To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
BUt, when they commend my Labour and Ser∣vice, which took its rise from the Inspiration of God; doe they not plainly avouch, that God is
the Authour of my Valorous Actions? a 1.1 No∣thing more certain. For, 'tis God's property to do whatever is best: but, 'tis the property of men, to pay an obedience to God. Farther, this is, I suppose, the best and most excellent Mini∣stery; when a man, before his taking an affair in hand, makes such provision, that all things be done with the greatest safety. Indeed, all men know, that the b 1.2 most Holy Ministery of these very hands, is owing to God, together with a pure and most sincere Faith; and, that whatever has been performed for the advantage of men, by Prayers and Supplications joyned with La∣bour of the hands, hath been happily effected: in regard, so much of utility has c 1.3 redoun∣ded to all persons, both privately and pub∣lickly, as each man could have desired, not only for himself, but for his dearest Relatives. They have likewise seen Fights, and have been Spectatours of a Battle, when Divine Pro∣vidence d 1.4 bestowed Victory on the people: and they have beheld God favouring and as∣sisting our Prayers. For righteous Prayer is a thing invincible; and no man ever mist of his designe, who besought God holily. For, there is no e 1.5 pretence left for a Repulse; save only where Faith is wavering. For God is always favour∣ably present, and gives a gracious Reception to the probity of men. Wherefore, sometimes to slip and stumble, is a thing common to men: but God is in f 1.6 no wise the Authour of hu∣mane Lapses and Mistakes. All persons therefore whatever, who are Followers of Piety, ought to give thanks to the universal saviour, g 1.7 both for our and their own safety, and for the flourishing posture of the publick affairs: and with holy Prayers, and continual Supplications, to render Christ propitious to us, that he would preserve and perpetuate his own Favours. For he is the in∣vincible Assistant and Defender of the Just: He is the best Judge; the Prince of immortality; the Donour of Eternal life.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and before this word an interro∣gation is to be set, as Christo∣phorson seems to have read. Vales.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I can't ap∣prove of Christo∣phorsons Version, who renders it; Manuum ad coelos sublatarum cultum, the worship of hands lift up to Heaven. I doubt not, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here has the same import with Ministerium, Ministery. For Constantine says, that men ought to give the Ministery or Service of their own hands to God; and that, with a pure and sincere Faith. He has made use of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 above, in the same sense. Truly, I can't perceive, how 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 can be taken in such a sense, as to signifie hands lift up to Heaven, or, prayers. Besides, the fol∣lowing words do most apparently refute Christophorson's Version. For Constantine adds, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c; and, that whatever has been performed for the advantage of men, by Prayers and Supplications joyned with Labour of the hands, hath been happily effected. For, after Constantine hath said, that men ought to give the Service of their hands to God, he adds, that not only the hands are to be lent to God, but Prayers also and Supplications are to be used, that the af∣fairs which we have undertaken to perform, may succeed happily. This is what Graecians are wont to say in a common proverb, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; whereby they shewed, that together with prayer the hand was to be put to the work. Farther, when Constantine says 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he speaks concerning himself, in the same manner that Aeneas does in Virgil.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It must be written in one word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which I admire Scaliger and the rest did not per∣ceive. So 'tis certain, the reading is in the Fuketian Copy. Vales.
He means the people of Rome, who in regard they were opprest by the Ty∣ranny of Maxen∣tius, put up their prayers for Con∣stantine, against Maxen∣tius. And this sense may be born with. But ha∣ving lookt more nar∣rowly into the thing, I have a suspicion that there is something of a fault here. And perhaps the reading should be, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, bestowed Victory on my Army. Vales.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. At this place 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is made use of to signifie praetextum, a pretence or colour; which term in Constantine's Latine Oration being not understood by the Translatour, he rendred it in this manner: but, would have done better, had he made use of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson therefore, and Portesius have done ill, in rendring it mundum, the world. Vales.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It must be written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Errours, or mistakes; as I found it mended in Moraeus's Book. And this the Geneva-men have already put us in mind of, from the Books of Scaliger and Bongarsius; whereto agrees the Fuketian Co∣py. Vales.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I am not of the same mind with Scali∣ger, Bongarsius, and Gruter, who mend this place thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for our own safety. I had rather reade, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which reading I have followed in my Version. In the Fuketian Copy 'tis written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But in the Sheets 'tis, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.