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 Man being made after the Image of God, was placed in Paradise &c. Gen. 2.8. This happy state of Man in Paradise was shadowed forth by the Ancients, under fabulous Narrations of the Golden Age; concerning which Plato discourseth very am∣ply, and that in Imitation of the Mosaick description: so in his Politicus (fol. 272. Edit. Steph.) Plato saith 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.

God the most wise Governor, di∣stributed to them, and according to his first Distribution there were neither human Polities, nor Possessions of Wives or of Children; for all lived from the Earth. Then he addes, but they had abundance of fruits, Apples and Trees; and a soil very fruitful, which subministred these fruits, of its own accord,

without the labour of Agriculture.

All which is but a reflexe Image of Paradise, and Mans happy state therein; where he had leave to eat of all the fruits of the Garden save of the tree of Knowledge, as Gen. 3.23. &c. * 1.2 Again 2. Plato addes in the same place, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they lived naked and expedite sub Dio: which exactly answers to that Gen. 2.25. And they were both naked, &c. 3. Plato mentions also a Conference betwixt our first Parents and Beasts: his words are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: they did not only converse with Men but with Beasts also &c. which suits well with the Conference 'twixt Eve and the Serpent Gen. 3.1,2. And then Plato concludes thus: These things we must omit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, until there appear some one meet to interpret these things to us: whereby it seems manifest, that Plato had re∣ceived some broken Traditions or stories, originally Iewish, whilest he was in the Oriental parts, touching the state of Innocence; but wanting a clear and perfect account thereof, he was content to let these things Passe, 'till he could have some skilful Interpreter to informe him concerning them. Serranus fol. 251. gives this explication of these passages of Plato:

That Plato (saies he) derived these Traditions else-where, he himselfe acknowledg∣eth, in that he calls this narration 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Fable, whereof he expects a meet Interpreter. He signifies therefore that the truth of these things were delivered to him by Tradition, from the Primitive times. * 1.3 Therefore that he might state the difference 'twixt the Golden Age under Saturnes Reign, and the Iron mi∣serable Age, which we live in under Iupiter, (saies he) he laies down these Assertions. The motion of the Universe which God made, is twofold 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: one uniforme and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 equally following the other multiforme and various. The for∣mer uniforme motion he makes to proceed from the Analogy, which he stiles 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 wisdome, and this following 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from a peculiat gift of God harmonizing it according to its Principles: whence it has 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

a framed Immortalitie from its maker. But as for the o∣ther motion, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, difforme, it springs from the Necessitie of corporeal matter; and variously hurries the whole Vniverse, and affects it so that great and dangerous vicissitudes are brought on all inferior things. Saturne therefore reigning, (saies Plato) mankind enjoyed its 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vigor, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, perfect state, imme∣diately after mens being produced out of the Earth &c. whence this Age was truly Golden, when these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, men pro∣duced out of the Earth, lived sub Deo. &c. Thus Plato, and Serra∣nus out of him.

Again Plato, in his Politicus, fol. 271. having mentioned many things of the Golden Age, speaketh thus there∣of: Our first Ancestors, who sprang up immediately after the first Revolution, delivered these things unto us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which Fables many now adaies, not rightly, disbelieve. where Serranus upon the whole, observes thus:

Plato affirmes that man sprang out of the Earth, 2. That he was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and naked: 3. That he enjoyed a truely happy and Golden Age. 4. That he had conference with Beasts. 5. That he was of all men 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the greatest Philosopher. 6. That he needed not externall Accommodations &c. These are the Mysteries of that Fable, which he learned from the Phenicians, as Serranus. * 1.4 That Saturne, who is said to reigne in the Golden Age, was the same with Adam, we have formerly endeavoured to prove in the Genealogie of Saturne, Book 2. ch. 1.

To which we may adde somewhat out of Vossius de Idolol. lib. 1. cap. 18.

We now (saith he) passe to Saturne, whom we make to be Adam. And to make this more clear, let us consider a little what the Poets fable of Saturnes Golden Age, and its agreement with the Age of Adam. This is most lively painted forth, by that ingenious Poet Ovid, 1. Metamorph. Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae, vindice nullo Sponte sua sine lege fidem, rectum{que} colebat. Nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae. Non galeae, non ensis erat.—

Ipsa quo{que} immunis, rostro{que} intacta, nec ullis Saucia vomeribus, per se dabat omnia tellus: Contenti{que} cibis nullo cogente creatis &c. How exactly does all this answer to the state of Man in Para∣dise? so that I no way doubt but that the Poets drew this by some Tradition. Namely the first Age of Men, in the Poets, is the same as in the Scriptures, and so Saturne is the same with Adam. For that Saturne was no other then a Man, the very Gen∣tile Historians dare not deny. VVhat wonder is it then if so many things, which belong to Adam, were attributed by the Gentiles to Saturne. 1. From Adams hiding himself from the face of God, Gen. 3.10. came the name Saturne, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Satar latere to hide: whence also Saturne was stiled Latius. 2. The Kingdome which Saturne first obtained was the same with Adams Gen: 1,18. 3. As Adam was driven from his Government and Paradise; so Saturne. 4. As Adam turned husbandman, so Saturne is said to find out agriculture, whence he is pictured with a mowers Sith. &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 2.8. Mans being placed in Pa∣radise and happy state.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 2.25. Naked confe∣rence with the Serpent. Gen: 3.4.
• * 1.3

  The difference 'twixt the Golden and I∣ron Age.
• * 1.4

  Saturne the same with A∣dam &c.