The court of the Gentiles: or A discourse touching the original of human literature, both philologie and philosophie, from the Scriptures, and Jewish church in order to a demonstration, of 1. The perfection of Gods vvord, and church light. 2: The imperfection of natures light, and mischief of vain pholosophie. 3. The right use of human learning, and especially sound philosophie. / By T.G.

§. 9. By all which laid together, I suppose, 'twill seem

more than a meer conjecture, that the chief, if not the whole of Jupiters Titles were of sacred origination, though by cursed imi∣tation. * 1.1 We might also shew, that many of the Fables applied to Jupiter, were, indeed, of Phenician or Hebrew original: as that of Jupiters rebellion against his father Saturne, from Chams rebellion against Noah &c. The fabulous Jews relate, that Cham cut off his fathers Virilia, whence the Fable of Jupiters cutting off Saturne, his father Genitalia as Lact. lib. 1. cap. 12. But I shall instance chiefly in that famous Fable of Jupiters stealing away Europa, which seems evidently of Phenician and Hebrew extract, and that from a mistake of the original words. For whereas 'tis said, that Jupiter stole away Europa, under the forme of a bull; the Fable, as learned Bochart demonstrates, arose from the Equivocation of the Phenician 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies either a Ship or a Bull. Now the Grecians, to make the fable more admirable, understand it of a Bull; whereas the Phenician sto∣rie ment it only of Jupiters carrying away Europa in a Ship &c. So the Fable of Jupiters having Hornes, according to that of O∣vid, Metaph: lib. 5. Lybi is est cum cornubus Hammon. * 1.2 Amongst the Lybians Jupiter Hammon is pictured with Hornes; seems bor∣rowed, and that upon a mistake, from the storie of Moses's com∣ing down from the Mount with his face shining: where the He∣brew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies both a beam of the Sun, as also a Horne: from which ambiguity the Fable sprang. Again, in the Metamorpho∣sis of the Gods in Egypt, 'tis said that Jupiter was turned into a Ram; which Fable Bochart (de Animalibus sacris part 2. lib. 1. cap. 10. fol 62.) supposeth to have had its rise from the cognati∣on 'twixt the Hebrew words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 El (the name of God transfer∣red on Jupiter) and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ajil a ram: which being Paronymous, and the Plural number of both the same viz. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Elim: the Grecians mistake the later for the former. The Poets fiction of Minerva the Goddesse of wisdom, her being produced out of Ju∣piters head, seems to be drawn from the Scriptures relation of Christ, the wisdom of God, his eternal Generation Prov: 8.23. * 1.3

&c. as eloquent Du Bosc. (Pastor of the Reformed Church at Caen) observed in a Sermon preached at Caen. Lastly the Tradition of Bacchus's being taken out of Jupiters thigh, is sup∣posed, by Bochart, to be but a Tradition of the Patriarchs pro∣ceeding ex femore Jacobi, out of Jacobs thigh mentioned Gen: 46.26. * 1.4 where the Hebrew words, which properly signifie out of Ja∣cobs loins, are, by an easy mistake from their ambiguity, transla∣ted by the Greek and old Latin, out of Jacobs thigh: whence sprang this Fable &c. Thus we have shewen how the many fabulous Names, Genealogies, and Attributes given unto Jupiter, had their original, by Satanick imitation, from sacred storie, Names, and Persons &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fables applied to Jupiter, of Phenician origi∣nal.
• * 1.2

  Exod. 34,29.
• * 1.3

  Prov. 8.23.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 46.26.