All in one, all useful sciences and profitable arts in one book of Jehovah Aelohim, copied out and commented upon in created beings, comprehended and discovered in the fulness and perfection of scr[i]pture-knowledges / by Francis Bampfield ...

Those Books which are commonly called Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, or the Book of Moses, and of his Writings there, have the approving Testimony of those true faith∣ful Prophets that did follow after him, as also of the LORD Jesus Christ himself, and of his Apostles: and the History of the Creation, and of the Works thereof in theb Beginning of the Bible, is true in the literal sense, and was intended and recorded so to be understood, and all those Philosophical Alle∣gorical and Mystical Senses, which any do give thereof, that are contrary unto this, are to be a∣voided and rejected.

THis is the first revealed and written Word, the most Ancient Book, by which all Humane Treatises, where they err, must be corrected. I exclude not any other part of Holy Scriptures, but do own all through, as a perfect Summary of all useful Learning, and do bring them in for the con∣firmation of Truths, only the Reader is to remember and consider, that one great part of my present Design, is to propound some such particular inquiries concerning the Works of Creation in the several Days of the first Week of the World, and to give such a Scripture Judgement upon some special Cases, as may restaur and advance true profitable Knowledges and Arts. Christ in his Word hath put his honourable Title upon the Writings of Moses, that he calleth itc The Book of Moses, The Book of the Law of Moses, The Book of the Law of Jehovah in the hand of Moses. Thed Churches of Aelohim, in the several Ages thereof have given Moses their large Testimonial, as under their Hands and Seals. It is worth the noting here, that that rich tormented fool recorded in that History bye Luke, had not in all his life time right apprehensions of the invisible World, by all the helps that the Learned Philosophers, and Natural Historians could af∣ford him, and that he thought Mankind were by such as those so commonly and generally corrupted, and misled into errors and mistakes about the different places and entertainments in that other World, for separated Spirits and departed Souls, according as their States, Frames and Actings, their Principles, Rules and Ends were whilst on Earth, that scarce a mere man alive upon the whole Earth, particularly where his Brethren lived, and with whom they conversed, could or would set their Judgements right in this weighty Concern, about the locality of Heaven and of Paradise, of the Gulph, and of Hell; for which Rea∣son he desired of Abraham, that he would send some to his Fathers House, one or other, who had been in those places, which men on earth do not so see; he himself as to himself, having before received an answer, that Lazarus could not come from on high, to dip his finger in the water as he would have had him,

on in his way, to have cool'd the tongue of that damned wretch, in regard there was such a Gulph between then; so that, there was no ordinary passage from the one to the other. The reply that was made to him was this, They (thy Brethren) have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them, if they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be perswaded, though one rose from the dead. There was enough in the Writings of these about Heaven and Pa∣radise, about the Waters and Abyss, about Sheol and the Gulph, about Hell and that place of Torment, to inform them, and do declare unto them the dread∣ful posture of the lower part of the Created World. This Moses, the man and servant of Jehovah, had, when he was born, the Beauty of Aelohim shining up∣on him; and although he weref learned in all the Wisdom of the Egyptians, yet has he left upon Record only that Scripture-Wisdom, which he was taught by the Holy Spirit, being with all fidelity in the Church in the Wilderness, with the Angel (of the Covenant, Jehovah Christ sent by the Father) who spoke to him in Mount Sinai, where he received the Oracles to give unto the LORD's people, whom he commanded a Law, which is the inheritance of the Church of Jacob. To this Moses, Christ manifested and made known himself, eye to eye, face to face, mouth to mouth,g so proclaiming his Name, and making all his Goodness to pass before him, as that, by a secondary Glory reflected from the LORD upon him, the skin of his face 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shine with such an overcoming brightness, as was dazling to the eyes of the Israelites, and they were afraid to come nigh him. Of all the Prophets arose in Israel, there was none like unto Moses, whom Jehovah so knew. This Moses was a faithful Historian, and those things, which he wrote were not his own; buth the Truth and Laws of Jehovah, by his handing them out; eveni Enemies themselves being Judges. Christ dothk approve of Moses, and of all that he spoke and wrote from him. What Moses said was the Commandment of Aelohim,l what he spake unto Moses, the same is spoken unto us. The LORD Christ has raised up some or other in the several ages, to plead the Cause of the literal sense? of the Works of Creation, in the Histoy thereof, in the beginning of the Book of God, and Wise men espe∣cially in this last Age have professed their expectation of the sound knowledge of Natural Things, and of their real Essence and true Properties, in this first Weeks Journal of the Created World, by their several attempts to interpret it this way. The literal sense of Moses's Hebrew (who was anm Hebrew, which Hebrew is the Tongue and Language wherein the he wrote Jehovah's Laws) is the n ground of all Interpretations; for this Language hath apert significancies and plain properties of speech, which must in the first place be received when opened, that the natural meaning of the Scripture may be evidently known. Much of sound Scripture-knowledge, doth confist in a right explaining of the Words and Speeches in those five Books beforementioned, Genesis, &c. by con∣ferring them with themselves in those Writings of the Prophets and Apostles, which are Commentaries upon those five Books, by a true and sound explication, as the Letter is, and giving forth thence the genuine meaning of those Words and Phrases, which therefore Christo hath confirmed to every Jod and Chirek. There is Originally, a certain, proper, distinct, and only one, signification of the Hebrew Words, which is true and genuine, and which, under Christ, and his Fa∣ther, and Spirit, is the best Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures upon the discern∣ing heart of an experienced Believer: which would be abundantly confirmed by an accurate Collation of other Scriptures. The first words therefore of Scripture, particularly and especially is this History of the Creation, must be held forth in their Primitive meaning, where they are first used in their proper, li∣teral sense, which doth give forth light to the right understanding of them in those other Scriptures, where the same Words and Phrases are afterwards, used. So that it is generally the common Error and usual Defect in most of our Hebrew Lexicographers, that they give so many differing, and sometimes contradicting significancies of one and the same Hebrew word: whereas they should set down the only one proper, distinct meaning of every Hebrew Root, and carry the juice of that Sense into all the Branches that do spring from the Root, such a meaning of it as may well agree with that word, where-ever it be met with,

throughout the whole Scriptures. Which one Direction followed and improved with holy skill, and studious industry by men fitted for such a work, would bring in a great augment to useful Learning. The Holy Scriptures are written, as they are to be read, and must be so acknowledged, especially these matters, Historical and Narrative of the Creation, without doubtfulness or doubleness of meaning. They use such a manner of speaking, as is not otherwise to be un∣derstood, not to be taken in any other sense, than in that which at the first read∣ing doth plainly offer it self to a man of spiritual understanding. And of all Scriptures I takep this of the History of the Creation, andq the Law of the Ten Words more expresly to call for this. In which two are the complete summaries and comprehensive Modules of the Truths and Duties of the Chri∣stian Religion, and of the Nature and Uses of Created Beings. I charge not darkness and obscurity, doubtfulness or doubleness upon other Scriptures: But these two parts I have now more particularly in my eye, and all the rest of the whole Word of God is more or less one way or other a Commentary and Anno∣tations, an Interpretation and Explication, of these which have a common and familiar understanding, such as those, who have the due exercise of their right Reason, and of spiritual Senses, may, as soon as they hear, conceive what it mean∣eth. The Scripture-History of Created Beings hath its Intrinsecal-self truth∣fulness in it self, and its Extrins••••••l-self evidence unto others, which is best manifest by the holy Spirits clear shining upon the naked simplicity of the Origi∣nal Text in a savingly inlightned-heart. The Wisdom of Adam was, and the Wisdom of Adam's sons would be, (that which made his, would still make their faces tor shine) to know well the interpretation of a Word, the Exposition, the Phrase of a Word, the Solution, the Declaration, the Explication of it. The Original Text of Holy Writ in its literal significancy, must, under the Holy Spi∣rit, who indited it, and under Christ and his Father, he speaking it from the Fa∣ther, be the judging Rule of approving, or condemning of mens Explications of it, and Paraphrases upon it, and Illustrations concerning it, and of their seve∣ral Systems and Models of the Created World, answerable to those Explications, Paraphrases and Illustrations, as they are found either agreeing with, or disagree∣ing from that. Created Beings must be so conceived, expressed and modelled, as to be an exact counterpart, in all things measured exactly to this Scripture-History of them. Scriptural Words and Names, by which the several Created Beings, are rightly called in Jehovah's Word, are the most perfect and proper Definitions of any particular thing in its most specifical difference from any other Creature. The only true Essence and specifical Being, and particular entity of any Creature, is the only true specifical and particular difference of that Crea∣ture, and doth give a perfect Definition, and (when the Word is opened) a proper description of it. Though it were the speaking of the same thing, as the same thing identically. Thus if it be asked, what is the Earth? The answer were pertinent and full, to say it iss Aeretz, in its real Being, in the same sense that the Scripture doth call it so, and for which it hath given it that Name. The like may be affirmed of other Creatures; for, every Created Being had a distinct make, and a different Existence. When we would describe a Creature by some its properties, as to say, The Earth is dry,t Jabeshah, this relates to another Matter, the best Definitions, and the most significant of Essences are those peculiar Words and proper Names, which are given to particular Created Beings, in the Scriptures of Truth. Till we are more brought off, from Philo∣sophical darknings and obscurings of things, into Scripture Light, and into its way of knowing the true Nature of Created Beings, there will still be capti∣ousness and contentio••sness about such puzling Terms of Humane Inventing, as would hold mens understandings in continued ignorance. Every converted Being is best convertible into it self, and is rightest known by its own Identi∣calness. Where Creatures do differ, their Names do differ also. It would much forward the sound knowledge of the real Truths in those Matters, if extra-Scri∣ptural Philosophical Terms were altogether laid aside, and the Expressions were such as we find in the Word of Christ. For, the words of mens coyning are mistaken Terms of Humane Art, and do mislead into Error, and will still keep

up endless contendings: Whereas, the Words and Names, by which Scriptures do call things, do make us to apprehend Created Beings rightly in our Minds, according as the things themselves are in their own Nature. This Journal, this Diary, of the first Week of the Created World, is a plain Narrative, containing a clear History of the matter of Fact, which things done are identically declared and described by the most apt significant expressions. It is a most faithful pun∣ctual Record: So that it is no other, no less than to give Aelohim, the adored Almighties the lye to his faces, to deny either the plain Truth of the Fact, or the proper significancies of the expressions. The God of Infallible Veracity doth not in any part of this Narration, intend any thing by any expression, either of falsity concerning things, or of deception to persons. Private Opinionists can never evade or elude the unerring Authority of the Exact Expressiveness of the O∣riginal Language in this Scripture. He that would be satisfied concerning the foundation of credibility about the Creation, must resort to the plain and simple sense of this Text, according to teh Subject-matter thereof, and the Context of this, and the Collation of other Scriptures. They very explication of Scri∣ture Terms, doth present the Truth of Created Beings in their own naked sim∣plicity, carrying by the Aspect and Eradiation thereof, a clear evidence of the Nature of the things themselves. This History is the Scripture Naturals, and the Christian Physicks. Even young Children that are of quick apprehensions, are capable of taking in of this kind of Learning with great delight, so far at least as it is demonstrate to their senses, and as for the rest, their senses may be directed towards the several places of the invisible World. As to point out to them the several Works of the Creation on the several distinct days: and with the finger to shew them which is the Expanse, What are the Heavenly Luminaries, the Fowls of the Air, the Earth, the Waters, the Seas, the Light, the Darkness, the Beasts, the Fishes, the Worms, Man, and so of the rest: And what is the positure of the Creation? Those Hebrews therefore are under a great mistake, and do hinder much of the knowledge of Jehovah Aelohim in this Word and Works, in forbidding any to read four parts of Scripture till they are thirty years of age, (the age of the Sacerdotal Ministry,) The beginning of Genesis is one of those places, where the Creation of the World is described. Whereas, the eye of young ones would tell them, the Creators Works are a visible, legible Commentary upon his Word. The second place is the Song of Songs; Where∣as, this also doth set out spiritual things, by sensible similitudes, and doth de∣scribe much of Created Beings in an affectionate way between the dearest Lo∣vers, Christ and his Churches, Christ and the Believers, Fellow-believers, and Sister Churches, with each other: And this Scripture is therefore adapted to the understanding of young ones, who may the better be taught what to believe, by what they see, and their own eyes, and other senses may instruct their Souls, and their Understandings and Affections may be mutua! Helps and Guides to each other. The third place is the beginning of Ezekiels Prophecy, where the Majesty of the LORD is described, the beauty of Cherubins, and of the living Creatures, of the Angels, in their subserviency. The fourth is, the later part of Ezekiel's Book, from the fortieth Chapter to the end, where the New City is described. Though these two later places also, being Visions, may the more evi∣dently, as to the external part of them, be plainly shewn to growing young ones; who might in fewer Months be skilled in Geometry, the Doctrine of Measures, and some other Arts, as the Truth, Reality and Usefulness in those Knowledges is, than others will attain unto in so many years, by Philosophical Studies. And what a shame is it to the Learned Artists of the Times, that VVomen and Chil∣dren would quickly be made more profiting Graduates than themselves. If any Traders in Humane VVisdom are angry at this discovery for a while, yet let them observe the workings of convictions by this Scripture Light upon their minds; and they will, when more considerate, bring in a Testimony for Christ, and for his VVord, if they will be so ingenuous as freely to communicate their Experiences. For, my hopes do promise to my self, that I shall have most mens Consciences with me in this Cause, though my fears do threaten, that most mens corruptions will be against me for this Cause.

Notes

• b

  Gen. 1. through∣out, & ch. 3. vers. 1, 2, 3.
• c

  Mat. 12. 26. 2 King. 14. 6. Luke 2. 22. 2 Chron. 34. 14.
• d

  Neh. 8. 1, 2, 3. Dan. 9. 11. 13. Mal. 4. 4. Luke 24. 27, 44. Act. 15. 21. Rev. 15. 3. Psal. 103. 7.
• e

  Luke 16. 22—31.
• f

  Act. 7. 20—38. Exod. 2. & cha∣pters. Heb. 11. 23—27. Numb. 1••. 7, 8. & Heb. 3. 1—5. John. 1. 17. Deut. 34. 10. & 33. 4.
• g

  Exod 33. & 34. chapters.
• h

  2 Chron. 34. 14.
• i

  John 9. 28, 29.
• k

  Luke 24. 25, 27, 44. Mar. 7. 9, 10. Mat. 17. 3.
• l

  Mar. 12. 26. Mat. 22. 31. com∣pared. Mat. 22. 24. & Mar. 12. 19. compared.
• m

  1 Chron. 6. 1, 2, 3. & 2. 1. & 1. 34.
• n

  Mat. 19. 3—9.
• o

  Mat. 5. 18.
• p

  Gen. 1. through∣out & ch. 2. 1, 2, 3.
• q

  Exod. 20. 1—17. Deut. 27. 1—8. Nehem. 8. 1—8. Prov. 8. 9.
• r

  Eccles. 8. 1. Pe∣shar. Dan. 5 7, 8, 15, 16. & 7. 16.
• s

  Gen. 1. 2.
• t

  Gen. 1. 9, 10.