The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

VII. His Correspondences.

HE held a Learned Correspondence, especially with persons most eminent for that recondite Learning, that he was so famed for, and was dear unto and highly valu∣ed by them. Namely, The great Buxtorph while he lived, and at home, the Right Re∣verend Father in God Brian Lord Bishop of Chester, deceased, Dr. Pocok, Hebrew Pro∣fessor at Oxon, Dr. Castel, Arabick Professor at Cambridge, Dr. Marshal the Reverend and Learned Rector of Lincoln College, Oxon, Mr. Samuel Clark, sometime Keeper of the Famous Library of the University of Oxon, Dr. Worthington, sometime Master of Jesus College in Cambridge, Mr. Bernard of S. Johns College, Oxon: all Men famous in their generation, whose names we need only mention; and among the laity, he held a most intimate friendship and correspondence with Sir Tho. Brograve, of Hertfordshire, Baronet, his Neighbour and Kinsman, a Gentleman well seen in those abstruser Studies. Nor did their Letters consist of vain strains of Complements, nor were they stuffed with idle and unprofitable News, of affairs in the State: but they carried deep and Learned

enquiries about difficulties of Scripture, or doubts in their Oriental Studies: they con∣ferred about brave and high Designs for the better promoting of Truth and Religion, and solid, useful Learning. One Conference I meet with between Dr. Castel, who was the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Propounder, and our Doctor, The Resolver, was upon this sub∣ject proposed by the former, Whether when the ordinary Interpretation of any Hebrew words renders the sense hard and rough, recourse may not be had to the Interpretation of those words according as they signifie in Syriac, Chaldee or Arabic. This question had been occasioned from Dr. Lightfoots excellent Interpretation of that difficult place, Ezek. VIII. 17. Upon which place he put a fair sense (as it seems) by Interpreting some word or words there, according to some of those Languages. Whereupon he tells him, That he met often with many seeming contradictions and absurdities in our English (though one of the best) as well as in other Versions. As Job III. 5. Let the shaddow of death stain it (in the margent, chalenge.) A Catacresis I remember not to be found else∣where. But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (the word there used) in the Arabic use is Excipere, Colligere, as the LXX, not there alone best. Chap. XV. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thou (speaking to Job) restrainest prayer. Whereas Job was often in Prayer: in Arabic (in which Language many words with him occur) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is, to Protract and Multiply, as the Syriac and Arab there render it, Thou art much in com∣plaints, Chap. XVIII. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aucupia Verborum, again from the Arab 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Con∣tradicendi vices, as the Arab and Chaldee both. Chap. XVI. 18. O Earth cover not thou my blood, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 so that there should be no place to my cry: Because blood is a Crying sin. To pray his Cry should have no place: I am a Davus to that sense. Prov. XXIII. 7. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 As he thinks in his heart—and yet his heart is not with thee: seem very repugnant. Where∣upon he propounds this Question, That meeting with a World of these (seeming contra∣dictions) every day, he ••r••••es his judgment, Whether the Arab, Chaldee, Syrian may not some∣time sit upon the Bench, and pass their Vote concerning their old Mothers meaning? All the News communicated between these Correspondents was about the further progress of Ori∣ental Learning, the discovery of more Books of that Nature, &c. which was the best and joyfullest news to them. It may be it will not be amiss to communicate a Letter or two of this nature. The one is of the aforesaid Dr. Castel, written 1664. Sir, Though I perish, it comforts me not a little to see how Holy Writ flourishes. I lately received an Arme∣nian Psalter given me by Professor Golius, come newly off the Press: where they are Printing (at Leyden) the whole Bible in that Language. The Old Testament is there Printing in the Turkish Language, perfected by Levinus Warnerus. The New Testament in Turkish, done by Mr. Seaman, is just now in the Press at Oxford: of which I have some sheets by me: as I have also of the old Gothic, and Anglo-Saxon Gospels, now Printed with a Glossary to them at Leyden. Mr. Petreus hath Printed some parts of the Old Testament in Ethiopic, and hath many more prepared both in that and the Coptic Language. The Lithuanian (of which I have a good part by me) and the New England Bibles, I need not name. I have a specimen of a Turkish Dictionary Printed at Rome, and of a Chaldee Dictionary in folio in the He∣brew Language, composed by the Learned Coken de Lara; which our 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Professor Buxtorph much desired he might live to see finished: tis said to be now near its period at the Press. And News of the same import the Learned Mr. Bernard communicated to him from Oxon about the year 1673/4. which let it not be too tedious to peruse also: it ran thus.

Reverend and Right Learned, I cannot but acquaint you, that the Learned and Pious Mr. Robert Huntington, present Minister of the Church of the English Factory at Aleppo, hath lately sent over hither, a good Samaritane Pentateuch, together with an account of the Religion of the Samaritans of Sichem, written by themselves there upon his request, and sent as it were to their Brethren here in England (as they mistook Mr. Huntington, who told them that there were Hebrews here, he meaning Jews, and they their own Sect.) The Translation whereof into Latine out of the Samaritane (which is nothing but the Biblical Hebrew, save some Arabismes here and there: for that is the Language commonly made use of by them at Sichem) I have here sent: and, if you think it worthy the while, I will also transmit a Copy of the Samaritane unto you. Mr. Huntington acquaints me that there are about thirty fami∣lies of these Samaritans at Sichem, and not more, that they desire correspondence here. But care is to be taken that we do not dissemble with them, but beg their History of Joshua, and their Liturgy; and also examine them upon points that may be material. If you please to send what Questions you would desire resolution from them in, I will send them to Mr. Huntington, to whom I shall write about three weeks hence. The said good Mr. Huntington hath likewise sent over an hundred and fifty MSS. Arabic and Hebrew. Among which are Cosis in He∣brew, R. Saadias his Sepher Emunah in Arabic, Bar Bahlul's Lexicon well written, Mai∣monides his Yad entire except two Tracts, which are not quite compleat, R. Saadias his Versi∣on and Notes on Job in Arabic, Maimonides's Moreh, both in Arabic and Hebrew,

Maimonides his Sons Notes on his Fathers Yad, Gregorius's Syriac Grammar, pieces of R. Tanchum, and his Lexicon, or Murshed, Kimchi's Michlol, R. Alphes, and Tanchuma, and other good Books in Hebrew MSS. Besides, he hath sent over a Catalogue of Books to be had now at Damascus in Arabic and Persian, and some in Hebrew. He is skilful himself, and ready to serve you in any thing Jewish or Oriental, that may be had there. This opportunity I would not let you be ignorant of, knowing how you have recommended above all others the Study of Jewish Learning, as plainly necessary to the right understanding of the New Testament, as well as the Old. And then by way of Postscript. As for Greek MSS. he could meet with none, that were classical, but Ascetics enough. The account of their Calendar in the Samaritanes li∣bel is somewhat obscure and defective. Whether these two Gentlemen or either of them, are yet alive, my Country retirement and want of Society gives me not opportunity to know. But if they be, I am confident such an intire respect they have to the memory of this excellent Man, that they will not be unwilling these their Letters should be exposed to the publick, or any thing else, that I have mentioned from them, that may any ways tend to the preserving his fame or honour. If it be said that these matters are no news now, though they were then. I answer, Probably divers things here related are not so common and ordinarily known, at least to many, but that they may be read with satis∣faction. But the truth is, I produced them not so much to inform the World of News, as to discover some of the Learned matters of the Doctors correspondence.