A discourse of the terrestrial paradise aiming at a more probable discovery of the true situation of that happy place of our first parents habitation / by Marmaduke Carver ...

CHAP. XVI.

A more particular Consideration of the very place of the Situation of the Gar∣den of Eden.

AS for the particular place of this Coun∣trey where the Garden of Eden or Paradise it self was seated, though it might be deemed to trench too near upon Cu∣riosity

to be too inquisitive after it; yet seeing Moses hath not neglected to give us some notes whereby to find out the Bounds of it, we need not fear to follow such a Guide, so long as we keep close to his footsteps. Gen. 2. he plainly intimates that the Garden-place was betwixt the Foun∣tain of the River and the division of its Streams: for these are his words, v. 10. And a River went out of Eden to water the Garden, and from thence it was parted, and became into four Heads. If that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ab indè be to be taken with its nearest refe∣rence, viz. the Garden, and not the more remote, viz. Eden, (as in all reason it ought to be taken) then the observation of Danaeus (formerly cited) is most sound and true, that the River immediately after its efflux out of its Fountain watered the Garden with one entire Chanel; and then, having past it, broke it self into these Streams. Whence it followeth, that, see∣ing the first Division of its Stream was (as Pliny hath told us) in the Region of Arrhe∣ne, (the same which Ptolemy calleth Corri∣naea) the place of the Garden was betwixt Corra (or Charan) and the Fountains of Tigris, in the midst whereof, and upon the

bank of the River, stood the Tree of Life, as may be gathered from Gen. 2. 9. Rev. 2. 7. and 22. 2. Just about which place when we see in Ptolemy the nitrous Lake Thospites overflowing, it might not a little stumble us, if we did not remember, that as the Land of Sodome, which before its over∣throw was like the Garden of God for deliciousness, Gen. 13. 10. was for the sin of the Inhabitants turned into a Sulphureous Lake; so might God in like manner change the most remarkable place of the Earthly Paradise for the sin of our first Parents. And this Conjecture (for I esteem it no more) may (I hope) pass with as good probability as theirs, who have imagined those fiery Flashings issuing out of some Lakes about Assyria or Babylonia, still to remain as testimonies of the Cherubims fla∣ing sword turning every way, to keep the way of the Tree of Life, Gen. 3. ult. But as this Conjecture helpeth us little, so neither doth it hinder us from searching (and haply finding) some remaining memory of the Garden about this place. And though I confess this attempt never entred into my thoughts at my first on-set upon this Que∣stion, as taking it then to be a Secret be∣yond

discovery, and being ready to rest sa∣tisfied if I could but find out the true De∣scription of the River with its Heads, and the Region of Eden: yet having upon far∣ther search more seriously weighed the names which Secular Authors give this part of the Region of Eden, and finding them very significant and argumentative to this purpose, I did not onely receive farther sa∣tisfaction about this particular doubt, but was filled with admiration also, that such pregnant Testimonies should so long time have escaped the observation of so many learned pens as have travelled in this Questi∣on. Three names are given by several Au∣thors to that portion of ground which fell within the bounds of the Garden, as Moses hath set them. The first is that of Ptole∣my, who calls that Region which lay next to the East of the Fountains of Tigris by the name of Bagrandavene, for so it is in the Edition of Maginus, Lib. 5. Tab. 3. Ab Oriente verò fontium Tigridis Bagrandave∣ne est: and yet in the Map of the same Edition it is called Bajavandena. Ortelius in his Nomenclator Ptolemaicus calls it Ba∣gravandena. D. Mar. Niger, Geogr. Asiae Com. 3. calls it Bagrandana, and Bagrada∣vena.

And others have called it Bagra∣dena and Bagadena. Secondly, Procopius usually calls the Countrey that lies about the Thospian Lake, and stretches it self East∣ward to the River Nymphaeus, by the name of Arzane or Arxane: others call it Arsea, and Arsene, (even as the Thospian Lake is by Strabo called Arsena palus.) Thirdly, Strabo himself calls the Countrey adjoy∣ning to it Syspereitis, or more frequently (rejecting the superfluous S praefixed to the beginning of the word, and serving for no other use but to obscure the true Ety∣mology of it) Hyspereitis, and Hysperatis; and constantly placeth it betwixt Armenia and Calachena, which lay North-west of As∣syria. For lib. 11. recording the fable of Armenius born at Armenium near the Boe∣beian Lake in Thessaly, and peopling this place under the conduct of Jason, he adds, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The like also he hath afterward in another place of the same Book, in which he farther tells us of a Town called Cambala, from whence Alexander sent Memnon to fetch great store of Gold. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Sunt & auri metalla in Hyspiratide apud Cambala, ad quae Mem∣nonem misit Alexander: allata sunt autem ab incolis. Now if we had the true names of this Region set clear from all ambiguity, I doubt not but we might spell out of them some broken remembrance of the Garden of Eden, and of Paradise. For to examine the first, Bagrandavena, or ra∣ther (as most write it) Bagravadena or Ba∣gradena; who easily discerns not that it is a compound word, and that the latter part of its composition was Adena? so that haply in its own proper language it was written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and what is this in effect but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as Moses calls it? For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 amongst the Rabbins is pubescere, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 applied to the description of a place is as much as ager pube variorum seminum laetus, as Ammianus describes a Garden-spot near Seleucia; which very place (if I mistake not) Xenophon calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And hereto accords the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (from whence no doubt the Rabbins had their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) which, as applied to mankind it sig∣nifies Juvenis, Ezek. 9. 6. so applied to

a place it is lectus, electus, selectus: and so that Valley in Mount Libanus, where the House of Eden, mentioned Amos 1. 5. and the City Paradisus, mentioned by Ptolemy, stood, is by Guilel. Tyrius called Vallis Bac∣car and Vaccar. And of the same impor∣tance is the name Macedena, which Eutro∣pius (formerly alledged) applieth to this place, as appears by the places mentioned with it, and the reducing it into the form of a Province by Trajan, with the Nations that lay about it, viz. Anthemusium, the Arabians, the Quinque Regiones Transti∣gritanae, (so often mentioned in following Histories) &c. Now what is Macedena, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉? and is all one in signification with Bagradena or Bacaradena, and in them both as much as pretiosissima vel selectissi∣ma portio Hedenis: and what else was that but the Garden? Or if we may suppose Eutropius called it Macedena in stead of Bacedena or Bagedena, extricating the R, (and so it is written by some) even this also comes up to our purpose, and fully speaks out the thing we seek for, viz. Hortus Edenis. For the Eastern Nations even to this day call a Garden Baga, as Petrus Texei∣ra in his Itinerary tells us: For dicoursing

of the Original of the name of that famous City Bagdat, he affirms that it took this denomination from hence, because it was formerly a Garden-spot. Nomen autem in∣venisse putatur à Baga, Persis Horto, qùia primò tantùm Bagadaden, id est, Horti, ibidem fuerunt. And in all likelihood they derived this word from the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which signifieth esca, praeda, cibus: and by changing Gimel into Tzajin it is made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ezek. 7. 21. from which 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I sup∣pose the corrupted word Bajavandena re∣ceives most properly the former part of its composition. So that which way soever we turn it, the memory of the Garden of Eden may be retrived from this name. And no less clearly may it be gathered from the second name given by others to this Region, viz. Arzane, Arsane, Arsea, &c. For what more apt Radix can we find for it then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which among the Rabbins sig∣nifies Hortus, even as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth Hor∣tulanus, as Buxtorfius teacheth us in his Lexicon Rabbino-Philosophicum? and so accordingly Hesychius interprets 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and what 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is himself after tells us, that it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, locus flori∣dus: and yet in the next word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he

tells us also that it signifies 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Both which significations how well they may be applied to the place we now discourse of, will appear, if we consider that this Region was a part of Sophane, which among other significations is also translated 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Sep∣tentrio, Ezek. 47. 17. And for those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he speaks of, that they are to be found 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the flowry Mea∣dows of this Region, we need not doubt, seeing that name also is to be found here-about. For not onely have we the River Nymphaeus, (so often remembred in Pro∣copius, and called by Pliny by a correspon∣dent name Parthenias;) but the same Pliny tells us also, that the place where Tigris riseth again (after it hath run some space under ground) is called Nymphaeum, which renders it very probable that the same name was attributed to the Region that lay about it. Now if we would take the notion of Paradise under a Heathen word, we cannot have a better then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For the description that is given of it is so suitable to that which they make of a Persian Para∣dise, that we may safely affirm they are but Synonyma's of the same thing: for as that,

so this was no other then a delicious Valley abounding with all the choice rarities and delights of Nature, where Emperours and Kings had their retiring Palaces and Houses of pleasure. We might justifie this by that Nymphaeum in the coasts of Apollonia, re∣membred by Strabo lib. 7. Plutarch, in Vita Syllae, &c. as also that about Stagira menti∣oned by the same Plutarch, in Vit. Alexand. Ludum eis & studii locum Nymphaeum prope Miezam assignavit; ubi & hâc aetate sedes Aristotelis lapideas, & ambulationes umbrosas monstrant. But I shall content my self, onely to transcribe the observation that Leunclavius hath made upon this word, which is abundantly sufficient to give us the true importance of it. Pand. Hist. Turc. n. 153. Praetor Graeciae noster cu∣jusdam regii vel imperatorii palatii memi∣nit, cui nomen dat Nymphaeum. Ab eo non procul dissitum describit locum, tali Teggiurum vel Imperatorum Prato rebus omnibus simillimum. Alicubi de. Nym∣phaeo: Michael, ait, Palaeologus Imperator Nymphaeum pervenerat, quo loco recreare se solebant Imperatores, postquam Constan∣tinopoli (à Flandris) in exilium ejecti fu∣erant. Alibi verò Planitiem vel Pratum

ipsum describit his verbis: Quum dies a∣liquot (Imperator, Joannes sc. Ducas Va∣tatzes) Phlebiis exegisset, Clyzomenen pro∣fectus, (hoc loco nomen est) ibidem tento∣ria figi jussit. Nam isthic Imperatores è Nymphaeo digressi commorari solent, ma∣jorémque Veris partem transigere. Quippe totus ille locus mera planities est, quae gra∣minis copiam, compluribus equis sufficien∣tem, producit. Aquis etiam irrigatur, ac in propinquo multos pagos & Civitates ha∣bet, à quibus ad victum necessariae res co∣piosè subministrantur. But what shall we say to the third name which Strabo gives this Region, viz. Syspereitis, and other∣while Hysperatis? is there any thing in that also sounding this way? Yes very much, if we purge it from those superflui∣ties which the fault of some mens tongues and pens have stuffed it with; I mean the double S, which seems to have thrust it self into this word in the same manner that it hath done into the name of our neighbour-Kingdom of Spain. For as that at the first was Pania, (as Pliny testifies l. 3. c. 1.) after by the addition of an S it became Spa∣nia, (and so S. Paul calls it Rom. 15. 24.) and at length by prefixing an article it was

made Hispania: so it might (and we are persuaded it did) befall this word, from which if we reject the superfluous letter, it will become Hypereitis or Hyperatis, or rather, as it was written in its own native language, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and what (I pray) is this but Ipse Paradisus? And I am the more confirmed in this, because Strabo in like manner calls that place in Libya where those Gardens (so much famed by the Poets) were supposed to be situate, Syspereitis, which by others are commonly called Hespe∣rides Horti: and that they took their name from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is as credible, as it is cer∣tain that they took their conceit from some broken notions of Moses's Paradise. And I hope I may be excused if upon this ground I take liberty to conjecture, that the City Pherendis, which Ptolemy placeth near about the Fountains of Tigris, was ancient∣ly written Pheredis; it being so common for the letter N to thrust it self into words whereof it is not Radicall: and so this also in its own proper character should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which perhaps was the Metropolis of this Region, and communicated in the same name with it. And I am the rather em∣boldened to write this, because near about

the same place was the City Heden seated, if Petrus Bizarus misinform us not; for he placeth it nigh Mount Cordan, (or, as he calls it, Cortestan) which is the right si∣tuation of this City in Ptolemy. Hist. Pers. lib. 12. Sunt etiam haec loca infrascripta, videlicet Combalechum, Bastemum, Mula∣sia, Vanla, Dresherinum, & Saltamatum; quae loca sita sunt in regione vulgò Chi∣meldata, & ut plurimùm posita inter Eu∣phratem & Tigrim, ad latus Montis quem incolae Cortestanum, nos Taurum appella∣mus. His quoque adjiciunt Adenam, Ur∣bem praeclaram & divitem, in qua sunt plu∣rimae textrinae lini gossipii, & jacet ad la∣tus ejusdem Montis, &c. Indeed Stepha∣nus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 mentioning a City about these parts which he calls 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (from Edda∣nus a Captain, as he imagined) finds it sea∣ted upon Euphrates, and inhabited by Phoe∣nicians: but the name Euphrates is ambi∣guous, (as hath been noted) and it might well be there were more Heden's then one in this Region, even as Pliny also remembreth both Anthemus and Anthemusia. As for the store of Gold that Alexander is said to find at Cambala a City of Hysperatis, that will seem nothing incredible, if we remem∣ber

what was formerly said of the River Chrysorrhoas, which taking its spring about this Region, had that name given it from its golden streams. Nor is it to be neglected, that the Region called Mithracina (where the famous breed of Nisaean horses, year∣ly sent by the Satrapa of those Territories to the Persian Emperour, were kept) seems by Strabo, and is by D. Marius Niger ex∣presly affirmed to be about this place: which as it is an argument of the Fertility of this Soil, in regard of the pleasant Meadows and excellent Pasturage here to be found; so it testifies in what high esteem they held this portion of ground, in that they enti∣tled it to their great God Mithra, (to whom also Horses were sacred, 2 Kings, 23. 11.) for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is as much as Ager vel pos∣sessio Mithrae. And this also corresponds very well to another title usually given to Paradise in the Scriptures, wherein it is di∣vers times called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hortus Domini. But I am very sensible how obnoxious these Grammatical Criticisms will be to the cen∣sure of such as are willing to shew them∣selves pertinacious, whom we must not pre∣sume to persuade to accept such arguments for Apodictical Demonstrations: yet if

they will consider, that these are as good Arguments as the nature of the Subject we handle will well afford or bear, and that Notation is one of our Logical Topicks, from which sound Arguments may sometime be drawn, (forasmuch as Nomen may prove Notamen, the natures of things otherwhile agreeing with their names, according to that of the Poet,

Conveniunt rebus nomina saepe suis)

they will give us leave (I hope) to make use of it to as much service as here we intend to apply it to. For it is not the Etymology of a few names onely that hath induced us to this belief, but we have farther for the confirmation of it a constant Tradition suc∣cessively continued in these parts, that here-about was the place of Adam's Paradise. The firm belief whereof gave (no doubt) great advantage of credulity to that jocula∣tory Paradise, (seated in some Valley a∣mongst these Mountains,) by the allure∣ments whereof that notable Impostour Ala∣deules engaged so many seduced persons to his service, and thereby rendred himself formidable to the mightiest Monarchs of his time. A story well known in the Turkish Annals, and touched upon by those

who have written the Life of Selymus, and is related at large by our Countrey-man Mr. Cartwright in his Travels through those parts. Nor was this Opinion brought in by the Turks, but entertained long before by the Christians, yea (if my authority fail me not) even in the times before the Floud, at what time S. Chrysostome was persuaded the place of Paradise was well known. The Author that affirms this is Methodius: a fabulous Author, (I confess) and full of dross, among which notwithstanding some grains of Gold may be found; so that if his Traditions be well sifted, they may some∣times become helpful to us to spell out divers useful Antiquities, which we may in vain seek for in many a better Writer. Now this ancient Author (in lib. Revel.) speaking of the death of Seth, and the se∣cession of his posterity from the posterity of Cain, hath among other things this re∣markable passage: Mortuo Seth separavit se Cognatio ejus à sobole Caini, redierúntque ad natale solum. Nam & Pater eorum vi∣vens prohibuerat nè miscerentur. Et ha∣bitavit Cognatio Seth in Cordan monte, Paradiso terrestri proximo. If the terre∣strial Paradise were near the Mount Cor∣dan,

and that Mount Cordan or Gordiae∣us stood in the same place where Ptole∣my hath set it; then we may rest se∣cured, that the happy seat of our First Pa∣rents Habitation was at or about the very place that we have described. And now to conclude: Though all these evidences laid together (which surely are as great as well may be expected in a Subject of this nature) have not raised our confidence to such a height as some have attained to, (and, as we suppose, upon far weaker grounds;) yet we verily believe that if they whom God hath blessed with abler parts, more skill in the Tongues, History, Geography, &c. a lar∣ger freedom from other imployments and distractions, with a more plentiful supply of Books, and other accommodations for such a study, (all which we want) would resume this Argument, and apply their pens to the farther search of this not-unnecessary Question, they might here (sooner then in any other place yet discovered) find out the true place of the Situation of the Terrestrial Paradise.