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.

§. 4. Wee proceed to the Artificial or Rational Demonstra∣tion of our Assertion, touching the Traduction of Pagan Poesie from Divine; which we shall indeavor to make good, from the first Authors, Occasions, Ends, Principles, and Parts of all Pagan Poesie. As for the first Authors of Pagan Poesie, they are ge∣nerally supposed to have been the Grecians: but as for the time when Poesie began to take root amongst them, 'tis some∣what uncertain. Carion, in his Chron. lib. 2. makes Linus to be the first of the Greek Poets, who taught Hercules Letters and Musick, &c. His words are these:

What time Linus

flourished in, we may gather thence, that he is said to teach Hercules Letters, and Musick; who when young being chid, fell into a passion of anger, and thence threw the Table, where∣in he he drew his letters, at Linus's head; with which blow he died. They say that Linus was the first that brought Lear∣ning into Greece from Phenicia &c.

Hence we may safely conjecture, first that Linus was by birth a Phenician: for such the ancient Hercules Tyrius his Scholar was, as before. 2. That Linus also lived about the time the Cananites were expelled Canaan by Joshua. For about this time Hercules Tyrius also lived; who transplanted some Colonies of these Cananites or Phenicians into Africa, Spain, and such parts as bordered on the Midland Sea; whence the chief parts of Joshua's atchievements, are by the Mythologist transferred to him; as before: (unles we make this Hercules distinct from, and after Hercules Tyrius) 3. Whence also it appears that the choicest materials of Linus's Poemps were of sacred Original. For he being a Phenician, and living about that time, wherein God wrought so great wonders in behalf of the Israelites, he could not but have some Notices thereof. Yea, we have reason enough to conclude, that most of his Mythologie, or fabulous Narrations touching the Gods, their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Genealogie, and exploits were but broken Traditions, and Imitations of some sacred Persons, Exploits, and Stories in the Jewish Church. And albeit we have few Reliques of his Po∣ems, yet what remains seems to owe its original to the sacred Fountain, opened amongst the Israelites; especially that most celebrated Verse

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Its easie for God to atchieve all things; and with him nothing is impossible. This Golden Verse, we may presume, Linus gai∣ned from the Divine Oracles, or his own observations of Gods Divine power in and with his Church.

Notes

• Artificial De∣monstration.
• 1. From the first authors of Poesie amongst the Gre∣cians.
• Linus, the first of the Greek Po∣ets, traduced the choicest of his Poesie from sa∣cred Oracles and Operations.