perfect_a translation_n such_o as_o we_o have_v conceive_v a_o idea_n of_o in_o our_o mind_n but_o if_o we_o can_v not_o reach_v that_o height_n we_o must_v be_v content_a to_o come_v as_o near_o it_o as_o possible_o we_o can_v therefore_o we_o propose_v to_o ourselves_o constant_o to_o follow_v a_o middle_a way_n that_o be_v neither_o to_o render_v those_o place_n that_o be_v obvious_a enough_o in_o the_o original_a obscure_a with_o the_o hebraism_n nor_o out_o of_o too_o nice_a a_o affection_n of_o writing_n latin_n to_o indulge_v ourselves_o in_o too_o bold_a a_o version_n but_o this_o you_o will_v say_v a_o thousand_o people_n have_v threaten_v to_o do_v many_o year_n before_o you_o be_v bear_v and_o yet_o we_o do_v not_o rest_v satisfy_v with_o their_o performance_n do_v you_o think_v then_o that_o you_o shall_v be_v able_a to_o answer_v our_o expectation_n no_o i_o be_o not_o so_o blind_v with_o self-love_n as_o to_o imagine_v any_o such_o thing_n but_o since_o the_o condition_n of_o humane_a affair_n be_v such_o that_o nothing_o be_v perfect_a in_o all_o respect_n and_o nothing_o please_v all_o alike_o it_o be_v sufficient_a if_o i_o do_v not_o incur_v the_o displeasure_n of_o all_o and_o if_o my_o attempt_n do_v not_o lagg_z behind_o the_o endeavour_n of_o other_o cicero_n former_o translate_v the_o noble_a oration_n of_o two_o of_o the_o most_o eloquent_a man_n that_o athens_n ever_o breed_v aeschines_n and_o demosthenes_n one_o against_o another_o neither_o do_v he_o literal_o translate_v they_o like_o a_o interpreter_n as_o he_o tell_v we_o himself_o for_o the_o translation_n be_v not_o extant_a but_o like_o a_o orator_n give_v they_o all_o the_o spirit_n and_o life_n and_o beautiful_a turn_n of_o the_o latin_a tongue_n as_o this_o be_v impracticable_a in_o a_o literal_a version_n he_o have_v a_o great_a respect_n to_o the_o sense_n than_o the_o expression_n for_o he_o do_v not_o think_v himself_o oblige_v to_o tell_v over_o all_o his_o author_n word_n to_o the_o reader_n but_o to_o give_v he_o they_o in_o weight_n now_o since_o this_o be_v not_o to_o be_v do_v in_o too_o strict_a a_o translation_n of_o the_o holy_a book_n we_o endeavour_v to_o reach_v it_o in_o a_o loose_a paraphrase_n that_o so_o those_o person_n that_o be_v not_o delight_v with_o the_o barbarousness_n of_o a_o translation_n or_o do_v not_o understand_v hebraism_n may_v have_v somewhat_o to_o read_v and_o understand_v but_o perhaps_o we_o have_v depart_v far_o from_o our_o original_a than_o cicero_n do_v from_o he_o because_o the_o hebrew_n language_n differ_v more_o from_o the_o latin_a than_o the_o athenian_a way_n of_o write_v do_v from_o the_o roman_a it_o be_v true_a in_o our_o version_n we_o have_v follow_v the_o hebrew_n close_o than_o the_o purity_n of_o the_o latin_a will_v allow_v we_o but_o since_o it_o can_v not_o be_v avoid_v we_o hope_v we_o shall_v make_v our_o reader_n some_o amends_o by_o our_o paraphrase_n therefore_o though_o it_o be_v the_o confess_a genius_n of_o the_o latin_a tongue_n to_o love_v perspicuity_n more_o than_o the_o hebrew_n do_v nay_o on_o the_o contrary_a endeavour_n to_o avoid_v all_o obscurity_n as_o much_o as_o it_o can_v we_o acknowledge_v our_o translation_n to_o be_v somewhat_o obscure_a but_o as_o we_o be_v use_v to_o commend_v picture_n not_o for_o show_v we_o a_o handsome_a face_n but_o for_o represent_v nature_n to_o the_o life_n so_o a_o translation_n where_o the_o language_n of_o the_o original_a be_v clear_a aught_o to_o be_v clear_a and_o where_o it_o be_v obscure_a aught_o to_o be_v obscure_a now_o we_o mean_v here_o by_o obscure_a not_o those_o thing_n that_o be_v obscure_a to_o the_o ignorant_a in_o hebrew_a for_o then_o most_o of_o the_o scripture_n expression_n will_v be_v obscure_a but_o those_o that_o be_v not_o sufficient_o understand_v even_o by_o such_o as_o be_v tolerable_o verse_v in_o that_o language_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n by_o the_o word_n clear_a we_o do_v not_o only_o mean_v those_o thing_n which_o be_v obvious_a to_o all_o understanding_n not_o exclude_v those_o of_o the_o dull_a sort_n but_o which_o give_v no_o manner_n of_o difficulty_n to_o the_o skilful_a in_o that_o language_n or_o may_v be_v so_o expound_v as_o to_o leave_v no_o doubt_n at_o all_o in_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o learned_a v._o now_o that_o we_o may_v be_v able_a to_o observe_v this_o method_n through_o the_o whole_a work_n we_o lay_v it_o down_o for_o a_o unalterable_a law_n in_o translate_n the_o hebraism_n which_o so_o often_o occur_v 1._o that_o all_o the_o clear_a hebraism_n which_o will_v bear_v a_o translation_n shall_v be_v translate_v 2._o if_o any_o of_o they_o can_v not_o well_o be_v render_v into_o latin_a yet_o if_o our_o ear_n be_v accustom_a to_o they_o they_o shall_v be_v literal_o translate_v 3._o that_o all_o obscure_a hebraism_n shall_v be_v retain_v which_o it_o will_v not_o be_v amiss_o to_o illustrate_v by_o a_o few_o example_n nothing_o be_v more_o common_a in_o scripture_n than_o speech_n and_o dialogism_n that_o be_v usher_v in_o by_o the_o verb_n vaijomer_n &_o dixit_fw-la or_o the_o gerund_n lemor_n dicendo_fw-la now_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o former_a may_v be_v full_o and_o pertinent_o express_v by_o the_o latin_a word_n inquit_fw-la the_o latter_a by_o his_o verbis_fw-la and_o yet_o the_o interpreter_n have_v general_o forbear_v to_o use_v they_o as_o if_o this_o forsooth_o have_v be_v too_o great_a a_o liberty_n to_o take_v now_o this_o run_v through_o all_o the_o bible_n so_o that_o you_o may_v find_v a_o infinite_a number_n of_o sentence_n with_o these_o word_n &_o dixit_fw-la and_o he_o say_v so_o in_o genesis_n 3.1_o and_o he_o say_v to_o the_o woman_n yea_o have_v etc._n etc._n 2_o and_o the_o woman_n say_v unto_o the_o serpent_n we_o may_v eat_v etc._n etc._n 4._o and_o the_o serpent_n say_v unto_o the_o woman_n etc._n etc._n 9_o and_o he_o say_v unto_o he_o where_o be_v thou_o 10._o and_o he_o say_v i_o hear_v thy_o voice_n etc._n etc._n 11._o and_o he_o say_v who_o tell_v thou_o etc._n etc._n 12._o and_o the_o man_n say_v the_o woman_n etc._n etc._n 13._o and_o the_o lord_n god_n say_v unto_o the_o woman_n etc._n etc._n 14._o and_o the_o lord_n god_n say_v unto_o the_o serpent_n etc._n etc._n 16._o to_o the_o woman_n he_o say_v etc._n etc._n 17._o and_o unto_o adam_n he_o say_v but_o why_o we_o shall_v servile_o be_v confine_v to_o the_o order_n of_o the_o hebrew_n word_n as_o if_o there_o be_v something_o extraordinary_a in_o they_o we_o see_v no_o reason_n and_o the_o compare_v of_o our_o version_n with_o the_o rest_n will_v show_v which_o of_o we_o have_v express_v himself_o most_o agreeable_o to_o the_o genius_n of_o the_o latin_a tongue_n so_o chap._n 8.15_o and_o god_n speak_v unto_o noah_n say_v et_fw-la locutus_fw-la esi_fw-la jehova_n ad_fw-la noach_n dicendo_fw-la or_o dicens_fw-la be_v indeed_o exact_o conformable_a to_o the_o hebrew_n word_n but_o do_v not_o express_v the_o meaning_n any_o better_a than_o allocutus_fw-la est_fw-la noachum_fw-la deus_fw-la his_fw-la verbis_fw-la it_o be_v certain_a that_o many_o of_o the_o interpreter_n by_o their_o obscure_a diligence_n have_v make_v their_o translation_n so_o insupportable_a that_o they_o be_v not_o to_o be_v read_v without_o contempt_n but_o let_v not_o the_o reader_n imagine_v that_o this_o be_v occasion_v by_o the_o over_o great_a care_n they_o take_v to_o render_v even_o the_o least_o particle_n of_o scripture_n as_o far_o as_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o if_o this_o scruple_n have_v possess_v they_o they_o have_v never_o translate_v the_o obscure_a place_n with_o so_o much_o boldness_n as_o if_o it_o be_v not_o a_o invidious_a labour_n we_o can_v easy_o show_v it_o be_v a_o common_a hebraism_n to_o call_v one_o name_n vocare_fw-la nomen_fw-la alicujus_fw-la instead_o of_o nomen_fw-la imponere_fw-la to_o give_v one_o the_o name_n of_o as_o in_o chap._n 5.29_o and_o it_o be_v often_o in_o the_o book_n of_o genesis_n alone_o and_o she_o call_v his_o name_n noah_n et_fw-la vocavit_fw-la nomen_fw-la ejus_fw-la noach_n that_o be_v ei_o noacho_fw-la nomen_fw-la indidit_fw-la noachum_fw-la cum_fw-la nomine_fw-la appellavit_fw-la there_o be_v not_o the_o least_o reason_n in_o the_o world_n to_o doubt_v but_o it_o be_v so_o and_o yet_o after_o the_o vulgar_a interpreter_n example_n several_a since_o have_v translate_v it_o vocavit_fw-la nomen_fw-la ejus_fw-la noah_n which_o be_v obscure_a and_o barbarous_a when_o the_o hebrew_n phrase_n be_v plain_a enough_o we_o frequent_o meet_v in_o the_o begin_n of_o a_o narration_n et_fw-la fuit_fw-la and_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v in_o the_o hebrew_n as_o chap._n 6.1_o et_fw-la fuit_fw-la cum_fw-la caepit_fw-la homo_fw-la multiplicari_fw-la and_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v when_o man_n begin_v to_o multiply_v etc._n etc._n which_o be_v the_o same_o in_o
the_o purpose_n than_o now_o he_o do_v for_o in_o the_o first_o place_n he_o describe_v the_o serpent_n to_o have_v be_v the_o most_o subtle_a of_o all_o creature_n next_o that_o he_o employ_v his_o subtlety_n in_o deceive_v our_o first_o parent_n and_o hold_v a_o dialogue_n with_o she_o as_o if_o he_o have_v be_v a_o master_n of_o reason_v last_o that_o his_o creep_v upon_o his_o belly_n be_v impose_v upon_o he_o as_o a_o punishment_n josephus_n himself_o can_v not_o have_v more_o full_o explain_v his_o sentiment_n than_o moses_n have_v do_v ii_o but_o other_o person_n who_o be_v jew_n likewise_o not_o be_v able_a to_o digest_v so_o many_o unpalatable_a thing_n as_o speech_n and_o reason_n attribute_v to_o a_o brute_n and_o the_o serpent_n lose_v his_o foot_n although_o moses_n seem_v to_o express_v as_o much_o in_o the_o plain_a manner_n imaginable_a yet_o rather_o than_o understand_v he_o so_o they_o choose_v to_o commit_v violence_n upon_o his_o word_n and_o betake_v themselves_o to_o allegory_n philo_z indeed_o in_o his_o treatise_n de_fw-fr mundi_fw-la opificio_fw-la and_o elsewhere_o deny_v that_o these_o be_v fable_n and_o fiction_n wherein_o the_o poet_n and_o sophister_n take_v so_o great_a a_o delight_n nevertheless_o he_o own_v they_o to_o be_v figurative_a document_n that_o be_v to_o be_v explain_v allegorical_o in_o order_n to_o find_v out_o the_o bid_a meaning_n of_o they_o and_o last_o affirm_v that_o it_o may_v be_v right_o conjecture_v that_o the_o serpent_n be_v a_o symbol_n of_o pleasure_n which_o argument_n he_o handle_v more_o copious_o afterward_o maimonides_n also_o part_v 2._o mor._n nev._n c._n 29._o suppose_n that_o these_o passage_n be_v to_o be_v expound_v by_o way_n of_o allegory_n and_o some_o of_o the_o late_a rabbin_n declare_v themselves_o to_o be_v of_o the_o same_o opinion_n iii_o but_o other_o that_o have_v a_o just_a indignation_n to_o this_o libertine_n way_n of_o interpret_n the_o scripture_n which_o whole_o depend_v upon_o the_o fancy_n of_o the_o interpreter_n and_o yet_o not_o able_a with_o josephus_n to_o follow_v the_o literal_a sense_n have_v fall_v into_o different_a sentiment_n none_o of_o which_o labour_v with_o few_o inconvenience_n than_o the_o two_o above-cited_n opinion_n some_o divine_n of_o no_o mean_a rank_n in_o the_o learned_a world_n maintain_v that_o it_o be_v not_o a_o serpent_n proper_o so_o call_v which_o appear_v but_o that_o the_o devil_n be_v signify_v by_o that_o name_n that_o therefore_o the_o devil_n be_v call_v the_o old_a serpent_n by_o the_o hebrew_n and_o be_v thus_o describe_v by_o st._n john_n in_o the_o revelation_n 12.9_o the_o great_a dragon_n the_o old_a serpent_n call_v the_o devil_n and_o satan_n who_o seduce_v all_o the_o earth_n see_v likewise_o rev._n 20.2_o for_o this_o reason_n the_o devil_n be_v call_v by_o our_o bless_a saviour_n a_o murderer_n from_o the_o beginning_n and_o the_o author_n of_o the_o book_n of_o wisdom_n 2.24_o tell_v we_o that_o death_n enter_v into_o the_o world_n by_o the_o envy_n of_o the_o devil_n see_v also_o 2_o cor._n 11.3_o where_o the_o serpent_n be_v say_v to_o have_v deceive_v the_o woman_n by_o his_o subtlety_n but_o this_o hypothesis_n be_v easy_o refute_v for_o neither_o can_v the_o devil_n be_v call_v the_o most_o subtle_a beast_n of_o the_o field_n but_o in_o a_o figurative_a sense_n neither_o will_v the_o punishment_n inflict_v upon_o the_o serpent_n suffer_v we_o to_o doubt_v that_o a_o serpent_n body_n at_o least_o appear_v here_o to_o remove_v these_o difficulty_n some_o conjecture_n that_o the_o devil_n do_v not_o put_v on_o a_o real_a serpent_n but_o only_o form_v the_o exterior_a appearance_n of_o one_o but_o the_o abovementioned_a objection_n be_v as_o direct_o level_v against_o this_o opinion_n as_o the_o former_a iv_o for_o this_o reason_n several_a person_n have_v believe_v that_o the_o devil_n use_v the_o serpent_n body_n as_o a_o organ_n to_o act_v his_o imposture_n by_o and_o that_o god_n to_o show_v his_o utter_a aversion_n and_o hatred_n of_o sin_n punish_v the_o very_a organ_n by_o which_o this_o seduction_n be_v effect_v but_o if_o it_o be_v so_o what_o occasion_n be_v there_o to_o say_v that_o the_o serpent_n be_v the_o most_o subtle_a beast_n of_o the_o field_n for_o the_o devil_n may_v have_v abuse_v the_o most_o stupid_a creature_n in_o the_o world_n to_o this_o purpose_n with_o as_o much_o success_n for_o he_o do_v not_o employ_v the_o serpent_n craft_n but_o his_o own_o to_o deceive_v eve_n v._o but_o other_o observe_v these_o and_o the_o like_a difficulty_n in_o all_o these_o opinion_n come_v at_o last_o to_o this_o point_n as_o to_o own_o that_o all_o we_o can_v apparent_o gather_v from_o this_o aenigma_fw-la be_v that_o the_o first_o parent_n of_o mankind_n begin_v to_o sin_n from_o whence_o a_o series_n of_o innumerable_a evil_n be_v derive_v to_o they_o and_o their_o posterity_n it_o be_v indeed_o certain_a that_o now_o and_o heretofore_o mankind_n have_v be_v in_o a_o state_n of_o great_a corruption_n nor_o can_v the_o beginning_n of_o this_o infection_n be_v carry_v low_a than_o the_o original_a of_o the_o world_n but_o then_o after_o what_o manner_n sin_n enter_v into_o the_o world_n so_o that_o we_o may_v understand_v plain_o and_o without_o the_o least_o reason_n of_o doubt_v all_o the_o circumstance_n of_o the_o first_o sin_n none_o but_o those_o can_v signify_v to_o we_o who_o be_v present_a at_o the_o matter_n if_o by_o any_o mean_n they_o can_v be_v revive_v again_o vi_o last_o other_o find_v in_o this_o history_n frequent_a mention_n make_v of_o discourse_n where_o none_o at_o all_o seem_v to_o have_v pass_v imagine_v that_o the_o serpent_n do_v not_o speak_v but_o that_o eve_n see_v he_o eat_v the_o forbid_v fruit_n and_o be_v seduce_v by_o his_o example_n to_o eat_v of_o it_o herself_o especial_o if_o we_o consider_v that_o this_o prohibit_v fruit_n by_o its_o beauty_n and_o perhaps_o by_o the_o specious_a name_n of_o knowledge_n may_v help_v to_o induce_v she_o as_o she_o be_v gaze_v on_o it_o indeed_o the_o serpent_n punishment_n below_o v._o 14._o thou_o shall_v lick_v the_o dust_n all_o the_o day_n of_o thy_o life_n seem_v to_o intimate_v that_o the_o serpent_n have_v deceive_v eve_n by_o eat_v of_o the_o fruit_n and_o because_o he_o have_v occasion_v her_o ruin_n by_o eat_v of_o fruit_n from_o a_o high_a tree_n therefore_o he_o be_v condemn_v to_o lick_v the_o juice_n of_o the_o earth_n the_o favourer_n of_o this_o opinion_n do_v not_o deny_v but_o that_o some_o evil_a spirit_n may_v act_v his_o part_n in_o this_o tragedy_n for_o which_o reason_n the_o jew_n not_o right_o comprehend_v the_o meaning_n of_o this_o place_n may_v in_o after-age_n call_v he_o by_o the_o name_n of_o the_o serpent_n but_o as_o the_o sacred_a historian_n introduce_v the_o serpent_n speak_v who_o have_v no_o speech_n at_o all_o according_a to_o the_o genius_n of_o his_o narration_n as_o be_v plain_a from_o the_o first_o chapter_n of_o genesis_n where_o he_o frequent_o represent_v god_n almighty_a speak_v to_o all_o the_o part_n of_o the_o creation_n so_o likewise_o because_o he_o be_v to_o give_v he_o his_o share_n in_o a_o dialogue_n by_o who_o example_n our_o first_o parent_n be_v deceive_v he_o therefore_o attribute_n subtlety_n to_o he_o which_o however_o can_v be_v suppose_v to_o belong_v to_o a_o beast_n no_o more_o than_o the_o faculty_n of_o speak_v do_v for_o this_o reason_n he_o be_v say_v to_o have_v use_v both_o speech_n and_o craftiness_n because_o as_o the_o maintainer_n of_o this_o opinion_n allege_v he_o as_o effectual_o ruin_v our_o first_o parent_n as_o if_o he_o have_v seduce_v they_o by_o a_o crafty_a artificial_a harangue_n and_o therefore_o both_o the_o subtlety_n of_o the_o serpent_n and_o his_o conversation_n with_o eve_n be_v consider_v by_o they_o not_o as_o circumstance_n that_o can_v be_v urge_v but_o as_o some_o oriental_a ornament_n of_o the_o history_n this_o be_v in_o part_n the_o opinion_n of_o isaac_n abarbinel_n who_o deny_v that_o the_o serpent_n can_v maintain_v any_o discourse_n with_o eve_n and_o assert_n that_o nothing_o more_o be_v mean_v by_o this_o colloquy_n but_o the_o reason_n of_o the_o woman_n from_o what_o she_o gather_v from_o the_o serpent_n action_n and_o his_o eat_n of_o that_o tree_n he_o pretend_v that_o she_o infer_v from_o the_o serpent_n example_n that_o the_o forbid_v fruit_n be_v wholesome_a and_o nutritive_a which_o opinion_n do_v not_o well_o agree_v with_o the_o word_n you_o shall_v be_v like_a god_n the_o meaning_n of_o which_o can_v never_o be_v deduce_v from_o this_o single_a action_n of_o the_o serpent_n in_o so_o perplex_v and_o obscure_a a_o matter_n as_o this_o be_v it_o be_v the_o safe_a way_n as_o i_o imagine_v open_o to_o confess_v our_o ignorance_n provide_v
we_o still_o preserve_v the_o substance_n of_o the_o history_n as_o it_o be_v explain_v in_o the_o five_o opinion_n but_o so_o as_o not_o to_o condemn_v those_o that_o differ_v from_o our_o sentiment_n we_o be_v now_o at_o liberty_n to_o examine_v more_o at_o large_a the_o most_o remarkeble_a particular_n of_o this_o relation_n vii_o we_o find_v in_o the_o sacred_a writer_n that_o the_o serpent_n be_v the_o most_o subtle_a of_o the_o beast_n of_o the_o field_n now_o some_o be_v apt_a to_o believe_v that_o moses_n in_o this_o passage_n have_v a_o respect_n to_o the_o craft_n of_o the_o devil_n who_o either_o appear_v himself_o or_o actual_o enter_v into_o the_o body_n of_o the_o serpent_n but_o what_o wonder_n be_v it_o that_o the_o devil_n shall_v be_v more_o cunning_a than_o a_o beast_n and_o second_o how_o come_v he_o to_o be_v reckon_v among_o the_o beast_n of_o the_o field_n therefore_o other_o conjecture_n that_o the_o craftiness_n of_o serpent_n proper_o so_o call_v be_v here_o mean_v and_o to_o this_o purpose_n observe_v that_o as_o they_o lie_v hide_v in_o the_o dust_n or_o under_o the_o herb_n they_o use_v to_o bite_v the_o heel_n of_o the_o animal_n that_o pass_v by_o for_o which_o reason_n aristotle_n hist._n animal_n l._n 1._o c._n 1._o rank_n they_o among_o the_o insidious_a and_o wily_a creature_n and_o therefore_o moses_n go_v about_o to_o relate_v the_o fall_n of_o our_o first_o parent_n which_o be_v occasion_v by_o the_o serpent_n after_o what_o manner_n soever_o it_o happen_v very_o pertinent_o observe_v that_o the_o serpent_n be_v a_o insidious_a animal_n and_o indeed_o we_o find_v the_o hebrew_n word_n 1_o sam._n 23.22_o apply_v to_o man_n lie_v in_o wait_n and_o start_v out_o of_o holes_n otherwise_o as_o for_o what_o regard_v subtlety_n consider_v in_o general_a there_o be_v several_a other_o animal_n more_o cunning_a than_o a_o serpent_n among_o which_o aristotle_n reckon_v fox_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d other_o be_v cunning_a and_o mischievous_a as_o fox_n those_o that_o hold_v this_o narration_n to_o be_v whole_o figurative_a pretend_v that_o moses_n prudent_o make_v mention_n of_o the_o insidious_a nature_n of_o the_o serpent_n to_o prepare_v his_o reader_n for_o what_o he_o be_v go_v to_o tell_v he_o of_o the_o fall_n of_o our_o first_o parent_n thus_o the_o most_o ancient_a philosopher_n both_o asiatic_n and_o grecian_n who_o use_v to_o deal_v in_o apologue_n borrow_a from_o brute_n if_o they_o be_v to_o speak_v concern_v craft_n be_v wont_a to_o introduce_v a_o fox_n and_o to_o mention_v he_o in_o the_o beginning_n as_o the_o most_o cunning_a of_o beast_n or_o else_o give_v some_o by-hint_n of_o his_o subtlety_n thus_o we_o find_v in_o phaedrus_n that_o dolosa_fw-la vulpes_fw-la avidis_fw-la rapuit_fw-la dentibus_fw-la the_o crafty_a fox_n with_o greedy_a tooth_n devour_v the_o same_o creature_n be_v describe_v by_o avienus_n as_o capable_a of_o acute_a discourse_n and_o be_v call_v by_o he_o arguta_fw-la in_o his_o fable_n of_o the_o fox_n and_o the_o leopard_n but_o as_o no_o one_o of_o tolerable_a sense_n will_v infer_v from_o this_o that_o the_o fox_n be_v fit_a to_o hold_v those_o politic_a discourse_n than_o any_o other_o creature_n so_o they_o say_v we_o lie_v under_o no_o obligation_n to_o ascribe_v that_o opinion_n to_o moses_n which_o josephus_n erroneous_o attribute_n to_o he_o viz._n of_o assign_v both_o voice_n and_o reason_n to_o brute_n viii_o immediate_o upon_o eat_v the_o forbid_v fruit_n the_o sacred_a historian_n tell_v we_o that_o our_o first_o parent_n know_v themselves_o to_o be_v naked_a that_o be_v they_o be_v sensible_a they_o have_v transgress_v thus_o in_o exodus_fw-la 32.25_o after_o the_o golden_a calf_n be_v consecrate_v moses_n be_v say_v to_o have_v see_v the_o people_n naked_a and_o in_o the_o new_a testament_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v sometime_o take_v for_o a_o sinner_n see_v rev._n 16.15_o those_o that_o interpret_v naked_a in_o its_o proper_a sense_n involve_v themselves_o in_o insuperable_a difficulty_n when_o adam_n and_o eve_n be_v alone_o they_o can_v no_o more_o be_v ashamed_a of_o their_o nakedness_n or_o discover_v it_o if_o they_o know_v nothing_o of_o it_o before_o than_o when_o they_o be_v in_o the_o state_n of_o innocence_n but_o say_v other_o the_o fruit_n of_o this_o forbid_v tree_n provoke_v they_o to_o lust_n and_o some_o undecent_a motion_n of_o body_n which_o suppose_v to_o be_v true_a although_o it_o be_v a_o conjecture_n without_o any_o manner_n of_o foundation_n what_o will_v they_o be_v able_a to_o gather_v from_o hence_o can_v a_o man_n appetite_n towards_o his_o wife_n be_v say_v to_o be_v vicious_a which_o nature_n itself_o have_v implant_v upon_o all_o creature_n or_o can_v they_o be_v more_o ashamed_a because_o be_v naked_a they_o feel_v this_o appetite_n after_o their_o transgression_n more_o than_o they_o do_v before_o when_o only_o they_o two_o inhabit_v the_o universe_n their_o bed_n under_o the_o bare_a canopy_n of_o the_o heaven_n be_v equal_o as_o chaste_a as_o if_o it_o have_v be_v cover_v with_o a_o roof_n and_o wall_n and_o ceiling_n and_o tapestry_n it_o be_v certain_a they_o can_v never_o be_v ashamed_a of_o that_o thing_n for_o which_o they_o be_v create_v no_o less_o than_o other_o animal_n neither_o be_v we_o at_o this_o day_n ashamed_a of_o it_o but_o before_o witness_n for_o certain_a inconvenience_n which_o will_v arise_v from_o thence_o though_o it_o be_v not_o so_o convenient_a to_o mention_v they_o in_o this_o place_n i_o know_v what_o several_a of_o the_o ancient_n as_o well_o as_o modern_n have_v say_v upon_o this_o occasion_n but_o they_o be_v such_o groundless_a precarious_a thing_n that_o i_o will_v not_o stay_v to_o confute_v they_o ix_o we_o be_v now_o arrive_v to_o the_o last_o part_n of_o our_o disquisition_n viz._n the_o punishment_n inflict_v upon_o the_o serpent_n which_o we_o shall_v examine_v in_o as_o small_a a_o compass_n as_o may_v be_v those_o that_o affirm_v the_o devil_n tempt_v eve_n out_o of_o the_o serpent_n mouth_n do_v not_o at_o all_o wonder_n that_o god_n almighty_a here_o be_v say_v to_o speak_v to_o the_o serpent_n that_o be_v to_o the_o devil_n but_o other_o that_o deny_v the_o serpent_n to_o have_v ever_o talk_v to_o eve_n be_v of_o opinion_n that_o god_n word_n here_o direct_v to_o the_o serpent_n be_v not_o for_o its_o own_o sake_n which_o as_o be_v destitute_a of_o reason_n it_o can_v not_o understand_v but_o for_o the_o comfort_n of_o adam_n and_o eve_n however_o both_o be_v agree_v in_o this_o that_o god_n may_v punish_v the_o instrument_n by_o which_o mankind_n be_v seduce_v to_o express_v his_o just_a hatred_n of_o sin_n as_o we_o find_v a_o like_a instance_n in_o exodus_fw-la 21.28_o where_o a_o ox_n that_o have_v gore_v a_o man_n or_o a_o woman_n so_o that_o they_o die_v be_v command_v to_o be_v stone_v and_o his_o flesh_n not_o to_o be_v eat_v one_o part_n of_o the_o malediction_n be_v that_o he_o shall_v crawl_v upon_o his_o belly_n concern_v which_o there_o be_v two_o different_a opinion_n some_o in_o which_o number_n we_o find_v josephus_n and_o several_a of_o the_o modern_a jew_n believe_v that_o god_n deprive_v the_o serpent_n of_o his_o foot_n and_o command_v he_o to_o creep_v upon_o the_o dust_n and_o indeed_o if_o moses_n have_v this_o in_o his_o thought_n he_o can_v not_o have_v express_v himself_o more_o plain_o concern_v it_o but_o other_o believe_v it_o very_o improbable_a that_o god_n shall_v make_v any_o alteration_n in_o the_o nature_n of_o a_o serpent_n mere_o for_o the_o transgression_n of_o man_n and_o therefore_o pretend_v that_o what_o be_v natural_a to_o he_o turn_v to_o his_o punishment_n as_o nakedness_n in_o a_o man_n and_o the_o pain_n of_o childbirth_n in_o a_o woman_n indeed_o if_o serpent_n have_v foot_n at_o any_o time_n they_o must_v of_o necessity_n have_v more_o than_o four_o by_o reason_n of_o the_o prodigious_a length_n of_o their_o body_n but_o still_o it_o be_v difficult_a to_o comprehend_v how_o a_o thing_n which_o be_v mere_o natural_a and_o accompany_v with_o no_o pain_n shall_v be_v turn_v into_o a_o punishment_n as_o it_o be_v no_o punishment_n for_o fourfooted_a creature_n that_o they_o can_v fly_v no_o more_o be_v it_o to_o those_o reptile_n that_o be_v destitute_a of_o foot_n to_o crawl_v upon_o their_o belly_n let_v the_o reader_n examine_v which_o side_n have_v the_o few_o difficulty_n and_o choose_v either_o this_o or_o that_o opinion_n as_o he_o see_v fit_a dissertation_n v._o concern_v the_o flood_n i._o the_o different_a opinion_n about_o the_o flood_n ii_o some_o bold_a it_o to_o be_v universal_a and_o endeavour_v to_o prove_v it_o from_o the_o express_a word_n of_o moses_n iii_o other_o make_v it_o particular_a the_o argument_n allege_v by_o they_o iv_o their_o