Historie & policie re-viewed, in the heroick transactions of His Most Serene Highnesse, Oliver, late Lord Protector; from his cradle, to his tomb: declaring his steps to princely perfection; as they are drawn in lively parallels to the ascents of the great patriarch Moses, in thirty degrees, to the height of honour. / By H.D. Esq.

The fourth Ascent. (Book 4)

MOses was very liberally bred, and had all the advantages of a Noble and Princely education; being brought up, as the Text tells us, in all the learning of the Egyptians. Thus the All-wise God,* 1.1 having selected him, to be Conductor, and Captain General of a hundred and six thousand men at arms, to have, as it were, a Regency over the very Elements, and a power to replenish the whole World with Prodigies; provided likewise a breeding, equal to so high a Cal∣ling, to frame and fit him, for so superemi∣nent a condition, and to accomplish him with all heroick vertues. He suffered him not to

be trained up, as other Hebrew children were, in fear, and bondage, which often overwhelm the bravest dispositions; but brought him to the Court of Pharaoh, caused him to be nourished in all the exercises of Nobility, and to swallow all the learning of the Egyptians, who then had the reputation of the wisest, and the knowingest men of the whole World.

How simple, in the mean time, absurd, and and contrary to expresse Scripture, is that opinion of some, which say, that Moses had no Egyptian learning at all, nor more letters, than what he received from Abraham and Enoch, or, what he heard from the mouth of God, by Oracles daily delivered to him?

To confute this folly, though Scripture it self were sufficient, I shall produce further evidence.* 1.2 First Philo the Jew, in his Book of the Life of Moses, gives us the exact History of his education, and assures us, that he learned of Egyptian Masters, Arithmetick, Geometry, Musick, both Theorical, and Practick; toge∣ther, with all sorts of Philosophy, and the Secrets of Hieroglyphicks. In all which pieces of learning, he grew to such perfection, that he was acknowledged for a Master, by the very Egyptians themselves: insomuch, that when Pythagoras and Plato, came to learn the Sciences in Egypt,* 1.3 they would first of all, study the Doctrine of Moses: whose name, in those times, as we find by them, was in great admi∣ration through all Egypt: and it is more than probable, that from his Books, they did con∣ceive

all that Divinity, which they have de∣livered, and the reason of God, which they declare, under the notion of the first cause.

After them Numenius, the famous Pythago∣rean, wrote many things, concerning Mosai∣cal Doctrine, as Basil the great restifies;* 1.4 and Numenius addes, that Plato himself, was no o∣ther, then Moses speaking in Greek. Nay, Clemens Alexandrinus, and Eusebius, both say,* 1.5 that the Gentiles received all the very myste∣ries of their Religion, from the Books of Mo∣ses; though enfolding them, in some odd fables; and Orpheus himself, confesseth,* 1.6 that he learned divers things from the Doctrine of Moses; especially, in the Book which he made of the Sacred Word, that he sayes himself, he took out of the Mosaical Tables: as also, that which he sang concerning God, known to the onely Chaldean Moses; which Verses of his,* 1.7 one Francis George, has reduced into Latine, in his Book of the Harmony of the World. Nemo illum nisi Chaldaeo de sanguine quidam Pro∣genitus vidit. Now, some have been of opi∣nion, that Orpheus meant by this Chaldean, Noath, and others Enoch, and the Platonists took him for Zoroastres, who was the son of Cham; but the following words convince, it could be no body else, but Moses. Prisco∣rum nos haec docuerunt omnia voces, Quae binis ta∣bulis, Deus olim tradidit illis; Now, to none of them, were the Tables of the Command∣ments given, but to Moses onely. Thus we see, he was not onely a perfectly well bred Schol∣lar,

but the very Fountain of all our Learn∣ing. A most excellent Natural Philosopher, he must needs be; for that learning then flou∣risht most there: and besides, sure he must needs know, the true causes of all things, that was so well acquainted with all the Almighties Counsels of Creation: then for his skill in Moral and Politick Philosophy, it must be al∣together as undeniable, being intrusted with the supream, Civil, and Military power, over Gods own people, for so many years, and holding forth to us still, such Moral & Political Laws, and Constitutions, that will never be matcht, by any Legislator in the World. Then, for his Divinity, there need be sure as little doubt, who had the constant conversation with God himself, and did by particular di∣rection from him, couch, all the sacred My∣steries of Religion,* 1.8 in the several joynts and pieces of the Tabernacle, and the very hems of Aarons garments; as may appear more at large, in his last four Books.

The Parallel.

We have hitherto convers't, in the Mosaical out-works onely, and seen these two high Fa∣vourits of Heaven, our first and second Moses, marching hand in hand together, in most a∣micable Parallel, through some remarkable Ascents of their Infancy: We are now hap∣pily

entering into the Inner Moses, and to re∣flect something upon the dispositions of their Adolescency, which there is no doubt, but we shall find, very agreeable to their Births. And, indeed, one of the greatest benefits, which youth can receive at the hands of God, is the favourable blessing of a good education; it is that, which polisheth and purifieth humane Nature, as one would do a precious Stone, obscured with earth, or base ordure; it is that, which as a late Doctor tells us, makes of men, (as it were) Angels: and, without it, doubtlesse the goodliest, and most precious natures, would perpetually dwell in a sad brutishnesse: But above all others, Princes ought to have an extraordinary advantage of Learning; for it is highly necessary, sure, that their souls should be fullest of lights, and flames, which are to serve others, for so great guides, and to be most exquisitly adorned with good letters, who know (as doubtlesse our se∣cond Moses did, from his Cradle) that they are to be set aloft upon pinacles, to change their words into Laws, and lives into exam∣ples. And he that was to be Supream Magi∣strate of so many Nations, ought, sure, with incessant study, read, unite, and incorperate in his sole self, the vertues, and faculties of many others. And so our glorious second Moses did, who was no lesse remarkable, for his true Liberal, Noble, & Princely education, than the former. And, truly, for this we must acknowledge eternal obligations to his High∣nesse,

his most honourable Parents, who had a principal care, to perfect the natural endow∣ments of their Child, with those of Art; to the shame of many fathers, and mothers, at this day, who too much resemble Ostriches, who lay their eggs in the open way, without hatching them, abandoning their children to become a prey to misery, ignorance, and im∣piety: But his Highnesse, most illustrious Pa∣rents, desirous to live in the honour, of their incomparable Child, and to give him a breed∣ing equal to his Nobility, Beauty, and Ingeny, and to those miraculous preservations, by which he was pointed out by Providence, to be a future Instrument of Divine wonders, as the former Moses was, would give him an edu∣cation equal to his. And it is notorious, that he suckt in, a very great proportion of Philosophy, with the first milk, that he drew from his Mother University; as also, he de∣voured many other Pieces of prophane learn∣ing, which, may be, were supererrogatory in a Prince; yet, by that means, he merited to be then as much thought the glory of the Gown, as he has since, prov'd himself the honour of the Sword; for, he attained to so stupendious a pitch of Learning, in so few years, that all that knew him then, thought it rather came, (which was suspected upon the former Mo∣ses too) by inspiration, than acquisition: and who could then but admire, those fair blos∣somes, of which we have seen since, such ex∣cellent fruits, Nor can there be lesse doubt

of his perfection in Political knowledge, made by any man, that will but look upon his most Serene Highnesse, his Government, either Civil, or Military, over us, or the Laws that he has establisht, for the eternal safety, and comfort, of these Nations. And, as for Divinity, I mean, that of the heart, that Grand Cardi∣nal Piece, and most principal part of Royal Learning, we all know, that was bred and born with him: a Divinity, I say, not lodg'd in the Schools, that is too knotty sure for Princes heads; but that which is reposed in godly hearts, and that is the true fear of the Lord, which is acknowledged by Scripture it self, to be the beginning of all Wisdom: and, though we dare not assert, for it is un∣known, what personal discourses he has had with the Almighty, yet we may affirm, that all his inspirations were Divine; and his con∣versation was ever so celestical, as if he lay, in the very bosome of the Deity. Upon the whole, then, as his first Master Moses, was bred up in all the Learning of the Egyptians, so was his most Serene Highnesse, disposed to consecrate his hopeful youth, to the study of the Arts, in one of our Universities; wherein he came to so much perfection, that he was pleased do descend to a degree, by which he made that, more than himself, Laureat, for so he was without it. Then, that the other most famous Sister, should not be dejected, he was pleased to crown her, with the acceptance of her highest degree of Honour, and to lay a further

obligation upon her, and the whole Common∣wealth of Learning, he has been pleased since to own himself, her Patron, Chancellor, and most particular Protector; and since his High∣nesse his greater occasions, have hindered his attendance on that Charge, he has yet added to her obligations, by bequeathing that care, to his most excellent son, and Princely Suc∣cessor, his now most Serene Highnesse, whom we may so justly entitle to be, Chara Dei so∣boles, magnum Jovis Incrementum: and can no more doubt that he will trace the steps of his renowned father, than he, our second, has shewed himself to be a perfect imitator of his great Master the first Moses; as we shall still find his Highnesse, mounting after him, in the succeeding Ascents.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acts 7, 12.
• * 1.2

  Philo de vita Mo∣ses.
• * 1.3

  Pythago∣ras. Plato.
• * 1.4

  Basil.
• * 1.5

  Clem. Alex. Eusebius.
• * 1.6

  Orpheus.
• * 1.7

  Fran. George in lib. de haerm Mund.
• * 1.8

  Exod. Num. Levit. Deut.