight into the Hebrew and Greek Tongue fell short and failed much of solid Interpretation in his Expository Books Luther instanceth in his Comment upon the Psalms he mentioned Hilary too Ambrose also by reason of his Ignorance in the Tongues erred oft in his Expositions See Luther in libello de Instit pueris where he shews that Patrum Errores in sacra Scriptura provenerunt ex Linguarum ignorantia pag. 442 443 444. The Errors of some of the Fathers grew from their Ignorance of the Tongues Had it not been better for them to have had more knowledge thereof So much of the Learning of the Fathers SECT IX Of the Learning of the first Reformers Secondly Now I shall shew briefly the Learning of the Modern Divines which may be cast into two Ranks I. Those former who were the happy Reformers of Religion or honored by God as Master-Builders to lay the Foundation and begin the Work of Reformation II. These later who vigorously carried on the Work of Reformation I. The Learning of those former Divines whom God raised up in pity to his poor Church when the Apostacy of Popery had so far overspread and prevailed They were many of them learned men of great skill in Arts and Tongues and others competently learned and all men of invincible courage and indefatigable pains excited and qualified by God to be the Restorers of the true Christian Religion from its bondage in Ignorance and Superstition and strong and stout Opposers of the Pope and Popery in the Points of Doctrine Worship and Practice These lived in or about the fourteenth and fifteenth Centuries Berengarius lived in the dismal darkness and depth of Popery Century 14. Ussertus de Christ Eccles succes cap. 7. pag. 196 197. he profited in the School above his Equals and was well-skill'd in the Liberal Arts an excellent Logician of great account for his Learning and Piety He was expert in the Scriptures and also in the Writings of the ancient Fathers He was a Champion for the Truth in the Point of Transubstantiation opposing the Corporal Presence of Christ in the Sacrament He had almost drawn all Italy France and England to his Opinion He was of a bold undaunted spirit and courage His Life and Conversation was so unblameable that therein as one saith he starved the Malice of all his Adversaries Fuller Petrus Waldus though he was not one of the Modern Divines yet something is observable in his Story which is useful to our purpose Alsted Chronol He was a rich Citizen of Lions in France ☞ converted by seeing one fall down dead in the streets upon which he betook himself to teach and admonish his House and Friends to repent and to study the Scriptures himself and he profited so well therein that he translated divers parts thereof out of Latine into French Friar Rainer an Adversary to the Truth and to the Waldenses saith That Waldus being tolerably learned taught those that resorted to him the Text of the New Testament in their Mother's Tongue and that the Waldenses who were his Followers and Auditors had above forty Schools In Dioeceli Pataviensi and divers Churches all within one Diocess yea they were as others witness of that ability that they had divers Conferences and Disputations with the Romanists and had the better Vide Usserium cap. 6 8. As for the Doctrines and Tenets of the Waldenses Vide Usserium in cap. 6 ad cap. 10. Protest Evidences they preached against the Doctrines and Practises of Rome as the Pope's Power Transubstantiation the Adoration of Images and of the Cross against Prayers for the dead Purgatory Invocation of Saints extreme Unction Auricular Confession with many more John Wickliff was brought up in Merton Colledge in Oxford he was famous both for life and learning he excell'd in the knowledge of the Arts and School-Divinity he was admired of all for his singular abilities and sweetness of demeanor he was Divinity-Reader in Oxford he was a diligent faithful Preacher of the Gospel under King Edward the third who always favored and protected
exact all Truth by the scant measure of our own comprehension and set our seal to none which is not modelled to and just of the same size with our capacities to prescribe to an Infinite Understanding and not suffer his Conceptions in any case to be above our reach nor allow him any Reasons to guide his Determinations by but what we are acquainted with is extremely arrogant and supercilious For though it be most certain that God offers nothing to be credited by us which is contrary to the sound dictates of Reason whereof he is the Author or which would destroy the clear and indubitable evidence of those discerning faculties which God hath bestowed upon us seeing one Truth can be no more contrary to another Scriptural to Rational Supernatural to Natural then God who is the source of both can be adverse to himself or be guilty of self-contradiction Yet it is as certain that he can present some Truths of so vast a bigness as that to take the full dimensions thereof would be difficult above what the shortness of the most raised mind in this present state can hope to attain to No understanding but that which is so large as that nothing can escape it can warrantably argue from an ignorance either of the nature cause mode or end of any thing to the non-existence of the thing it self And to conclude that not to be at all concerning which we understand not either how or why it should be so is no less absurd in Theology then in Physics and Politics For this consequence in Naturals would annihilate the greatest part of the world and destroy all that which poseth humane sagacity our very selves not excepted In Civils it would annul all public Decrees Appointments Transactions when people have no prospect into the breasts of their Governors to see the springs that turn the wheels of State by being made partakers of the reasons thereof As to Divine matters it takes away all mysteries and will not permit the Kings of Kings his Secrets nor that priviledge of earthly Princes to have a heart unsearchable Prov. 25.3 when indeed it becomes both Prudence and Majesty sometimes to be reserved ☞ and excellent purposes may be served by concealment the nurse of humility veneration observance and an inquisitive diligence God may keep secret the reasons of some things which he requires to be done as of divers in the Levitical Law and also the modes of others of which several in the Gospely that he would have to be believed to the end he may teach us rightly to value his Soveraignty and Infallibility his Authority and Testimony and to account the one of it self alone a sufficient obligation to Obedience and the other to Faith Besides that the understanding might have somewhat to exercise its submission as well as the will And sure it can never submit to a better judgement nor more securely credit then where God relates for though it cannot circumscribe the thing in its whole latitude nor discern how it should be what it is represented yet supposing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it is so to be certainly revealed and attested by God the clearness of the assertion will acquit our faith of blindness and the infallibility of the Assertor together with our own imperfection and liableness to mistake vindicate it from unreasonableness For not the evidence or demonstration of what is testified but the unquestionable credit of the testifier is the onely ground and reason of Faith I say reason because believing is a rational act an assent to some truth as proved by certain authority Believing without good reason is not Faith but credulity Not that it 's necessary we should know the reason of the thing but onely of our belief of that thing of which no greater can be found then his attestation who is all-knowing and infallible in whom infinite Wisdom Truth and Goodness meet and engage for our security the first placing him as much beyond the possibility of a mistake as the other two free us from the danger of a delusion while we sincerely embrace his witness In doing which we need not fear being any time driven upon the belief of contradictions or impossibilities For it is as eternally repugnant to his Nature to affirm an impossibility ☞ as to perpetrate any iniquity Yet there want not those who either make or feign absurdities and contradictions in divine Doctrine some make them by taking Scripture-expressions in an incongruous and inconsistent sense as those who by introducing a corporal presence make the Doctrine of the Sacrament self-repugnant and diametrically opposite to the most solid evidence both of Sense and Reason Others feign absurdities by the errors of their argumentations For either they judge of some sacred Verities by wrong Principles with which they have no connexion or affinity or else charge them with strange and horrid Consequences of which they are wholly innocent Either they mistake the circumstances and state of the case and so proceed upon a false Hypothesis or else their deductions are unnatural wilde and impertinent and so it is not the article but their arguing that is unreasonable which makes nothing against the singular advantage of Reason in its sober and circumspect use assisted by a superior direction for finding out and maintaining Truth and hindring the triumphs of Error To which Learning also doth not a little contribute as being the improvement and accomplishment of Reason as that which advanceth and embellisheth our better faculties which relieves the imperfections of our understandings and helps to vindicate them from that darkness and confusion that hath been the sad concomitant of mans degenerdâ—â—â— by which means they become more quick and piercing and we less liable to be imposed on Upon which accounts the Devil hath a great spight at it and hath sufficiently exprest it of late by working with so great a number of men to decry and vilifie it and cast dirt upon those that were furnish'd with it which was the ready way to procure entertainment for all delusions as the consequence two apparently proved For then men committed their actions to the guidance of a wilde instinct and counted it a great attainment to be beside themselves A phrensie then became desirable for its lucid intervals the eyes of many were darkened and their heads ak'd with light ☞ they grew blind with Revelations and unable to see for Visions Then was the season that by an overheat in the pursuit of some extravagant opinion disposed men to religious Agues and put their piety into shaking sits Then to swell with Inspiration to converse with strange amusements to be full of Extasie and possess'd with rapture were esteemed the chief indications of a sanctified temper And if in others Religion were not acquainted with such impetuous concitations but were more sweet and calm more sedate and composed or if conscious to â—â—dgement and discretion to consideration and â—â—visement it was censured
Christ's Death and the Cause of it which concerned all Nations might be divulged to all the Nations to the East by the Hebrew to the South by the Greek to the West by the Latine in regard of the present Confluence of People to the Feast at Jerusalem from all Nations Joh. 12.20 2. To shew That the Knowledge of these three Principal Languages conduceth much to the clear and full understanding of the Mystery of Christ crucified 3. And that the Holy Ghost would have the Dignity and Study of them ever preserved or kept on foot in the Church SECT II. Of the Hebrew and Greek in common THe Knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek is needful for a Minister especially for six Reasons Reas 1. Because the Hebrew and Greek are the Original Tongues in which the Old and New Testaments were written A competent knowledge of these Tongues gives a man great light to the right and clear understanding of the Original Text and much satisfaction and delight to his minde without some insight into the same a man cannot understand the proper Signification and Emphasis of Words Phrases and Proverbs nor the Idiomes or peculiar forms of speaking which the Originals especially the Hebrew have in them but he must see onely with other mens eyes and take both the Translation and Interpretation of the Scripture upon trust from others Reas 2. Great Skill in the Original Languages is necessary to the true Translation of the Bible into other Tongues and to the serene sound and proper explanation thereof For the Minde of God as Divines observe is primarily in the Original and but secondarily in the Translation which no farther contains the Word of God in it then it agrees with the Original out of which it is translated This Difference must be put between the Hebrew and Greek Text of the Old and New Testament and the Latine and all other Versions that in the Original Text Res Verba both the Matter and the Words proceed immediately from the Holy Ghost who suggested to the Prophets Apostles and Evangelists quae scriberent quomodo scriberent both what and how they should write In Versions that are faithful the Doctrine is from the Holy Ghost the Words are from Men who although they use the help of the Holy Ghost yet not in that maner nor measure with the Prophets and Apostles See Is Casaub Exercit. 13. ad Annales Baronii pag. 273. Polan Syntag. Theolog. lib. 1. cap. 40. Beza Tractat. Theolog vol. 1. ad defens Castell pag. 432. Reas 3. There is more need yet of Skill in the Originals to reform and refine former Translations to amend the faults and mistakes and supply the defects that still remain in them Divines observe that much Divinity depends on smal Particles upon such a Mood Tense Case or Number sometimes upon one letter upon pricks and points Many errors have been bred and fed by false Translations and mistakes of Words and Letters and by corrupt Glosses thereupon The holy Scriptures are vindicated and many Truths are restored and confirmed by a rectified Translation and sound interpretation of them according to the Original Critical learning and Scholia's are of excellent use hereunto Many learned Authors in these later times have performed the same exquisitely beyond the exactness of the ancient Fathers as Erasmus Beza Piscator Drusius Salmasius Casaubon Grotius Scaliger Fuller Ludovick de Dieu Heinsius No Translation expresseth all places exactly but sometimes gives either not the right or not the full sense I. Not the right and proper sense For those who have used the greatest diligence and accurateness in translating the Bible have not been exempted from being liable to mistake nimis augusta res est non errare and probably if they had afterwards set themselves to a more distinct search about some particular places or seen those observations which others have made on them they might have found reason to alter their former apprehensions and translate some places otherwise then they did Amam Paraenos For it is no new thing for Learned men upon a review to have espied faults in and amended their own Versions as Luther Junius Beza c. Yea there are instances given out of several places in our last English Translation wherein there appears some discrepancy from the minde of the Text. Besides that those slips and mistakes which are to be charged on the Press which differ according to the diversity of Impressions pervert the sence and shew the use of the Original to direct to the true reading Some Errata in our English Bibles may be a means of deceiving those that look no further as well as the faults which have crept into the Copies of the Latine and Greek Version have deceived others who relyed thereon Many instances might be given hereof In the Vulgar Latine evertit domum was put for everrit Luke 15. Asia for Achaia Rom. 16. vidua for Judaea Act. 16 c. See the like in the Greek Version where through the carelesness or unskilfulness of some hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was turned into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 132.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 89.46 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 31.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 45.1 Which mistakes and many more were derived into the Latine Translation and have not wanted followers Amam Antib Bibl. Paraen de excit â—â—ng stud amongst whom was Austin who was often out as to the sense of Scripture because he wanted skill to correct the Translation he used by the Hebrew This made him raise many doubts and spend much time in solving them and when all is done look but in the Original and you will see no ground for them but all is plain and clear Nor was he insensible of what frustrations happened to him through his ignorance When he was pretty ancient he learn'd the Greek Tongue he bewailed his want of Hebrew and commended the study of both II. The exactest Translation may sometimes not give the full sense of the Original either 1. Because a word or sentence in the Original may be more comprehensive and admit of more senses and those good and convenient For as words have different acceptions so they may also have an ambiguous reference then the word or phrase doth which answers thereto in the Translation In which case the Translation cannot draw out all that is contained in the Text and perhaps sometimes not hint the greatest part of it 2. Because the Translation expresseth but one of the readings in the Hebrew in those places where there are two viz. the Keri and Chetib one in the Margin the other in the Text or line which are requisite to be known that when there is any difference in the sense we may judge which is to be preferr'd Tremellius and Junius in their first Version rendered 2 King 8.10 after the
preeminence by far for Eloquence a◠the Noble and Learned Philip Mornay De verit Religionis cap. 26. testifies that whosoever reads them both will say What is Cicero to Isaiah Then speaking of the Oration of Aeschines inveighing against Demosthenes which Tully so much admired he appeals to those that read both what Eloquence vehemency or sublimity is there in that in respect of the words of Isaiah threatning the Jews cap. 1 2 3 c. Hear O heavens and give car O earth c. See Franciscus Picus Mirandula a man well able to judge in lib. 2. de stud Philos cap. 2. and Theodorus Bibliander of the Elegancy of Isaiah cap. 25. as cited by Rivet in his Isagoge ad Scripturam cap. 28. and Budaeus de Asse lib. 5. fol. 292. 2. This may be observed in the Apostles and others in the New Testament Paul was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 14.12 a Master of speech The Lycaonians called him Mercury whom they feigned to be the Interpreter of the will of their Gods because Paul here appeared to be the chief speaker There is as good Rhetoric found in Paul's Epistles as in any Heathen Orator whatsoever and some account the Eloquence of Cicero and Demosthenes but dull stuff to his Elegancies Beza in 2 Cor. 11.6 prefer'd Paul before Plato in grandiloquence before Demosthenes in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before Aristotle and Galen in exact Method of Teaching Paul affected plainness in condescending to vulgar capacities yet he could play the Orator excellently when he pleased and did sometimes which some have observed as at Athens Act. 17.22 and before King Agrippa Act. 26.2 and in perswading to unanimity Phil. 2.1 2. to unity Eph. 4.1 to 7. to charity 1 Cor. 13. in setting forth his sufferings 2 Cor. 11.23 c. Apollos was an Eloquent man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vir dicendi peritus Act. 18.24 and mighty in the Scriptures The Corinthians were enriched 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 1.5 See Annot. in 1 Cor. 1.5 in all speech or utterance that is as some interpret it not in affected strains of Rhetoric but in a gift of holy Eloquence such as Apollos is commended for which is a piece of a Christians riches 3. This is also observed that after the Apostles Times the Church had always eruditos eloquentes Doctores learned and eloquent Teachers Problem loc 118. pag. 375. as saith Aretius ex Oratorum numero conversos Cyprian was first a Rhetorician Great Encomiums are given of the Greek and Latine Fathers for their Eloquence Clark's Lives Hierom stiled Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea for his Eloquence Romani eloquii Tubam the Trumpet of Roman elocution He saith that Lactantius was quasi sluvius Tullianae Eloquentiae He flowed with Eloquence as Tully himself It is said of Gregory Nazianzen that the true beauty of his soul did shine forth in his Eloquence Rhetoric being both his companion and servant Chrysostome was a golden-mouth'd Preacher Mellitissimus Christi Concionator He was so admired for his Eloquence as that the people said Satius esse solem non lucere quam Chrysostomum non docere We had better want the sun then the preaching of Chrysostom Ambrose had an Eloquent Tongue 4. This is observable in Modern Divines Some of which have excel'd herein as Melanchthon Calvin and Viret whose singular Eloquence and skill to work upon the affections Zanchy greatly admired 2. Ground Eloquence may be of good use for Perswasion by soft and oily insinuations and for working upon the affections and to set a Lustre and an Edge on the Truthes and Messages of God Lactantius said Magis creditur ornatae veritati Truth the more decently it is trimmed the more readily it is embraced Good Matter clothed with good Language is ordinarily more acceptable and taking Experience shews that Eloquence is an excellent instrument and assistant to the Truth when rightly used but when abused it is potent and prevalent for the adverse party Eloquent Apollos was as effectual a Propugner of the Gospel as ever Tertullus the Orator was an Oppugner of the same Observe Gods blessing upon Eloquence or Elocution rightly used Augustine confesseth that he was converted by the Eloquence of Ambrose Veniebant in animum meum cum verbis quae diligebam etiam res quas negligebam Lib. 5 cap. 14. saith he in his Confessiions Ambrose his eloquent Tongue touched Augustine's heart with the knowledge and love of the Truth Peter Viretus as the Writers of his Life relate was so exceeding Eloquent that he drew many to be his Hearers who were no friends to Religion and they were so chained to his lips that they never thought the time long wherein he preached but always wished his Sermons longer Mr. Acts and Mon. Fox reports of Mr. Rogers and Mr. Bradford Martyrs that it was hard to say whether there was more force of Eloquence and utterance in their Preaching or Holiness of life and conversation in them But when men abuse Rhetoric or use it for ostentation or vain-glory not to woo souls to Christ but to win credit to themselves then God often blasts it and it looseth its lustre savor vigor and efficacy 3. Ground of the Use of Rhetoric for a Minister is this The holy Scriptures are full of Rhetoric of Tropes and Figures Many passages in Scripture must be Tropically or figuratively understood else Circumcision must be really Gods Covenant Gen. 17.13 and the Lamb must be the Lords Passover Exod. 12.11 Bread and wine must be flesh and blood Matth. 26.26 28. kine and ears of corn must be years Gen. 41.26 Christ must be a door Joh. 10.7 and a vine Joh. 15.1 and the Prophets hair must be Jerusalem Ezek. 5.5 and the Image must be the Calf Exod. 32.19 The interpreting of improper or Tropical Expressions in a proper sense hath as Glassius well observes occasioned uncouth and absurd Opinions Praesat Rhetor. Sacr. as that of the Anthropomorphites who attributed a real body and members to God and many Jewish fables Yea that deep-rooted perswasion the Disciples had of Christs Temporal Reign grew from their understanding those Prophecies of the kingdom of the Messiah according to the proper and genuine import of the words in which the majesty and greatness of it is set forth by Metaphors taken from the condition of earthly Kingdoms Hence it is that many Speeches of Christ were mistaken because Metaphorical and improper as when he bid his Disciples take heed of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces they understood him without a Metaphor Matth. 16.6 but he corrects their mistake ver 11 12 then they saw Leaven was to be taken in a borrowed sense for Doctrine so when he spake to the Jews about destroying the Temple Joh. 2.19.20 meaning his body ver 21. and giving his flesh to eat Joh. 6.51 52. to Nicodemus of being born again Joh. 3.3 4. to the woman of Samaria about living water Joh. 4.11 12 14
know the order and distinction of times and of deeds done in them III. To know the several ages of the Church of God 1. Under the Law and the various states thereof and what Prophets lived in each of them 2. Under the New Testament the several ages and states of the Churches of Christ their beginnings continuance decay and dissolution and what Apostles or Ministers of Christ lived in them To know the parts of Christ's life private and publick and the years of his Ministery and what he did or suffered in every one of them To know the times of the Passovers while Christ lived upon earth for the years of Christ's Ministery are reckoned according to the same IV. To know the particular times wherein the several books of the Holy Scripture were written by the Pen-men thereof which conduceth much to a right understanding of several passages therein and to reconcile seeming repugnancies in the Scriptures Distingue tempora concordabunt Scripturae The distinction of the times wherein Paul writ his several Epistles is of much use to shew why the Apostles wrote so variously about the same things as Circumcision and other Ceremonies For to the Romans chap. 14.1 he exhorts that they should receive them that are weak in the faith c. i. e. about Ceremonies and indifferent things But to the Galatians and Colossians he utterly condemns the use of Circumcision Gal. 5.2 c. Col. 2. the reason is the difference of times as Chrysostom hath noted Ceremonies were alwayes in themselves mortal at Christ's death they became mortuae dcad but after that they became mortiferae deadly to them that used them V. To know the times of fulfilling Prophesies and Promises of things that are now 1. Past 2. To come First Past as those that were made concerning 1. Particular persons as Josiah the Prphecy of him foretold by the man of God Piscator 330. years before he was born 1 King 13.2 and concerning Cyrus by name about 220. years before he was born Isa 44.28 which are so punctually performed as if these Prophecies concerning them had been a Narrative of things past rather then a prediction of things to come 2. Concerning people as 1. Gen. 15.13 To the Israelites about their bondage which was 400 years beginning the account from Ismael's mocking and persecuting of Isaac Gal. 4.29 which fell out 30. years after the promise Gen. 12.3 which promise was 430. Gal. 3.17 years before the law and about their coming forth of Egypt out of bondage Answorth which was 430. years after that promise Exod. 12.41 God kept time to a day 2. To the Jews concerning their Captivity in Babylon and Reduction thence after 70. years Jer. 29.10 Concerning the coming of the Messiah in fulness of time Gal. 4.4 exactly answering and fulsilling the prophecies thereof as to Christ's birth and death Gen. 49.10 Dan. 9.24 God is punctual for time in all his performances of his Prophecies and promises even to a day or hour and for things to a title Whatever God promised to Israel at any time with his mouth he performed with his hand to the utmost 1 King 8.56 Jer. 33.14 A clear demonstration of his veracity and fidelity and of the verity of his word The same may be said of the times of God's fulfilling of Prophecies and Treatnings of Evils past both to God's people and to the wicked their enemies whether Persons or Nations Secondly To know the times of God's fulfilling of Prophecies and Promises and Threatnings of things yet to come which are expressed in the Prophets especially in Daniel in the Apostles Epistles but especially in the Revelations Concerning 1. The Calling of the Jews and of the Ten Tribes in the latter days 2. The Prophesying and slaying of the Witnesses and their reviving Rev. 11.3 7 11. 3. The downfall of Antichrist and Babylon 4. The ruine of the Turks Of Gog and Magog VI. To know the Epochas the terms of Account or the beginning of times in Computation from which times and things are restoâ—ed in Scripture or the intervals in which the measures of times are termined as From the Creation to the slood See Perkins in his Introduction to his Digest Alsted Chron. cap. 1. 1656 years From the Flood to the Promise made to Abraham 367 years From the Promise to the going out of Egypt 430 years Exod. 12.40 From the children of Israel's coming out of Egypt when they began to be a free people and a Nation of themselves to the Temple 1 King 6.1 480 years From the building of the Temple to the destruction of it 427 years in which is included the time of the Captivity From the beginning of Daniel's weeks to the death of Christ as Mr. Perkins thinks 490 years where they end VII The knowledge of Chronology is necessary to the disposing of the Bible into an Harmony or to the transposing of the order of Books and Chapters of the holy Scriptures for the reducing of all into a continued History See Mr. Samuel Torshel's design which some have endeavoured and Dr. Lightfoot hath performed in his Harmony for the New Testament VIII The study of Chronology is needful to know and evince the verity and certainty of the holy Scriptures and to confirm the Conscience against Satan's Attempts to overthrow mens Faith by casting in suspicions of the truth of Scripture because it doth not agree in the Account of Time with other Histories of the world written by the most prudent men of all Ages And with this Tentation Funccius in his Epistle Dedicatory before his Chronology reckoning up the advantages of the diligent observation of History and times affirms himself to have been assaulted which was the cause that moved him to undertake his Chronology though otherwise unwilling to it Vossius speaks of his meeting with some not versed in the Doctrine of Times De scient Mathem cap. 39. though else learned men who could not be so soon induced to question the truth of Scripture by any thing as the Discrepancy of Times in it whom he by answering their Objections convinced of the use of Chronology From the Premises it appears that Chronology is of great use to the understanding of the Scriptures which are exact in the Computation of times and to the clear and distinct referring of Occurrences or passages in Scriptures to their proper Times The knowledge of the Times when as well as of the Places where persons lived and things were done tends much to the elucidating of them and is very delightful As God made every thing beautiful in his time Eccles 3.11 so there is beauty satisfaction and pleasure in the knowing the times and seasons wherein things were done or came to pass The ignorance of times leads men into mistakes about passages of Scripture Thus some have thought that the shipwrack at Melita Act. 27. was one of the three mentioned by Paul 2 Cor. 11.25 whereas the second Epistle to the
he was at first a Platonist and learned became both a Christian and a Martyr He labored and suffered much for the Religion of Christ He writ a book against all Heresies and famous Volumes against Marcion the Heretic he writ also Apologies for the Christians He was renowned in all ancient Histories for his great knowledge both in Religion and Philosophy Irenaeus was educated from his childhood in Philosophy and Arts. He was admired of all for his excellent learning and skill in humane and in divine things Tertullian calls him Omnium doctrinarum curiosum exploratorem an exquisite searcher out of all learning He was an exact resuter of Heresie He confuted the Valentinians and Gnostics who were the inventers as one saith of the most Chymical Divinity that ever came into the fancy of man He was laborious and prosperous in his Ministery and converted almost the whole city of Lyons in France from Paganism Clemens Alexandrinus Jerom saith of him Meo judicio fuit omnium eruditissimus quid in illius libris indoctum c. That in his opinion he was the most learned Daniel Heinsius saith In the Dedication of Clemens his Works to Gustavus Adolphus He was second to few in Antiquity to none in Learning and that he labored to be an healer of the superstition of the Greeks which at that time invaded the world Cui primo omnium errori vir sanctissimus gravissimo volumine medetur His writings contain a treasure of divine and humane learning and are full of eloquence He excell'd in History and in confutation of heresie Tertullian was skill'd in all kind of learning Lactantius and of chiefest esteem amongst the Latine Authors Jerom saith that his books against the Gentiles contain cunctam saeculi doctrinam all the learning of his age or all sorts of learning Pamelius in vita Tertulliam He was diligently conversant in the Mathematics and in Histories Scult Medull He opposed in those times with great zeal the Heretics as Marcion the Valentinians Praxeas Hermogenes as also the Jews He wrote a learned Apology in behalf of the Christians who were then falsly accused and persecuted and he demonstrated to the very Heathen the verity of Christian Religion and the innocency of Christians Origen was as is reported of him from In the third Century his infancy throughly grounded in all Learning and he was accounted a Mirror of Piety and Learning of all sorts Humane and Divine He had a great acuteness in confuting the Philosophers and those Arabians who would have Souls to die with their Bodies and Berillus the Heretic who denied the Eternity of Christ whom at length he reduced to the Truth as he did Ambrose from the error of the Marcionites He was a great honorer of Martyrdom a comforter of Martyrs His whole life was a continual study he would read at his Meals Cyprian was first a Rhetorician after a Learned godly Bishop and at length a glorious Martyr of Christ He confuted Novatus the Heretic whom he stiles in his Epistles an importunate Innovator a murtherer of Penitence Lactantius excelled all the Writers of the Church in Elegance In the fourth Century and lustre of Language Jerom saith of him that he was as it were a flood of Tullian Eloquence He wrote many Treatises which may be read with profit and pleasure Athanasius was educated in all sorts of learning He was a vigorous Opposer of the Arrians therefore he was called The Hammer of the Arrian Heretics by whom he was extreamly hated because they perceived the acuteness of his wit Learning and industry in confuting of Heresies in the Nicene Council therefore he was exposed to great trouble Theodoret calls him The Bulwark of Truth Naziazen stiles him The great Trumpet and pillar of the Church He was great for his Learning labors sufferings and constancy and courage even when not onely Bishops but Emperors Kingdoms Armies and Nations were set against him yet the Emperor Constantine gave this character of him Virum plane divinum existimo I hold him to be indeed a divine man Hilary was a man of excellent parts In his Epistle presixed to his works Erasmus saith that he was Ob vitae sanctimoniam insignem eruditionem Eloquentiam admirabilem aevi sui Lumen the light of his Age for sanctity of life eminent Learning and admirable Eloquence quanto stomacho saevit in Arrianos c. He was a great Antagonist to the Arrians whom he called Devils Antichrists blasphemers pests he writ several books against them Jerom calls him The Trumpet of the Latine Tongue perhaps because he was the first that confuted the Arrians in Latine and the Confessor of our time Cyril of Jerusalem a man of great Learning Prudence and Piety Ecclesiastical Writers testifie of him that he was Fortissimus Christi Athleta Orthodoxae fidei assertor constantissimus A most valiant champion of Christ and most constant defender of the Orthodox faith He suffered many persecutions through the rage of the Arrians Basil called Magnus Greg. Nazianz in vita Bahlii he was great every way as in wit and Learning in omni doctrinae genere summus saith Suidas skilful in all the liberal Sciences and in all the Mathematics Summus in cunctis apparuit he was so excellent in every one as if he had studied that onely one Great in eloquence Erasmus calls him the Christian Demosthenes great in contending for and in defending the truth in confuting and convincing Heretics Gregory Nazianzene was Learned in Grammar Vita Greg. Nazianz a Greg. Presbytero conscripta Rhetoric Philosophy both Natural and Moral Poetry Arithmetic Geometry Astronomy in all the Liberal Arts in the study of which he spent many years He was a man of great Authority and use in the Greek Churches that who so opposed his testimony was suspected of Heresie He is called A living Library of Philosophy and Divinity Epiphanius had great knowledge in the Hebrew being educated by one Tryphon a Jew He was a learned pious Divine Cornarius Medicus saith Cornarius who translated him out of Greek into Latine which work he undertook propter Authoris praesâ—ntiam operis raritatem for the excellency of the Author and rarity of the work He was a man saith one of a very good honest John Daille and plain nature He was semper Haereticorum acerrimus oppugnator alway a sharp opposer of Heresies He wrote a Learned book against 80 Heresies which contains variety of story in it He purged all Cyprus from Heresies and having obtained an Edict from Theodosius the Emperor he cast all the Heretics out of the Island Ambrose was Learned in the Liberal Arts and excellent in Eloquence He was very couragious for the truth He denied the Emperor Theodosius entrance into the Church until he had publickly confesed his fault scil that miserable slaughter caused by him at Thessalonica Daille saith he was one of the most firm Pillars of the