An account of Mr. Ferguson, his common-place-book in two letters.

M. F. p. 242.

And not to insist on the ill influence that the Phoenician

and Chaldaick Philosophy had on the Iudaick Theology, though it be of easie proof, that their Planetary Deities and Teraphims sprung from thence; not to do any more but mention, that the chief errours of the Pharisees, Sad∣ducees, and Esseans took their rise from the Graecian Philo∣sophy, their Dogms being a mixture of Pythagorean, Pla∣tonick, Stoick, and Epicurean Notions.

Mr. Gale Pref.

We shall begin with the ma∣lignant contagion, which the

Judaick Church received from vain Philosophy: So long as the Judaick Theology continu∣od under its own native habit—it retained its primitive Puri∣ty—But whence sprung this (declension) but from the Phaenician and Chaldaick Phi∣losophy, touching Planetary Deities, and Daemons, called by the Phaenicians Baalim. We no way doubt but to demon∣strate, that the main errours of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other Judaick Hereticks received their first formation, &c. from Graecian Philosophy, especially the Pythagorean.

M. F. ibid.

Both Irenaeus and Tertulli∣an affirm the errours of the Gnosticks to have sprung from the Platonick Idea's, though I think it not improbable, that both their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 took their birth from Pythagoreanism.

Gale.

From whence borrowed they (the Gnosticks) their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉—but from the Mythologick and Symbolick Philosophy of the Pythagore∣ans.

M. F. 243.

Hierom assureth us, that Pelagius suckt all his Do∣ctrines from the Philosophy of Pythagoras and Zeno, and Iansenius fully proves it.

Gale.

Had not the Pelagian Here∣sie the same pestiferous root: this is incomparably well de∣monstrated by Jansenius, &c.

M. F. ibid.

Nor did Samosatenus and Arrius derive their blasphe∣mous opinions concerning the Deity of Christ, save from the Platonick Philoso∣phy.

Gale.

Where had Paulus Samosa∣tenus his blasphemous infusions but from Plotinus? And did not Arrius in like manner de∣rive his blasphemous perswasi∣ons touching Christ, from the same poisoned fountain?

M. F.

It was not therefore with∣out cause, that Tertullian stiled the Philosophers the Patriarks of Hereticks.

Gale.

This Tertullian was great∣ly sensible of, and therefore stiles the Philosophers the Pa∣triarks of Hereticks.

M. F. 245.

The Platonick School at Alexandria was the Semi∣nary of the chiefest and most pestilent errours vented in the Church during the four first Centuries.

Gale.

Vain Philosophy was the chief Seminary of Errours broached in the four first Cen∣turies after Christ.—Samosa∣tenus learnt his blasphemies from Plotinus, successor to Ammonius in his School of Alexandria,—Origen Scholar to Ammonius in his School of Alexandria.

M. F. p. 243.

Holstenius hath shown us, how the Manichean Princi∣ples were framed from the Pythagorean.

Dr. Parker Plat. Theology, p. 89.

Holstenius hath made a paral∣lel between the Pythagorean and Manichean Principles.

M. F. 245.

Ioannes Baptista Crispus hath wrote a Discourse of Plato's Opinions, and hath

at the end of every Chapter shown, what Heresies sprung from each.

Dr. Parker ibid.

Johannes Baptista Crispus in his discussing of Plato's opi∣nions, has at the end of every

Chapter shewn, what Here∣sies sprung from each opini∣on.

M. F. p. 244.

The Popish 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Saint-worship, is nothing but an imitation of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Daemon-wor∣ship of the Pagan Philoso∣phers.

Gale ibid.

The whole Papal 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Saint-worship, is but an imitation of the Pagan 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Daemon-wor∣ship.

M. F. p. 245.

The purity and simplicity of the Gospel was no less corrupted by blending the Dogms of Aristotle with the Articles of Faith, than it had been by mingling the Philosophy of Pythagoras and Plato with the Doctrines of Christ.

Dr. Parker ibid.

They have in the same man∣ner corrupted the simplicity and purity of Christian Religion by blending the Placits of Aristo∣tle with the Articles of Faith, as Manes and Valentinus did by mingling with the Christian Faith the Philosophy of Plato and Pythagoras.

M. F. 247.

Corrupted into an artifici∣al kind of wrangling, and de∣gererated into contentions and unprofitable altercati∣ons.

Gale ibid.

Corrupted into an artificial kind of contentious disputati∣on—and wrangling dispute.