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.

§. 1. * 1.1 THe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Generation of the Gods, may be reduced to the sundry Ages after the Floud, whereof the Poets made four. The first they called the golden Age, wherein Sa∣turne reigned, Righteousnesse and Peace flourished, and all things were enjoyed in common; which Bochart Phaleg. lib. 4. cap. 12. refers to the first hundred years after the Floud, even unto Phalegs birth. 2. Then follows the Silver Age, wherein Ju∣piter reigned, and men began to divide the Earth, to till the ground, to build houses, according to that of the Poet, Tum primùm subiere domos &c. namely in this Age began the stru∣cture, not onely of private habitations, but also of that vast, impious Fabrick, the Tower of Babel: whence followed, 3. The Brazen Age, wherein sprang up Nimrod, who proved first an Hunter, and then a Warrier, or mighty Tyrant; who converting his designes from Beasts to Men, by Tyrannie erected an Em∣pire: as Virg. Georg. 1.

Tum laque is captare feras, & fallere visco, Juventum, & magnos canibus circundare saltus.

* 1.2 Now in this Age flourished Bacchus, who is supposed by the Mythologists to be the son of Jupiter, but by Bochart to be the same with Nimrod; though some refer him to Noah, and others to Moses; as hereafter. And here, in prosecution of our under∣taking, we shall endeavor to demonstrate, that the many fabu∣lous narrations of Bacchus, his Names, and Attributes, were but corrupt and broken imitations of Jewish Names and Traditions. Thus Sandford de descensu lib. 1. §. 17. where having attested, that the names of Bacchus, Iacchus, Euvius, Adonis, and Sabus, were of sacred or Hebrew origination, he shews, how those accla∣mations

Hie and Euvion made to Bacchus, were certain names of Jehova, Whereby the Ancients in their solemne feasts, called upon the true God; but in following times, vice aboun∣ding, these sacred Titles were given to their Idol Gods. Whence he concludes thus.

Hence the Thebans, Colonie of the Si∣donians, to whom the Religion of the Jews (their neighbors) was known, being willing that their Citizen, the son of Se∣meles should be inserted into the number of their Gods, they thought it most advised, to traduce, not only Acclamations, and Names, but also festival daies, and Ceremonies, and things done, from the Histories of the Jews. Therefore we see that those things which are commemorated in the sacred Scripture, as most worthy to be known by the Worshippers of Jehova, are many of them, albeit confused, and detorted unto a fable, transferred on Bacchus.

Therefore Lactantius had what we would, when he truely said:

that those things which the Poets spake were true, but disguised or veiled over with apparence or shadow. Which apparence has place especially in the names of the Gods; which he shews; saying: That the lies of the Poets were not in the Fact, but in the Name. And truely he cals those lies, which oft are feigned in the Name; whereas they well understood the fiction: yea the more c••nning Priests of the Gods understood the same, albeit they conceled it from the common people.

Thus Sandford.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The several A∣ges after the Floud.
• * 1.2

  Bacchus his Names and At∣tributes from sa∣cred Traditions.