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"with that odd refolution I learned of Tertullian, "Certum eft, quia impoffibile eft.-I am thankful that I "lived not in the days of miracles, &c." Rel. Med.

Tillotfon, judging that the Papifts would make an ill use of this, and fcuh paffages as this, in Proteftant writers, was willing to pafs a gentle animadverfion upon it.

Sir Kenelm Digby, a Roman Catholic, who criticifes feveral things in the Religio Medici, yet gives his loud approbation to thefe pious fallies. "I am extremely pleased with him, when he faith, there are not impoffibilities enough in religion, for an active faith, &c." Extremely pleased, without queftion; and full of hopes, that this young author might at last unreafon himself into' implicit belief; and go over to a church, which would feed his hungry faith with a fufficient quantity of impoffi bilities.

Tendimus in Latium!

*.*

Amongst many things, which may be mentioned in favour of Tillotson, this fhould not be for. gotten; that of those who have paffed their judgments upon him, there never was a fon of abfurdity who did not diflike, or a fenfible reader who did not approve his writings. If a If a person were to offer himself a candidate for honeft reputation, what could he wish and hope more, than to fhare Tillotfon's fate; and to find the fame cen

furers,

furers, and the fame defenders? Yet it hath been faid of this great and good man, that his fpirits were in fome degree broken, and his health impaired, by the infults and calumnies of petulant adverfaries. If it be true, it is a melancholy inftance of human infirmity, and a proof that a little Stoicifm and Socratifm is a defirable poffeffion. To forgive enemies, though difficult to many, was eafy to him, affifted as he was by good-nature, and by religion: but to despise their attacks, was a task rather too hard for his gentle temper and fenfibility; fo that, in this refpect, and under these disadvantages, he was not a match for men, who could neither blush nor feel.

"A man's good name, fays he, is a tender thing; and a wound there finks deep into the spirit even of a wife and good man: and the more innocent any man is in this kind, the more fenfible he is of this hard usage; because he never treats others fo, nor is he conscious to himself that he hath deserved it." Vol. II. Serm. XLII.

Every thing, they fay, hath two handles. When Socrates was under fentence of death, Xanthippé took on bitterly; and refufing comfort, cried, "O, my husband! what grieves me moft is, that these wicked judges fhould treat an innocent man thus, and condemn thee unjustly, and for nothing at all." "Wife!" faid he, "why fhould that grieve thee? Hadst thou rather then, that they had condemned me justly?"

SCRIPTURAL

SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE reverence which the Jews had for their facred books, preferved thofe moft áncient of all records, and along with them the knowledge of the Hebrew language. But the Chriftians, who had the fame veneration for the OLD TESTAMENT, have contributed, more than the Jews themselves, to fecure and to explain thole books, as they had indeed more advantages and greater helps. The Chriftians in ancient times collected and preserved the Greek versions of thofe Scriptures, particularly that of the Septuagint, and tranflated the originals into Latin. They preferved copies of the works of Jofephus, which were little efteemed by the Jews-but which help to confirm and explain the facred books, and caft a light upon the Jewish history: and Chriftian critics and commentators, fuch as Capellus, Bochart, Grotius, Le Clerc, Vitringa, and many others, have beyond meafure furpaffed the Jewish

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Jewish Doctors in illustrating and defending the Holy Scriptures.

The keys of learning are the learned languages, and a grammatical and critical skill in them.

We cannot at present want Greek commentaries * on the Scriptures, being fo plentifully supplied with English ones.

It was the study of the Scriptures which excited Christians from early times to the ftudy of Chronology facred and fecular: and here much knowledge of biftory, and fome fkill in aftronomy, were needful.

The NEW TESTAMENT, being written in Greek, caused Chriftians to apply themselves alfo to the study of that most copious and beautiful language. Christianity, at firft, and for a confiderable time, was violently oppofed and affaulted by the Jews and Gentiles.-But this Evil was compenfated by many Advantages: It was oppofition which excited the Chriftians to justify their own caufe, and to confute their adversaries, the Jewish Doctors, and the learned Gentiles; to expofe the abfurdities of Jewish traditions, the weaknefs of Paganifm, and the imperfections and infufficiency of Philofophy.

*Thick as autumnal leaves, that ftrow the brooks

In Vallombrofa.

MILT. PAR. LOST. I. 302,

We might add," and as foon withered."

the

For this purpose Jewish and Pagan literature were neceffary, and what we call Philology, or Claffical Erudition and thus the Chriftians became in learning fuperior to the Pagans; and, in point of style and compofition, as good writers as they, both in Latin and in Greek.

To the Gospel then, and to thofe who embraced it, are due our grateful acknowledgements for the Learning that is at present in the world. The Infidels educated in Chriftian countries owe what Learning they have to Chriftianity; and act the part of thofe Brutes, which, when they have fucked the dam, turn about, and, (as Plato fays to his disciple Ariftotle), amoλanrio-ftrike her. It is fit that we should be fometimes put in mind of this, for we have been strangely apt to forget it. *

As Religion hath been the chief preferver of Erudition, fo erudition hath not been ungrateful to her patronefs, but hath contributed largely to the fupport of religion. The ufeful expofitions of the Scriptures, the fober and fenfible defences of revelation, the faithful representation of pure and undefiled Chriftianity; thefe have been the works of learned, judicious, and induftrious men. The corruptions of the Gofpel, the perverse interpretations and abfurd fenfes put upon the word of God,

Some names, of great celebrity, might here be adduced: the judicious reader however can be at no lofs, either to recollect, or to forget them. They have forgotten themselves.

been

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