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.

§. 5. * 1.1 Our 2^d Argument to demonstrate the Traduction of pagan Historie from Divine, shall be taken from their parallel matter. That the ancient Ethnick Historians traduced many of their choicest materials, especially of their Mythologie, from sa∣cred Ecclesiastick Records, is rationally evinced by the learned

Philologists, who have made inquifition hereinto. * 1.2 Amongst the Ancients, none have spent more elaborate studies herein than Eusebius, (who flourished under Constantine, and was called Pamphilus, from his friendship with Pamphilus the Martyr,) Bi∣shop of Caesarea in Palestine, who writ Chronicles from the be∣ginning of the world, to the year of our Lord 326; wherein his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or main designe is to demonstrate, that the Mosaick Re∣cords were more ancient, by far, than the origines of all the Egy∣ptian, and Chaldean Dynasties, or Grecian Antiquities; yea, than the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Genealogie of all the fabulous Gods &c. In this Chro∣nicon, he gives us abundant notices of his indefatigable indea∣vors, and searches into the Libraries of Philosophers, Historians, and Divines, not onely Grecian, but also Egyptian, and Phenici∣an; thereby to convince the Gentiles of the prioritie of the Di∣vine Records, as also of the Traduction of their choicest Ethnick stories and Memoires from the sacred Hebrew fountains. And this indeed he did most successefully accomplish, both in this his Chronicon, also in his learned Commentaries de praeparatio∣ne Evangelica; and in his 20 books Demonstrationis Evangeli∣cae, whereof there are now extant but 10: as Vossius de Hist. Grae. lib. 2. cap. 17. This noble designe of Eusebius has been carried on by many Learned Philologists of this and the former Age, viz. by Joseph Scaliger, Vossius, Bochart, &c.

But to descend to particulars. That Sanchoniathon and Mo∣chus amongst the Phenicians, Manethos amongst the Egyptians, Berosus amongst the Chaldeans, and the ancient Mythologick Historians amongst the Grecians, derived many of their ancient Materials originally from the sacred Records, has been already in part demonstrated, and will farther appear in what follows. I shall at present give an instance or two more. * 1.3 Vossius (de Histor. Graec. lib. 4. pag. 510. Edit. 2^a.) gives us an account of one Cleo∣demus Malchus, who composed an Historie, according to the forme, and in imitation of the Mosaick; concerning which Alex∣ander the Polyhistorian thus speaketh, in Josephus (Antiquit. lib.

1. cap. 16.) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Cleodemus the Prophet, sirnamed Malchus, who composed an Historie in imitation of Moses, the Iewish Law giver, declareth, that Abraham had some sons by Chetura, naming three, particularly Aphera, Suris, Iaphra. From Suris, Assyria was so called; from Aphera, and Iaphra, the Citie Aphra, and the Region Africa. By the conduct of Hercules, these waged war against Li∣bya, and Antaeus. Hercules also, by the Daughter of Aphra, begat his son Dedorus, from whom Sopho sprang; whence the Barba∣rians were stiled Sophaces.

* 1.4 2. I shall adde hereto what I find mentioned by Preston, on God's Attributes, Sermon 3. pag. 54 &c.

And for Abraham many speak of him, and also of Moses; there are many that a∣gree in their stories of him, but the Chaldee Historians especi∣ally, and some of the ancientest Greek Historians. Diodorus Siculus relates the historie of him, (though mingled with false∣hoods,) of what he did in Egypt, and what Laws he gave the people, and how he cast out the Cananites; and that he said, he received his Laws from a God called Jao; and that they were such Laws, as separated that people from all others; and that his God was such an one as could not be seen &c. And Strabo saith, that he reproved the Egyptians for worshipping visible Gods, and therefore he was cast out, and his people with him, &c.

We find also many other considerable passages of sacred Records, though mixed with many fables, in Berosus, Hecataeus, Alexander the Polyhistorian, Hieronymus Aegyptius, Mnaseas, and Abydenus, which we shall have occasion to mention in the following chapters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2d. Demonstra∣tion from the matter of Pagan Historie, and its imitation of Di∣vine storie
• * 1.2

  Eusebius Pam∣philus his designe to prove, that Ethnick Histo∣rians traduced their choicest materials from the sacred Re∣cords.
• * 1.3

  1. Cleodemus Malchus his i∣mitation of Mo∣ses's historie.
• * 1.4

  Diodorus and Strabo imitate Moses his Hi∣storie.