Bibliotheca parochialis: or, A scheme of such theological heads both general and particular, as are more peculiarly requisite to be well studied by every pastor of a parish. Part. I. Together with a catalogue of books which may be read upon each of those points. / By Thomas Bray ...

III.

The meer Light of Nature being not sufficient of it self, to discover to us the full Knowledge of God and our Selves, much less to direct us how to attain to the Enjoyment of God, and all those unspeakable Bles∣sings wherein consists our future Happiness: And the Holy Scriptures being the Fountain of Divine and Sa∣ving Knowledge, from whence the Pastor of the Flock of Christ is to draw forth the Waters of Life, both for his own and others Benefit: It is principally requisite he should be provided of such Books, as shall enable him, I. To know the Text it self, and that both in the Original and Vulgar Tongues; II. To Understand the meaning of it; And, III. To apply it skilfully to the Edification of others.

I. For the Knowledge of the Text it self.

First, It will be requisite to have it in its several Languages.

1. In the Original and Learned Languages.

• Athias's Heb. Bible, Ed. per Leusden, 8o. Or,
• Arias Montanus's Interliniary Bible, Fol.
• The Septuagint Bible, Camb. 12. or Amstel. 40.
• Beza's Greek Testament, Fol. Or,
• Novum Testamentum, Graec. Curcellaei variis Lect. 8o
• Novum Test. Graec. Oxonii variis Lect. 8o. Or,

• Novum Test. Doctoris Millii Variis Lect. when Pub∣lish'd, Fol.
• Biblia Vulgata Sixti 5ti. Rom. 1590. Or, since this is scarce.
• Biblia Vulgata Clementis Octavi, often Printed.

N. Both these last are declared by the Church of Rome to be Authentick, thô they contradict each other. Or instead of all the former (as containing the rest for the most part, and a great deal more, and of as easie a Purchase as all of them will be.)

• Biblia Polyglotta. Waltoni cum Ap. 6 Vol. Fol.
• Biblia Lat. Junii & Tremellii, Fol. or 4o.

2. In the Vulgar Tongue.

An English Bible.

N. Of which the the most useful at pre∣sent is that with Bishop Usher's Chronology, and Dr. Scattergood's References in the Margin, Fol. or 4o.

Secondly, It will be requisite to distinguish the Ca∣nonical Books and Parts thereof from those bound up with it, which are Apocryphal.

• Dr. Raynolds de Libris Apocryphis, 2 Vol. 4o.
• Bishop Cosin's Scholastical History of the Canon of the Holy Scripture, 4o.
• Alexander Morus de Canone Scripturae, 4o.

N. Here may be read the Controversies with the Papists hereafter mention'd upon the Title de Canone Scripturae; as also Elies Dupin's Preliminary Dissertation about the Authors of the Bible in the 1st. Vol. of his New Ecclesiastical History, from p. 1. to p. the 50.

II. To understand the meaning of the Text, it will be requi∣site to have,

First, Such Books as give preparatory Directions for the Understanding, and Explaining, and the Profi∣table Reading of the Holy Scriptures.

1. Amongst the Fathers and Ancient Writers.

• Augustini de Doctrina Christiana Libri 4.
• Hieronomi Ep. ad Paulinum.

2. Among the Later and more Modern Writers.

• Hyperius de Sacrae Scripturae Lectione, 8o.
• Bishop Patrick's Search the Scriptures; A Treatise shewing that all Christians ought to Read the Holy Books; with Directions to them therein, 8o.

Secondly, Such as Interpret and Assoil the Difficulties that Occur in Reading; whether those Difficulties lye in Understanding, First, the Subject-Matter of some of the more extraordinary and uncommon Things contain'd in the Scriptures; or Secondly, in the Language or Expression wherein the Holy Writ does declare the Will of God to Mankind; or Thirdly, in both Matter and Expression.

1. As to the Difficulty of understanding some of the more uncommon Matters contain'd in the Scriptures, such as the Mosaick History of the Creation and Deluge; the Scripture-Geography, Chronology, and History; the Structure and Dimensions of the Ark and Temple, Jewish Laws, Rites, Customs, Worship and Sacrifices;

The Nature of Sacred Dreams, Visions, Oracles and Pro∣phesies; Scripture-Coi••s, Weights, and Measures; and lastly the Natural History of Scripture Animals, Plants, and also Diseases; These Matters being purely Scriptu∣tural, it is requisite a Divine, as he would aim at being perfect in his Profession, should have some competent Skill therein. And for that End,

First, Upon the Mosaick History of the Creation and Deluge may be Read,

• Sir Matthew Hale's Primitive Origination of Man∣kind, Fol.
• Dr. Woodward's Natural History of the Earth, 8o.
• Mr. Whiston's New Theory of the Earth, 8o.

N. Here also Read Origines Sacrae, Book. 3. Chap. 2, 3, 4, 5.

Secondly, Upon Scripture-Geography.

• Adrichomii Terrae Sanctae Descriptio, & Tabula Cho∣rographica. Item.
• Jacobi Bonfrerii Annotationes in Adrichomii Descri∣tionem; &
• Joh. Lightfoot Animadversiones in Tabulas Chorogra∣phicas Terrae Sanctae. Haec tria in Ap. Bib. Polyglot. Walton.
• Bocharti Geographia Sacra, cum Stephani Morini Dis∣sertatione de Paradiso Terrestri, Fol. Ludg. Bat. 1692.

N. Nota Quod huic E∣ditioni accesserunt variae Dissertationes & Epistolae de Paradisi Terrestris situ, ex Epistola ad Bochar∣tum. Initio libri.

• Gas. Varerii de Ophira Disputatio inter Crit. Sac. Tom. 8. p. 459.
• Fuller's Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, and the Confines thereof: with the History of the Old and New Testa∣ment acted thereon, Fol.
• Dr. Lightfoot's Chorography and Map of Canaan, Je∣rusalem, and of the Temple, in his Works.
• More's large Map with Dr. William's Amendments.
• A Map of St. Paul's Travels.

Thirdly, For Scripture-Chronology.

• Ludovici Capelli Chronologia sacra a condito Mundo ad Captivitatem per Romanos, Deducta ex sola Sacra Scriptura, perpetua Serie Concinnata, Certis κρίτη∣ριοις ex ea deductis quantum fieri potest, Firmissimè comprobata, Aliquot Tabulis cum eorum probationi∣bus Comprehensa. In Ap. Bib. Polyglot. Wal.
• Lightfoot's Chronicle, and the Order of the Times of the Old Testament, with his Harmony, Chronicle, and Order of the New, which with the rest of his Works, are in 2 Vol. Fol. London, 1674.

Fourthly, For Scripture History.

• ...Josephus.
• Sulpitii Severi Historiae Sacrae Libri 2. And for both Scripture and concurrent History also, together with a more exact Chronology.
• Ʋsseri Annales Vet. & Nov. Testamenti cum Sacra Chronologia Par. 1673.
• Spondani Annales Sacri a Mundi Creatione usque ad Redemptionem. Lugd. 1659.

N. Spondani Annales ad haec Tempora, Extant 5 Vol. Fol.

• Saliani Annalium Ecclesiasticorum Vet. Testamenti Epitome. Par. 1664. Fol.
• Robinsoni Annales Mundi Sacri & Seculares. Lond. 1677. Fol.
• Jani Bercherodii Lumen Historiae Sacrae Veteris & Novi Testamenti per Tabulas Chronologicas. Fol.

N. My Design here being only to provide for the better Ʋnderstanding of the Scripture; I do not in this place make a Draught of Chronology aend History below the Scripture Times; which however being a most necessary Accomplishment to a Divine, must be done elsewhere in its proper place.

Fifthly, Upon the Dimensions of the Ark and Temple.

1. Of the Structure and Dimensions of the Ark.

• Mathoei Hosti in fabricam Arcae diligens Inquisitio inter Crit. Sacr. p. 103.
• Buteonis Arca Noe, cujus formae Capacitatisque fu∣erit Libellus ib. Tom. 8. p. 83.

N. That that part of Bishop Wilkins's Real Character, wherein he gives an account of the Dimensions of the Ark, and demonstrates its Capacity to contain all the Creatures, which are related by Moses to have been receiv'd therein, together with their Food and Fother, ne∣cessary for their Sustenance, ought especially to be read upon this Subject.

2. Of the Temple.

• Ludovici Capelli Templi Hierosolymitani triplex Delineatio, una ex Scriptura, juxta mentem Vil∣lalpandi, & Descriptionem ab eo factam; Al∣tera ex Josephi mente & Descriptione; Tertia ex Judaeorum in Talmude Descriptione, & juxta mensuras ab ipsis istic traditas. In Ap. Bib. Poli∣glot. Wa.l
• Dr. Lightfoot's prospect of the Temple, especially as it stood in the Days of our Saviour, in his Works, 1 Vol. p. 1049.

Sixthly, Upon Jewish Laws, Rites, Customs, Wor∣ship and Sacrifices.

• Joh. Buxtorfii Synagoga Judaica de Judeorum fide, Ritibus & Ceremoniis. Basil 1661. 8o.
• Spencer de Legibus Hebraeorum Ritualibus & earum Rationibus. Lond. 1689. Fol.

N. But as many Learn∣ed Men will advise, Caute Legendus, and especially on the Subject of the following Author who has perform'd excellently upon it.

• Dr. Outram de Sacrificiis. 4o. or 8o.

N. See also Mr. Thorndike's Religious Assemblies, wherein there is much of the foregoing Argument per totum. And also Dr. Hooper on the Lent-Fast, from p. 149. ad finem.

Seventhly, Upon the Nature of Sacred Prophesies, Dreams, Visions, and Oracles.

• Molinoei Vates. 8o.
• Amyraldus of Divine Dreams. 8o.

N. Here also may be read Mr. Smith's Select Discourses, wherein he Treats of Prophesie, from p. 169. to p. 280. Origines Sacrae, from p. 149. to p. 250. Hermanni Witsii Miscellanea Sacra quibus fusè agitur de Prophetia & Prophetis.

Eighthly, Upon the Jewish Sects.

• Drusius de Sectis Judaicis Commentarius. 4o.

N. Vide Goodwin's Antiquities.

Ninthly, Upon Scripture Weights and Measures.

• Mr. Brerewood de ponderibus & pretiis Hebraicorum, Aliorumque veterum Nummorum, eorumque cum Recentioribus Collatione.
• Briani Waltoni Supplementum de Siclorum formis & Inscriptionibus, cum eorum explicatione.
• Tractatus de Antiquis ponderibus, monetis & mensu∣ris Hebraeorum, Graecorum, Romanorum, ex variis Authoribus. Haec Tria Opuscula in Ap. Bilior. Polyglot.
• Bishop Cumberland's Scripture Weights and Measures. 8o.
• Dr. Bernard de mensuris & Ponderibus Antiquis. 8o.

N. Those who cannot have Leisure, nor think they are much concern'd to be Criticks upon this Subject; may take up with the Account of Scripture Weights and Measures given 'em at the latter end of the Fol. and Qu. Bibles Printed of late Years at Oxford.

Tenthly, Upon the Natural History of Scripture A∣nimals, Plants, and Diseases.

• Valesius de Sacra Philosophiâ.
• Bochartus de Animalibus Scripturae, opus Bipartitum, cujus Pars prior Libris 4 de Animalibus in genere, de Quadrupedibus, Viviparis & Oviparis, pars po∣sterior. Lib. 6. de Avibus, Serpentibus, Insectis A∣quaticis, & fabulosis Animalibus agit. 2 Vol. Fol. Lugd. Bat. 1692.
• Sir Thomas Brown's Observations upon several Plants mentioned in Scripture being the first of his Miscel∣lany Tracts, 8o. or amongst his Works Collected into a Fol.

• Guliel Ader Med. D. Enarrationes. Enarrantur Aegroti Nov. Test. quorum dum Explicantur morbi; ex eorum patria, temperies, Aetas, & Vitae conditio inquiritur, hosque arte Medicâ Incurabiles fuisse de∣monstratur. Inter Crit. Sac. Tom. 9.

Lastly, Upon the preceding, or any other parts of Jewish Antiquities, whether Reducible or not, to the foregoing Heads.

• Philonis Opera Varia.
• Ariae Montani Antiquitatum Judaicarum Libri 9. In queis praeter Judaeae, Hierosolymorum, & Templi Solomonis Accuratam Delineationem, praecipui Sa∣cri, ac profani, Gentis Ritus describuntur.

N. Inter Crit. Sac. Tom. 8. p. 524.

• Cornelius Bertramus de Repub. Hebraeorum Recen∣situs, Commentarioque Illustratus, Opera Const. L'Empereur. ib. p. 750.
• Cunaeus de Repub. Hebraeorum. ib. p. 818.
• Sigonius de Repub. Hebraeorum. 4o.
• Goodwin's Jewish Antiquities. 4o.
• Joh. Dieterici Antiquitates Biblicae de Rebus Judaeorum & Gentilium 2 Vol. Giessae Hassorum. Fol. 1671.
• Herm. Witsii Miscellaneorum Sacrorum Libri Quatu∣or. Quibus agitur de Prophetia & Prophetis, de Tabernaculi Mysteriis, de Synedriis Hebraeorum, de cultu Molochi, de Seculo hoc & futuro. 4o.
• Hospinianus de Festis & Templis Judaeorum, Ethnico∣rum, & Christianorum. Fol.

• Seldeni varia hujus Argu∣menti, viz.
  • De Diis Syris Syntagmata duo cum Bri∣ero, 2 Vol. 8o.
  • De Successione in Pontificatum Hebrae∣orum Franc. ad Oderam 1673. 4o.
  • De Anno Civili & Kalendario Judaico, Lugd. Bat. 1683. 4o.
  • De Synedriis & prefecturis Vet. Heb. Lib. 3. Amst. 1679. 4o.
  • Uxor Hebraica sive de Nuptiis & Di∣vortiis Lib 3. Franc. 1673. 4o.

N. It will not be wondred at that so many Writers up∣on Jewish Antiquities should be prescrib'd, when it is considered that many Christian Institutions are derived by our Saviour and his Apostles from Jewish Ʋsages; nay, the whole Oeconomy and Government of the Church under the Gospel is taken from the Synagogue, and carries an express Analogy and Si∣militude to the legal administration of those Times. So the Baptizing of Chil∣dren bears Relation to the Baptizing the Children of the Proselytes, and is un∣deniably to be Justified from that Ʋsage; the Lord's Supper answers to the Paschal Lamb; Liturgies amongst Christians to Forms of Prayer amongst the Jews; Presbyters and Deacons to Priests and Levites; the Twelve Apostles to the Twelve Heads of Tribes. And St. Clemens Romanus under the Title of High-Priest, Priests and Levites,* 1.1 does ma∣nifestly design the Bishop, his Priests and Deacons. In short, Ordination by Imposition of Hands is deriv'd from their Ordi∣nination in the Synagogue, and the Christian way of Excom∣munication is expresly taeken from theirs. And the Learned Lightfoot, as he has observ'd and prov'd much of this Nature throughout his Works; so of the whole Writings of St. Paul he tells us, that in all his Epistles, especially in that to the Hebrews, he useth exceeding much,* 1.2 not only of the Jews Dialect, Language and Learning; but also of allusion and reference to their Opinions, Traditions, and Cu∣stoms: So that it will be a thing of great Consequence for a clear comprehension of the Gospel, to be well seen in the Jewish Antiquities, both Sacred and Civil; the want of which, in these unhappy bleed∣ing Times, has been the cause of so many wild, and to knowing Men, ridicu∣lous Disputes, about Excommunication, Ordination, Infant Baptism, &c.

2. As to the Difficulty of understanding the Language and Expressions wherein the Holy Writ does declare the Will of God to Mankind; To Master this it will be requisite,

First, To understand something in general of the Nature, Origine, Division, Number, Mu∣tations, and use of Tongues.

• Briani Waltoni in Biblia Polyglot. Prolegomena in Ap∣par.
• Crinesius de Consusione Linguarum.
• Chr. Cellarii Sciagraphia Philologiae Sacrae Linguarum Orientalium usum Genuinum delineans Jenae 1678. 4o.

Secondly, It will be requisite to have some Glossaries and Lexicons for both Hebrew and the Hellenistical Greek.

1. For the Hebrew.

• Castelli Lexicon Heptaglotton 2 Vol. Fol. necessary for those who have the Polyglot Bible.
• Buxtorfii Lexicon Talmudicum, Chaldaicum, Rab∣binicum, &c. which he calls his Opus Triginta an∣norum, and will not only serve for a Dictionary, but is a great Thesaurus Criticus of all Talmudi∣dical and Rabbinical Words and Customs, as well as of purer Hebrew. Fol.
• Robertson's Thesaurus Linguae Sanctae. 4o.

2. For the Hell••nistical Greek.

• Hesychius Or,
• Su••das, Or,
• ...Phavorinus.
• Stapula's Lexicon.
• Robertson's Thesaurus Linguae Graecae, useful also for the Greek Testament. 4o.

Thirdly, It will be of singular use towards the thorough understanding of the Scripture Lan∣guage, to know the Idiotisms, Phraseology, and Schemes of Speech peculiar to the Sacred Pen-men, and to that purpose to have ready at hand the

• Explicatio Idiotismorum seu proprietatum Linguae He∣braicae & Graecae, quae saepius in Scripturis occurrunt. In Ap. Bib. Polyglot.
• Leigh's Critica Sacra. Fol.
• Glassi Philologia Sacra veteris & Novi Testamenti, de Stylo & Rhetorica Sacrae Scripturae. Amst. 1694. 4o.
• Flaccii Illirici Clavis Scripturae.
• Joh. Drusii classes duae in quibus explicantur Proverbia Sacra, & ex Sacris l••teris orta; Item sententiae Solo∣monis, Allegoriae, &c. Item Adagia Hebraica. Opus necessarium Theologis. Inter Crit. Sac. Tom. 8. 1596. And also single by it self.
• Delrii Adagia Sacra. Vet. & Nov. Test. 2 Vol. 4o.
• Andreae Schotti Adagia Sacra N. T. 4o.

3. To clear the difficulties that shall occurr in Scripture, both as to the Matter and Expression, it will be necessa∣ry to be furnish'd with Commentators.

First, General, upon the whole Bible; of which some to be read all over, together with our daily course of reading the Holy Scripture.

• Grotius, 3 Vol. N.

His Theological Tracts make the fourth Vol.

• Heideggeri Enchiridion Biblicum, Analysi Generali singulorum Vet. & N. Test. Librorum, & capitum Ar∣gumento, unicè inserviens. Ed. Amstel. 1688. 8o.
• Clark's Survey of the Bible, or an Analytical Account of the Holy Scriptures. 4o.

N. One or other of these Analyses may be also read in a course, to give us the Method of Scripture, a thing so useful for the Memory, and for the distinct Apprehension and full Comprehension of the Matter thereof.

Others to be consulted upon occasion.

• Critici Magni London. 9 Vol. Fol. Or,
• Critici Magni Amstelodami, quorum duo Vol. jam Extant. Or,
• Poole's Synopsis Criticorum, 5 Vol. Fol.

N. Which may be instar omnium; and seems to be done with good judgment in placing the Opinions of the several Expositors, in such-an Order, that one strengthens and explains, or Corrects and refutes the other. Or,

• Poole's English Annotations, 2 Vol. Fol.
• Musculus upon several Books of Scripture. N.

Audio partium non addictus.

• Calvin upon several Books of Scripture. N.

Ʋbi benè nemo meliùs.

Secondly, Particular upon the more necessary and momentous parts of Holy Writ.

1. Upon the Pentateuch, or some parts thereof.

• Aynsworth upon the Pentateuch. Fol.
• Rivetus in Genes. & Exodum 4o.

N. Inter Opera Riveti. Fol.

• Bp. Patrick upon Genesis. 4o.

2. Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.

• Bp. Patrick, 5 Vol. 8o.
• Dr. Hammond upon the Psalms. Fol.

3. Upon the Prophets.

• Calvin ut supra.
• Dr. Pocock upon Hosea, Joel, Micah, Malachi. Fol.

4. Upon the New-Testament.

• Dr. Hammond's Annotations. Fol.

N. To be read in our daily course of reading the Scripture.

• Maldonatus in 4. Evangelia. Fol.
• Estius on the Epistles; Fol. Or,
• The Oxford Paraphrase on St. Paul's Epistles. 8o.

N. This later especially Convenient to be perus'd in our daily course of read∣ing the Scriptures, when we come to that so considerable a part thereof, St. Paul's Epistles, as giving at the beginning of each Epistle a general and accu∣rate View of the Occasion and Matter thereof, and of the Apostles Scope and Method therein.

5. Upon the Revelations.

• Mr. Mede on the Revelations, with his Clavis A∣pocalyptica.

Thirdly, More particular upon the more difficult Parts, Passages, and Texts of Scripture, whether they be such as labour in Reconciling the seeming Repugnan∣ces that are found in Holy Writ, or those that criticize upon some particular Parts or Texts of a difficult Nature.

• Cornelii Bertrami specimen Expositionum in difficilio∣ra utriusq, Testamenti Loca.
• Estius in difficiliora loca, Fol.
• Spanhemii dubia Evangelica, 2 Vol. 4o.
• Mr. Gregory's Observations, 4o.
• Dr. Lightfoot's Horae Hebraicae inter Opera, Fol.
• Mr. Mede's Diatribe, Fol.
• Lud. de Dieu Critica Sacra, sive animadversiones in loca quaedam difficiliora vet. & Nov. Test. Fol.
• Mr. Edwards upon Difficult Texts, 2 Vol, 8o.

III. For the more skilful Application of Scripture according to various Occasions.

First, A Concordance of Things.

• Jac. Comis promptuarium Biblicum, ubi totus textus biblicus in suos locos digestus ordine Alphabetico viâ Concordan∣tiae dispositus est.
• Pet. Ravanelli Bibliotheca Sacra, cum additamentis, 3 Vol.
• Wilson's Christian Dictionary, Fol.
• Hen. Witte Repertorium Biblicum Rigae, 1689. 4o.

Secondly, A Concordance of Words.

1. In the Learned Languages.

First, For the Hebrew.

• Buxtorfius, 4o.

Secondly, For the Greek.

1. Of the Septuagint.

• Kircherus, 4o.

2. Of the New Testament.

• Schmidius, Fol.

N. The chief use indeed of these Concor∣dances in the Original Tongues, is much the same as of Glossaries, and of Con∣cordances of Things, that is, to find out the different Acceptations of the same Word, in order to clear an Obscure or Doubtful Text. For in these Concordances every considerable Word of Scripture being presented to the Eye in one View of all those Places where it occurs; it will be easily gathered, by considering the Nature, Circumstances, and Scope of these several Places, what are the diffe∣rent senses it will bear, and what it most properly signifies in any of those, which by an ill rendring are made either Doubtful or Obscure. But however this being a part purely Critical, for which not many of our American Pastors may have leisure, the want of these may be easily dispenc'd with, and may be supply'd by the Glossaries and Concordances of Things before-mention'd. But Concordances in the Vulgar Languages are useful in another way, and necessary for all. To proceed then,

2. In our Vulgar Tongue, or in English.

• Newman's Large Concordance for both Scripture and Apo∣pocrypha, Fol. Or,
• The Cambridge Concordance, Fol.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Epist. prima ad Corinthios p. 119 Ed. Co∣lomesii.
• * 1.2

  Lightfoot, Vol. 1. p. 341 or as it ought to be Printed, 333.