there be any other places or other Mansions by which the Soul that believeth in God passing and coming unto that River which maketh glad the City of God may receive within it the lot of the Inheritance promised unto the Fathers For touching the determinate state of the faithful Souls departed this life the ancient Doctors as we have shewed were not so throughly resolved The Lord Primat having thus shewn in what sence many of the ancient Fathers did understand this word Hades which we translate Hell proceeds to shew that divers of them expound Christ's Descent into Hell or Hades according to the common Law of Nature which extends it self indifferently unto all that die For as Christ's Soul was in all points made like unto ours Sin only excepted while it was joined with his Body here in the Land of the Living so when he had humbled himself unto the Death it became him in all things to be made like unto his Brethren even in the state of dissolution And so indeed the Soul of Jesus had experience of both for it was in the place of human Souls and being out of the Flesh did live and subsist It was a reasonable Soul therefore and of the same substance with the flesh of Men proceeding from Mary Saith Eustathius the Patriarch of Antioch in his Exposition of that Text of the Psalm Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the place of humane Souls which in the Hebrew is the world of Spirits and by the disposing of Christ's Soul there after the manner of other Souls concludes it to be of the same nature with other Mens Souls So St. Hilary in his Exposition of the 138th Psalm This is the Law of humane Necessity saith he that the Bodies being buried the Souls should go to Hell Which descent the Lord did not refuse for the accomplishment of a true man And a little after he repeats it that desupernis ad inferos mortis lege descendit He descended from the supernal to the infernal parts by the Law of Death And upon Psal. 53. more fully To fulfil the Nature of Man he subjected himself to Death that is to a departure as it were of the Soul and Body and pierced into the infernal seats which was a thing that seemed to be due unto Man I shall not trouble you with more Quotations of this kind out of several of the ancient Greek and Latin Fathers which he makes use of in this Treatise most of them agreeing in this That Christ died and was buried and that his Soul went to that place or receptacle where the Souls of good Men do remain after Death which whether it is no more in effect but differing in terms than to say he died and was buried and rose not till the third day which the Doctor makes to be the absurdity of this Opinion I leave to the Judgment of the impartial Reader as I likewise do whether the Lord Primat deserves so severe a Censure after his shewing so great Learning as he has done concerning the various Interpretations of this word Hades or Hell both out of sacred and prophane Writers that it only serves to amaze the Ignorant and confound the Learned Or that he meant nothing less in all these Collections than to assert the Doctrine of the Church of England in this particular Or whether Christ's Local Descent into Hell can be found in the Book of Articles which he had subscribed to or in the Book of Common-Prayer which he was bound to conform to And if it be not so expressed in any of these I leave it to you to judge how far Dr. H. is to be believed in his Accusation against the Lord Primat in other matters But I doubt I have dwelt too long upon this less important Article which it seems was not thought so fundamental a one but as the Lord Primat very well observes Ruffinus in his Exposition of the Creed takes notice that in the Creed or Symbol of the Church of Rome there is not added He descended into Hell and presently adds yet the force or meaning of the word seems to be the same in that he is said to have been buried So that it seems old Ruffinus is one of those who is guilty of this Impertinency as the Doctor calls it of making Christ's descent into Hell to signifie the same with his lying in the Grave or being buried tho the same Author takes notice that the Church of Aquileia had this Article inserted in her Creed but the Church of Rome had not which sure with Men of the Doctor 's way should be a Rule to other Churches And further Card. Bellarmin noteth as the Lord Primat confesses that St. Augustin in his Book De Fide Symbolo and in his four Books de Symbolo ad Catechumenos maketh no mention of this Article when he doth expound the whole Creed five several times Which is very strange if the Creed received by the African Church had this Article in it Ruffinus further takes notice that it is not found in the Symbol of the Churches of the East by which he means the Nicene and Constantinopolitan Creeds the latter of which is nothing else but an Explanation or more ample Enlargement of Creed Apostolical Tho this indeed be not at this day read in the Greek or other Eastern Churches or so much as known or received in that of the Copties and Abyssines But the Doctor having shown his Malice against the Lord Primat's Memory and Opinions in those Points which I hope I have sufficiently answered cannot give off so but in the next Section accuses him for inserting the nine Articles of Lambeth into those of the Church of Ireland being inconsistent with the Doctrine of the Church of England But before I answer this Accusation I shall first premise that as I do not defend or approve that Bishops or others tho never so learned Divines should take upon them to make new Articles or define and determine doubtful Questions and Controversies in Religion without being authorized by the King and Convocation so to do Yet thus much I may charitably say of those good Bishops and other Divines of the Church of England who framed and agreed upon these Articles that what they did in this matter was sincerely and as they then believed according to the Doctrine of the Church of England as either expresly contained in or else to be drawn by consequence from that Article of the Church concerning Predestination And certainly this makes stronger against the Doctor for if with him the Judgment of Bp. Bilson Bp. Andrews and Mr. Noel in their Writings be a sufficient Authority to declare the sence of the Church of England in those Questions of Christ's true and real Presence in the Sacrament and his Local Descent into Hell why should not the Judgment and Determination of the two Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York with divers other Bishops and
were wrested to a wrong sense And this he did not out of bare Curiosity but to confute the Arrogance of those men who will still appeal though with ill success to Antiquity and the Writings of the Fathers But these learned Collections of his being a large Volume and designed by him as the foundation of a more large and elaborate Work which might have been of great use to the Church were never finished but remain still in Manuscript though he fully intended had God afforded him life to have fallen upon this as the only considerable work he had left to do and which perhaps he had performed many years before his death had it not been for that unhappy Irish Rebellion which bereft him not only of that but of all his other Books for some time except those he brought over with him or furnished himself with here so that when at last this Manuscript together with the rest of his Library was brought over from Droghedah they found him engaged in that long and laborious Work of his Annals and when that was done he had as an Appendix thereunto his Chronologia Sacra to perfect though he never lived to make an end of it so that it is no wonder if he wanted opportunity and leisure to finish this great Task But that he intended to give his last hand to this Work will appear from this passage in his Epistle to the Reader before his answer to the Jesuite's Challenge in these words The exact discussion as well of the Authors Times as of the Censures of their Works I refer to my Theological Bibliothcque if God hereafter shall lend me life and leisure to make up that Work for the use of those that mean to give themselves to that Noble Study of the Doctrine and Rites of the Ancient Church And how much he desired it might be done may farther appear that being askt upon his Death-bed What his Will was concerning those Collections He answered to this effect That he desired they might be committed to his dear friend Dr. Langbaine Provost of Queens Colledge the only man on whose Learning as well as Friendship he could rely to cast them into such a Form as might render them fit for the Press According to which bequest they were put into the hands of that learned Dr. who in order thereunto had them transcribed and then set himself to fill up the breaches in the Original the quotations in the Margine being much defaced with Rats about which laborious Task that learned and good man studying in the publick Library at Oxford in a very severe Season got such an extreme cold as quickly to the great grief of all good men brought him to his end Feb. An. 1657. So that though that excellent Person Dr. Fell now Lord Bishop of Oxford who has deserved so well of Learning has endeavoured to get those Lacunae filled up yet these Collections still remain unfit to be published though the transcript from the Original with the Marginal quotations and additions are now in the Bodleyan Library as a lasting Monument of the Lord Primate's Learning and Industry and may be like wise useful to those learned Persons for whom they were designed and who will take the pains to consult them But the Original of the Authors hand writing is or was lately in the possession of the Reverend and Learned Anno 1612 Dr. Edward Stillingfleet Dean of St. Pauls He was now in the 32 d. year of his age in which he took the Degree of Dr. of Divinity in that University wherein he was bred and to which he was admitted by Dr. Hampton then Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Vice-Chancellor after he had performed the usual Exercises part of which was to read two Solemn Lectures on some places of Scripture which he then did on Dan. 9. 24. Of the Seventy Weeks And on Rev. 20. 4. Explaining those Texts so mis-applied Anno 1613 by the Millenaries both in Elder and Latter times The next year being at London he published his first Treatise De Ecclesiarum Christianarum Successione Statu being much magnified by Casaubon and Scultetus in their Greek and Latin Verses before it was solemnly presented by Arch-Bishop Abbot to King James as the eminent First-fruits of that Colledge of Dublin It is imperfect for about 300 years from Gregory XI to Leo X. i. e. from 1371. to 1513. and from thence to this last Century which he intended to have added had God afforded him longer life though he had lost very considerable assistances towards that design as you will find hereafter in the Series of this Relation This he wrote to answer that great Objection of the Papists when they ask us Where our Religion was before Luther And therefore the design of this Book was to prove from Authors of unquestionable Credit and Antiquity that Christ has always had a Visible Church of true Christians who had not been tainted with the Errours and Corruptions of the Romish Church and that even in the midst of the darkest and most ignorant times and that these Islands owe not their first Christianity to Rome About this time also he altered his condition changing a single for a married life marrying Phoebe only Daughter of Luke Challoner Doctor of Divinity of the Ancient Family of the Challoners in Yorkshire who had been a great Assister and Benefactor to the late Erected Colledge at Dublin having been appointed Overseer of the Building and Treasurer for the money raised to that purpose He was a Learned and Pious man and had such a friendship for Dr. Usher that he courted his Alliance and intended had he lived to have given him this his only Daughter with a considerable Estate in Land and Money but dying before he could see it concluded he charged her upon his Death-bed that if Dr. Usher would marry her she should think of no other person for a Husband which command of her dying Father she punctually obeyed and was married to him soon after and was his Wife for about forty years and was always treated by him with great kindness and conjugal affection until her death which preceded his about one year and a half He had by her one only Child the Lady Tyrrel yet living Thus he lived for several years in great reputation pursuing his Studies and following his Calling and whilst he sat at home endeavouring the advancement of Vertue and Learning his fame flew abroad almost all over Europe and divers learned men not only in England but foreign Countries made their applications to him by Letters as well to express the honour and respect they had for him as also for satisfaction in several doubtful points either in humane Learning or Divinity as the Reader may see in this ensuing Collection Anno 1615 There was now a Parliament at Dublin and so a Convocation of the Clergy when the Articles of Ireland were composed and published and he being a Member of the Synod was appointed to
though upon a sad occasion of his Majesty's excellent conversation in the same House who received him with his wonted kindness and favour Whilst he was here the Lord Primate preached before him in the Castle and when his Majesty went away and that the Lord Primate had taken his leave of him I heard him declare that nothing came nearer to his heart than the imminent danger of the King and Church with the effusion of so much Christian Blood His Majesty's necessities now not permitting him to leave many men in Garrisons he was now forced to unfurnish this as well as others of its Souldiers and Ammunition so that Sir Timothy Tyrrel was forced to quit that Government by reason of which the Arch-Bishop being forced to remove was in a great strait whether to go the ways from thence to Oxford being all cut off by the Enemy so that he had some thoughts being near the Sea of going over into France or Holland to both which places he had been formerly invited as hath been already mentioned But whilst he was in this perplexity the Lady Dowager Stradling sent him a kind invitation to come to her Castle of St. Donates as soon as he pleased which he accepted as a great favour But by that time he was ready to go with his Daughter the Lady Tyrrel the Country thereabouts was up in Arms in a tumultuous manner to the number of Ten Thousand as was supposed who chose themselves Officers to form them into a Body pretending for the King but yet would not be governed by English Commanders or suffer any English Garrisons in the Country this gave the Lord Primate a fresh disturbance the Welch-men lying upon the ways between that place and St. Donates but there were some at that time in Caerdiffe who would needs undertake to convey the Lord Primate and his company through by ways so that they might avoid this tumultuous Rabble which though it might be well advised by the then Governor of Caerdiffe and was faithfully enough executed by them that undertook it yet happened very ill for my Lord and those that were with him for going by some private ways near the Mountains they fell into a stragling Party that were scouting thereabouts who soon led them to their main Body where it was Crime enough that they were English so that they immediately fell to plundering and breaking open my Lord Brimate's Chests of Books and other things which he then had with him ransacking all his Manuscripts and Papers many of them of his own hand writing which were quickly dispersed among a thousand hands and not content with this they pulled the Lord Primate and his Daughter and other Ladies from their Horses all which the Lord Primate bore with his wonted patience and a seeming unconcernedness But now some of their Officers coming in who were of the Gentry of the Country seemed very much ashamed of this barbarous treatment and by force or fair means caused their Horses and other things which were taken from them to be restored but as for the Books and Papers they were got into too many hands to be then retrieved nor were these Gentlemen satisfied with this but some of them very civilly conducted him through the rest of this tumultuous Rabble to Sir John Aubery's House not far off where he was civilly received and lodged that Night When he came thither and had retired himself I must confess that I never saw him so much troubled in my life and those that were with him before my self said That he seemed not more sensibly concerned for all his losses in Ireland than for this saying to his Daughter and those that endeavoured to comfort him I know that it is God's hand and I must endeavour to bear it patiently though I have too much humane frailty not to be extremely concerned for I am touched in a very tender place and He has thought â—it to take from me at once all that I have been gathering together above these twenty years and which I intended to publish for the advancement of Learning and the good of the Church The next day divers of the neighbouring Gentry and Clergy came to Visit him and to Condole this irreparable loss promising to do their utmost endeavours that what Books or Papers were not burnt or torn should be restored and so very civilly waited on him to St. Donates And to let you see that these Gentlemen and Ministers did not only promise but were also able to perform it they so used their power with the people that publishing in the Churches all over those parts That all that had any such Books or Papers should bring them to their Ministers or Landlords which they accordingly did so that in the space of two or three Months there were brought in to him by parcels all his Books and Papers so fully that being put altogether we found not many wanting those most remarkable that I or others can call to mind were two Manuscripts concerning the VValdenses which he much valued and which he had obtained toward the continuing of his Ecclesiarum Christianarum Successione As also another Manuscript Catalogue of the Persian Kings communicated by Elikmannus and one Volume of Manuscripts Variae Lectiones of the New Testament And of Printed Books only Tully's Works and some others of less concernment Whilst the Lord Primate was at St. Donates till he could get his own Books and Papers again he spent his time chiefly in looking over the Books and Manuscripts in the Library in that Castle and which had been collected by Sir Edward Stradling a great Antiquary and friend of Mr. Cambden's and out of some of these Manuscripts the L. Primate made many choice Collections of the British or Welch Antiquity which I have now in my Custody Within a little more than a Month after my Lord Primate's coming hither he was taken with a sharp and dangerous illness which began at first with the Strangury and suppression of Urine with extremity of torture which at last caused a violent bleeding at the Nose for near forty hours together without any considerable intermission no means applied could stop it so that the Physicians and all about him dispaired of his life till at last when we apprehended he was expiring it stanched of it self for he lay a good while in a trance but God had some farther work for him to perform and was pleased by degrees to restore him to his former health and strength but it is worth the remembering that whilst he was in the midst of his pain as also his bleeding he was still patient praising God and resigning up himself to his Will and giving all those about him or that came to visit him excellent Heavenly advice to a Holy Life and due preparation for death e're its Agonies seized them saying It is a dangerous thing to leave all undone till our last sickness I fear a Death-bed Repentance will avail us little if we have lived
vainly and viciously and neglected our Conversion till we can sin no longer Thus he exhorted us all to fear God and love and obey the Lord Jesus Christ and to live a Holy Life And then said he you will find the comfort of it at your death And your Change will be happy While he was thus bleeding there came to visit him one of the then House of Commons that was related by marriage to that Family To whom he said Sir you see I am very weak and cannot expect to live many hours you are returning to the Parliament I am going to God my blood and life is almost spent I charge you to tell them from me That I know they are in the wrong and have dealt very injuriously with the King and I am not mistaken in this matter After this the Room being cleared of company and only my self left with him he spake somewhat to me about his own private concerns giving orders how he would have his Books and Papers disposed of here and elsewhere and that those Books which he had borrowed should be restored and that if any friend would undertake to finish his Annals he should have the use of his Papers and Collections he thought Dr. Langbaine the fittest man for that purpose as being very well vers'd in those Studies and so most able if willing to undertake it After some other discourse I then made bold to ask him if he had advised the King to pass the Bill against the Earl of Strafford as it had been reported To which he replyed I know there is such a thing most wrongfully laid to my charge for I neither gave nor approved of any such advice as that the King should assent to the Bill against the Earl but on the contrary told his Majesty that if he was satisfied by what he had heard at his Tryal that the Earl was not guilty of Treason his Majesty ought not in Conscience to consent to his Condemnation And this the King knows well enough and can clear me if he pleases Nor was my Lord Primate mistaken in this for when not long after it was told his Majesty at Oxford that the Arch-Bishop of Armagh was dead he spake to Colonel William Leggt and Mr. Kirk then of the Bed-Chamber as they were since to his late Majesty to this effect viz. That he was very sorry for his death together with high expressions of his Piety and Merits But one there present replyed That he believed he might be so were it not for his perswading Your Majesty to consent to the Earl of Strafford 's Execution To which the King in a great passion returned That it was false For said the King after the Bill was past the Arch-Bishop came to me saying with Tears in his Eyes Oh Sir What have You done I fear that this Act may prove a great trouble to Your Conscience and pray God that Your Majesty may never suffer by the Signing of this Bill or words to that effect This is the substance of two Certificates taken at divers times under the hands of these two Gentlemen of unquestionable credit both which since they agree in substance I thought fit to contract into one Testimony which I have inferted here having the Originals by me to produce if occasion be And now I hope after what hath been said to justifie my Lord Primate of this calumny that no honest or Charitable person can believe it but as for those who are so ill Natur'd and Censorious as to think and speak ill of all men that do not fully comply with their Notions and Opinions it is no great matter what they either believe or report Whilst the Lord Primate was in Wales there was published at London under his name by Mr. Downame a Book Intitled A Body of Divinity or the Sum and Substance of the Christian Religion which being formerly lent by the Lord Primate and transcribed by some who had borrowed it but was not intended by him to be published being only some Collections of his out of several modern Authors for his own private use when he was a young man And though he did at the importunity of some friends communicate it to them yet it was not with a design to have it printed but the Treatise at the end of this Book Intitled Immanuel or the Incarnation of the Son of God is wholly my Lord Primate's and is an excellent Discourse being the substance of divers Sermons he had formerly preacht upon that subject There came out likewise not long after under his name a Catechism Intitled The Principles of Christian Religion and was an Epitome of the former and which he had extracted for his own private Family without any intention to be made Publick but seeing contrary to his mind it had by many impressions been divulged and that in a very faulty manner he was resolved at last to review it as well for his own Vindication as the common good and so much he thought fit to tell the Reader in his Preface to the Edition which himself published in the year 1653. After the Lord Primate had fully recovered his strength at St. year 1646 Donates and been most kindly entertained and tenderly used during his great weakness by the Lady of that place he began now to consider where next to remove but the King's Affairs growing every day more desperate and Oxford like speedily to be taken there was no returning thither nor yet had he a mind to trust himself at London the Faction there being very much exasperated against him therefore he began to reassume his former thoughts of passing beyond the Seas and upon this endeavoured to get a Vessel for his Transportation having before obtained a Pass from the Earl of Warwick then Admiral for that purpose but when we had now procured him a Vessel and that we were preparing to go to it there came into the Road before Caerdiffe a Squadron of Ships under the Command of one Molton Vice-Admiral for the Parliament Whereupon my Lord Primate sent me to him being then on shoar at Caerdiffe to know if he would suffer him to go by him and I shewed him the Pass aboye mentioned to which Molton returned a rude and threatening answer absolutely refusing it and saying If he could get him into his hands he would carry him Prisoner to the Parliament and threatned likewise to send me also to his Ship By which you may see how highly inraged those of that Faction were at this good Bishop for adhereing to the King He being thus disappointed in this design attempted it no farther And not long after came to him a most kind invitation from that noble Lady the Countess Dowager of Peterborough to come and make his abode with her and she would engage that he should not be molested but have all accomodations suitable to his condition and the great affection and esteem she had for him as a return for those benefits she had formerly received from
a return for all her favours Then he desired to be left to his own private Devotions After which the last words he was heard to utter about One of the Clock in the Afternoon praying for forgiveness of Sins were these viz. O Lord forgive me especially my sins of Omission So presently after this in sure hopes of a glorious Immortality he fell asleep to the great grief and affliction of the said Countess who could never sufficiently lament her own and the Churches great loss by his too sudden departure out of this life Thus dyed this humble and holy man praying for his sins of Omission who was never known to omit his duty or scarce to have let any time slip wherein he was not imployed in some good action or other and if such a man thought he had so much to beg pardon for what an account must those have to make who scarce bestow any of their time as they ought to do He had been when he died 55 years a Minister and almost all that time a constant Preacher near 14 years a Professor of Divinity in the Univesity of Dublin and several years Vice-Chancellor of the same he sat Bishop of Meath near 4 years and one and thirty years Arch-Bishop of Armagh being from St. Patrick the 100 Bishop of that See As soon as his Relations received the sad news of his death they gave orders for his interment at Rygate where he dyed the Honourable Countess with whom he had lived and dyed intending to have him buried in her own Vault in order to which his Relations being then not near it was thought fit to preserve the Corps by such means as are proper in that case so a Chyrurgeon being sent for the Body was opened and a great deal of Coagulated blood found setled in his left side which shewed that the Physician had mistook his disease not expecting a Pleurisie in a man of above 75 years of Age. But now whilst they were preparing speedily to bury him some or other put it into Oliver Cromwell's head how much it would be for the Lord Primate's as well as his own honour to have him solemnly buried which he approving of and thinking it a good way to make himself Popular because he well knew what great reputation the deceased had among all Ranks and Degrees of men Whereupon he presently caused an Order to be drawn and sent to the Lord Primate's Son-in-law and Daughter straitly forbidding them to bury his Body any where else than at Westminster Abby for that his Highness as he then called himself intended a Publick Funeral for him This Command his Relations durst not disobey as the Times then were though it was much against their Wills perceiving well enough the Usurper's design that as it was intended so it would make more for his own honour than that of the deceased Primate and withal perceiving what accordingly happened that he would never defray half the expence of such a solemn Funeral which therefore would cause the greatest part of the charge to fall upon them though they were least able to bear it and yet he would reap all the glory of it I should not have said so much on this subject had it not been to shew the World the intriguing subtilty of this Usurper even in this small Affair and that for the expence of about 200 l. out of the Deodands in his Amoner's hands which was nothing at all to him he was able to put those he accounted his Enemies to treble that charge However since it could not be avoided the Corps was kept unburied till the 17th of April following when it was removed from Rygate towards London being met and attended by the Coaches of most of the Persons of Quality then in Town the Clergy in and about London waiting on the Hearse from Somerset House to the Abby Church where the Crowd was so great that there was forced to be a Guard to prevent the rudeness of the people The Body being brought into the Quire Dr. Nicholas Bernard then Preacher of Grays-Inn preached his Sermon his discourse was on 1 Sam. 25. 1. And Samuel died and all Israel were gathered together and lamented him and buried him Of which I shall say nothing more since it is in print and is but for the most part an account of his life which we now give you more at large The Sermon ended the Corps was conveyed to the Grave in St. Erasmus Chappel and there buried by the said Dr. according to the Liturgy of the Church of England his Grave being next to Sir James Fullerton's once his School-Master there waiting a glorious Resurrection with those that dye in the faith of our Lord Jesus Many Tears were shed at his Obsequies the City and Country being full of the singular Piety Learning and Worth of the deceased Primate which though it fall not to every man's Lot to equal yet it is his duty to follow so good an example as far as he is able Quamvis non passibus aequis In the next place I shall give you a faithful account without flattery of his personal Qualifications Opinions and Learning As for his outward form he was indifferent tall and well shaped and went always upright to the last his Hair naturally Brown when young his Complexion Sanguine his Countenance expressed Gravity and good Nature his Carriage free a presence that commanded both Respect and Reverence and though many Pictures have been made of him the Air of his face was so hard to hit that I never saw but one that was like him He was of a strong and healthy Constitution so that he said That for the most part of his life he very rarely felt any pain in his head or stomach in his youth he had been troubled with the Sciatica and some years after that with a long Quartan Ague besides the fit of the Strangury and Bleeding above mentioned but he never had the Gout or Stone A little sleep served his turn and even in his last years though he went to Bed pretty late yet in the Summer he would rise by five and in the Winter by six of the Clock in the Morning his Appetite was always suited to his dyet he would feed heartily on plain wholsom Meat without Sauce and better pleased with a few Dishes than with great Varieties nor did he love to tast of what he was not used to Eat He liked not tedious Meals it was a weariness to him to sit long at Table but what ever he Eat or Drank was never offensive to his Stomach or Brain for he never exceeded at the greatest Feast and I have heard some Physicians impute the easieness of his Digestion to something very particular in the frame of his Body for when the Chyrurgeon had opened him he found a thick Membrane lined with Far which as I suppose was but a continuation of the Omentum which extended it self quite over his Stomach and was fastened above to
A Letter from Mr. William Eyres to Mr. James Usher afterward Arch-Bishop of Armagh Clarissimo Viro ac amico suo singulari Dom. Jacobo Usher sacrae Theologiae Professori eximio Guil. Eyre salutem in Christo. Cùm multis aliis nominibus clarissime charissiméque Usher metibi oboeratum esse lubens agnoscam tum postremùm pro libro quem superiore anno abs te dono accepi intelligo historicam tuam explicationem gravissimae questionis cujus tertiam partem multi sat scio avide desiderant expectant certe omnes qui Orthodoxam fidem amplexantur pro utilissimo hoc opere tuo multùm tibi debent Beasti me hoc munere ut non dicam quanti aestimo atque praeterea animum addidisti ad antiquitatis studia intermissa in quibus infantiam meam agnosco jam hospes plane fui in iisdem praesertim perquinquennium quo hic Colestriae assiduis ad populum concionibus distentus fuerim Gratulor tibi purpuram si verus sit rumor nobis etiam ipsis Vitam Valetudinem tuam gratulari debeo propter tristem rumorem de morte tua apud nos sparsum cura quaeso Valetudinem ac si me audies minùs frequens eris post reditum tuum in Angliam quem expectamus quà m olim fueris Londini concionibus ne ardor tuus citiùs quà m cupimus languescat Tu quidem ipsissimos antiquitatis fontes reconditos thesauros apperuisti limatissimo judicio Veritatem collegisti quam scioli nonnulli ex Foxii Martyrologio aliisque id genus rivulis tantum derivatum à te affirmare non dubitârunt Hoc forsan in proxima operis editione vel saltem in ejusdem proxima parte praeoccupare juvabit Sed in tanta re minimè opus esse consilio existimo Atque de his rebus si nobis tam liceat esse fortunatis in Angliâ reverentiam vestram alloqui speramus Aliquoties Domino nostro Domino Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi Academiae vestrae Cancellario officium meum praesentare soleo quod si aliquid sit vobis negotii apud illum quod mea tenuitas expedire possit nec mihi nec meis parcere decrevi sed facilè intelligo paratissimos vos habere Londini quorum opera uti liceat hoc tantum amoris Officii mei erga vos Collegium vestrum Gratiâ calamo incidebat Deus opt max. clementissimus in Christo Pater vos omnes omni benedictionum genere cumulatissimos reddat per Dominum nostrum Jesum Amen Guil. Eyre Colcestriae 29. die Aprilis 1615. LETTER XVI A Letter from Mr. H. Briggs professor of Astronomy at Gresham College to Mr. James Usher late Arch-Bishop of Armagh Salutem in Christo. Good Sir MR. Carew shewed me your Letter written to Mr. Smith of Lincolns-Inn whose Death I perceive even we which did not know him have much cause to lament wherein you mention me and a Letter which formerly you Writ to me which never came to my hands But to the point which here you repeat I cannot tell how to meet with that part of Theon his Commentary upon Ptolomoeus his magna constructio I have it in Greek but there I have no hope to find that thing either explained or recorded There is in Christman upon Alfraganus which I suppose you have in his Treatise de connexione annorum pag. 306. and in other places mention of oera Philippica which Kabasilla maketh the same with à morte Alexandri but the Arabs ignorantly confound Philip and Alexander and Alexander and Nicanor making oeram Alexandrinam Seleucidarum 12 years and 325 days later than oera Philippica But I am out of mine element and I do not doubt but you have these things better known than I can But I shall most gladly do any thing I can according to your direction Concerning Eclipses which my Coufien Midgeley putteth me in mind of from you for whom I heartily thank you and for all your other kindnesses Mullerus in his Phris Tabulis hath mightily discouraged me for he hath weakned the Prutenicks my Foundation in three places of his Book at least yet hath not either helped it or shewed the fault in particular that others might seek remedy I have seriously set upon it but these difficulties and other straitness of time and weight of other easier and more proper business have sore against my will forced me to lay it aside as yet till I can find better leisure and then I hope still to do somewhat Napper Lord of Markinston hath set my Head and Hands a Work with his new and admirable Logarithms I hope to see him this Summer if it please God for I never saw Book which pleased me better or made me more wonder I purpose to discourse with him concerning Eclipses for what is there which we may not hope for at his hands Paulus Middleb is at pawn as I hear and the other Book likewise but I have somuch as I can in Mr. Crawshaw's absence had care to have them kept I pray you if you see Mr. Widdows commend me heartily to him We have here long expected him Thus desiring the Almighty ever to bless and prosper you referring all news c. to Mr. Egerton's report I take my leave from Gresham House this 10th of March 1615. Yours ever to his Power in the Lord H. Briggs Let me I pray put you in mind de pres numero Officio I set it here that you may the more seriously remember it LETTER XVII A Letter from the most Reverend Tobias Mathews Arch-Bishop of York to James Usher late Arch-Bishop of Armagh Salutem in Christo Jesu HAving oftentimes wished occasion to Write unto you since the publication of that your Learned Work de continuâ Successione Statu Christianarum Ecclesiarum c. God now at last though long first sending so good opportunity by this honest Religious Gentleman Mr. Peregrine Towthby I can do no less than both wish and advise you to Proceed in the full performance of the same by addition of the third part according to the project of your whole Design Which last shall I hope be no less useful and beneficial to all Christian and truly Catholick Professors than the former have been and are like to be for ever And as I doubt not but you may contain the rest within the compass of no more at the most than the Volume already extant doth comprehend So do I verily perswade my self you shall therein glorifie God and edifie his People exceedingly Especially if you will but interlace or adjoyn some rather judicious than large or copious discourse of this punctual question or objection Quid de Salute Patrum Majorum nostrum c. fit statuendum whereof albeit some other good Authors have well and worthily delivered their Opinions yet you shall be sure not to lose your farther labour endeavour and determination therein For assure your self that in the Controversie de Ecclesiâ our adversaries
is set two years sooner viz. in the fourth year of the 76 th Olympiad At what time perhaps his trouble began upon the Arraignment and Examination of Pausanias Whereunto I thus answer It was far from my meaning to alledge any Author that setteth the flight of Themistocles later than the second year of the 77 th Olympiad But I would know of you what reason might be alledged why it should not be placed forwarder The Arraignment and Execution of Pausanias is referred by Diodorus Siculus to the fourth year of the 75 th Olympiad The flight of Themistocles by Eusebius to the fourth of the 76 th Olympiad These two being the sole Authors who express the time of these two accidents why should we without cause reject the Testimony of either Especially for the strengthening of the Assertion of Eusebius which we may thus farther reason The Peloponnesian War began in that Spring which ended the first year of the 87 th Olympiad as is known Two years and a half after that dyed Pericles witness Thucydides lib. 2. pag. 141. He began to rule the Common-wealth after the death of Aristides and continued the Government fourty years witness Plutarch in Pericle pag. 155. 161. Aristides deceased almost four years after Themistocles was expelled from Athens as Aemilius Probus or Cornelius Nepos testified in the life of Aristides These things being laid together do shew That the expulsion of Themistocles from Athens fell no later than the beginning of the fourth year of the 76 th Olympiad to which time you doubtfully refer the beginning of his troubles how much sooner soever my opinion is That at that time Themistocles fled unto Persia as Eusebius noteth whose Testimony I have no reason to discredit unless I have some better Testimony or Reason to oppose against it The year before that which is the third of the 76 th Olympiad I suppose Artaxerxes Longimanus to have begun his Reign to whom as yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Themistocles fled as Thucydides sufficiently proveth Thus the 20 th year of his Reign should fall upon the second year of the 81 Olympiad And the 487 th year from that which is the middle of Daniel's last week should fall toward the end of the fourth year of the 202 Olympiad from which I cannot be drawn as yet to draw the passion of our Saviour Christ. If you have any further reason to perswade me to hold my first Opinion which I learned from you and did once publickly deliver in the Schools upon the reasons laid down in the beginning of this Letter I pray you let me understand thereof for I am most willing to learn any thing that may further me in the understanding of Daniel Concerning Aera Dhilkarnain and Taric Alkept I cannot in such manner as I would deliver my mind unto you until I see the intire work of Albategnius which I expect from you by this Bearer together with Geminus according to my request in my former Letter which by reason of the Bearer's sudden departure from hence hath lain by me well nigh a year In the mean time I commit you and your Godly Studies unto the Blessing of the Almighty resting always Your most Assured Loving Friend and Brother James Usher Dublin Jan. 2. 1617. LETTER XXII A Letter from Dr. James Usher afterwards Arch-Bishop of Armagh concerning the Death of Christ and his Satisfaction on the Cross. THE All-sufficient satisfaction of Christ made for the sins of the whole World The true Intent and Extent is Lubricus locus to be handled and hath and doth now much trouble the Church this question hath been moved sub iisdem terminis quibus nunc and hath received contrary resolutions the reason is That in the two extremities of Opinions held in this matter there is somewhat true and somewhat false The one extremity extends the benefit of Christ's satisfaction too far as if hereby God for his part were actually reconciled to all mankind and did really discharge every man from all his sins and that the reason why all men do not reap the fruit of this benefit is the want of that faith whereby they ought to have believed that God in this sort did love them whence it would follow that God should forgive a man his sins and justifie him before he believed whereas the Elect themselves before their effectual vocation are said to be without Christ and without hope and to be utter strangers from the Covenants of Promise Ephes. 2. 2. 2. The other extremity contracts the riches of Christ's satisfaction into too narrow a room as if none had any kind of interest therein but such as were elected before the foundation of the World howsoever by the Gospel every one be charged to receive the same whereby it would follow that a man should be bound in Conscience to believe that which is untrue and charged to take that wherewith he hath nothing to do Both extremities then drawing with them unavoidable absurdities the Word of God by hearing whereof faith is begotten Eph. 1. 13. must be sought unto by a middle course to avoid these extremities For finding out this middle Course we must in the matter of our Redemption carefully put a distinction betwixt the satisfaction of Christ absolutely considered and the application thereof to every one in particular The former was once done for all the other is still in doing The former brings with it sufficiency abundant to discharge the whole debt the other adds to it efficacy The satisfaction of Christ only makes the sins of mankind fit for pardon which without it could not well be the injury done to God's Majesty being so great that it could not stand with his honour to put it up without amends made The particular application makes the sins of those to whom that mercy is vouchsafed to be actually pardoned for as all sins are mortal in regard of the stipend due thereunto by the Law but all do not actually bring forth death because the gracious Promises of the Gospel stayeth the execution even so all the sins of mankind are become venial in respect of the price paid by Christ to his Father so far that in shewing mercy upon all if so it were his pleasure his justice should be no loser but all do not obtain actual remission because most offenders do not take out nor plead their pardon as they ought to do If Christ had not assumed our Nature and therein made satisfaction for the injury offered to the Divine Majesty God would not have come unto a Treaty of Peace with us more than with the fallen Angels whose nature the Son did not assume But this way being made God holds out unto us the Golden Scepter of his Word and thereby not only signifieth his pleasure of admitting us unto his presence and accepting of our submission which is a wonderful Grace but also sends an Embassage unto us and entreats us that we would be reconciled unto him 2 Cor. 5.
was fit but by flat denying that famous Axiom affirming peremptorily That Christ died only for the Elect and for others nullo modo whereby they gave the adverse party advantage to drive them unto this extream absurdity viz. That seeing Christ in no wise died for any but for the Elect and all men were bound to believe that Christ died for themselves and that upon pain of damnation for the contrary infidelity therefore all men were bound to believe that they themselves were Elected although in truth the matter were nothing so Non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis Tempus eget Neither is there hope that the Arminians will be drawn to acknowledge the Error of their Position as long as they are perswaded the contrary Opinion cannot be maintained without admitting that an untruth must be believed even by the commandment of him that is God of Truth and by the direction of that word which is the Word of Truth Endeavouring therefore to make one truth stand by another and to ward off the blow given by the Arminians in such sort that it should neither bring hurt to the Truth nor give advantage to Error admit I failed of mine intent I ought to be accounted rather an Oppugner than any wise an Abettor of their fancies That for the Arminians Now for Mr. Culverwell That which I have heard him charged withal is the former extremity which in my Letter I did condemn viz. That Christ in such sort did die for all men That by his death he made an actual reconcilement between God and man and That the special reason why all men reap not the fruit of this reconciliation is the want of that faith whereby they ought to have believed that God in this sort did love them How justly he hath been charged with this error himself can best tell but if ever he held it I do not doubt but he was driven thereunto by the absurdities which he discerned in the other extremity for what would not a man fly unto rather than yield that Christ no manner of way died for any Reprobate and none but the Elect had any kind of Title to him and yet so many thousand Reprobates should be bound in Conscience to believe that he died for them and tied to accept him for their Redeemer and Saviour yea and should be condemned to everlasting Torments for want of such a faith if we may call that faith which is not grounded upon the word of truth whereby they should have believed that which in it self was most untrue and laid hold of that in which they had no kind of interest If they who dealt with Mr. Culverwell laboured to drive out one absurdity by bringing in another or went about to stop one hole by making two I should the less wonder at that you write that though he hath been dealt withal by many brethren and for many years yet he could not be drawn from his errour But those stumbling blocks being removed and the plain word of truth laid open by which faith is to be begotten I dare boldly say he doth not hold that extremity wherewith he is charged but followeth that safe and middle course which I laid down for after he had well weighed what I had written he heartily thanked the Lord and me for so good a resolution of this Question which for his part he wholly approved not seeing how it could be gainsaid And so much likewise for Mr. Culverwell Now for Mr. Stock 's publick opposition in the Pulpit I can hardly be induced to believe that he aimed at me therein if he did I must needs say he was deceived when he reckoned me amongst those good men who make the Universality of all the Elect and all men to be one Indeed I wrote but even now that God did execute his Decree of Election in All by spiritual generation But if any shall say that by All thereby I should understand the universality of All and every one in the World and not the universality of all the Elect alone he should greatly wrong my meaning for I am of no other mind than Prosper was Lib. 1. De Vocat Gent. Habet populus Dei plenitudinem suam quamvis magna pars hominum salvantis Gratiam aut repellat aut negligat in elect is tamen proescitis atque ab omni generalitate discretis specialis quaedam censetur universitas ut de toto mundo totus mundus liberatus de omnibus hominibus omnes homines videantur assumpti That Christ died for his Apostles Luk. 22. 19. For his Sheep Joh. 10. 15. For his Friends Joh. 15. 13. For his Church Ephes. 5. 25. may make peradventure against those who make all men to have a share alike in the death of our Saviour But I profess my self to hold fully with him who said Etsi Christus pro omnibus mortuus est tamen specialiter pro nobis passus est quia pro Ecclesia passus est Yea and in my former writing I did directly conclude That as in one respect Christ might have been said to die for all so in another respect truly said not to have died for all and my belief is That the principal end of the Lord's death was That he might gather together in one the Children of God scattered abroad Joh. 11. 52. and that for their sakes he did specially sanctifie himself that they also might be sanctified through the truth John 17. 19. And therefore it may be well concluded That Christ in a special manner died for these but to infer from hence that in no manner of respect he died for any others is but a very weak collection specially the respect by me expressed being so reasonable that no sober mind advisedly considering thereof can justly make question of it viz. That the Lamb of God offering himself a sacrifice for the sins of the World intended by giving satisfaction to God's Justice to make the nature of man which he assumed a fit Subject for mercy and to prepare a Sovereign medicine that should not only be a sufficient Cure for the sins of the whole World but also should be laid open to all and denied to none that indeed do take the benefit thereof For he is much deceived that thinks a preaching of a bare sufficiency is able to yield sufficient ground of comfort to a distressed Soul without giving a further way to it and opening a further passage To bring news to a Bankrupt that the King of Spain hath Treasure enough to pay a thousand times more than he owes may be true but yields but cold comfort to him the miserable Debtor Sufficiency indeed is requisite but it is the word of promise that gives comfort If here exception be taken That I make the whole Nature of man fit for Mercy when it is as unfit a subject for Grace as may be I Answer That here two impediments do occurr which give a stop unto the peace which is to
translated for the good of the Gentry in that it fitteth a Gentleman with Discourse of every Nation and Language but that I understood the several Characters in this Book would not be had for 1000 l. and to set it forth without Characters would be a Catarract in the Reader 's Eye He setteth down thirteen several Characters of the Hebrew Tongue pag. 117. deinceps In the division of the Books of the Talmud he follows Riccius and Galatinus which are not so exact as Buxtorf In his 76 Page he affirmeth that Moses foreseeing his death wrote the Law in thirteen Copies from the first Element to the last giving each of the twelve Tribes of Israel a Copy written in publick Characters namely saith he Characters Samaritan and that he left the 13th Copy to the Levites and Priests in secret and divine Writing standing on triangular Rods the use of which remained only to the Priests and Levites who were expert and of understanding in the reading and understanding thereof having the knowledg of the Points and Accents of Letters and Vowels c. Out of which I note these two things First That Moses left unvowelled Copies to the Tribes save one which had both Accents and Vowels to the custody of the Priests to which they might have recourse in doubtful Lections Secondly The Antiquity of the Samaritan Characters for the commendation of your Lordships Samaritain Bible I beseech your Lordship any time at your fit leisure to send to Mr. Burnett's that little Tract of mine of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and your Lordships approbation or reprobation of it wherein I fail for I have not yet done it so exactly as if God permit I intend I would gladly be confirmed in the Truth or have the falshood infirmed if there be any in that Tract for the Lord he knows I have always sought the Truth with integrity of Heart weeping often with St. John where I find the sealed Book submitting always my Spirit to the Spirit of the Prophets in propriis stare but crying out always 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let the Righteous smite me vincet veritas Surely the Prophesy and Sign of Jonas is expounded to be fulfilled in that Article of our Creed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for as Jonas's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was three days and three nights from the time that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fish swallowed him till the time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cast him up So Christ's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must answerably be part of three days from the time he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that he was laid in the Sepulchre till the time that he arose out of the Sepulcre the precise time of 34 hours at which instant neither the great Stone or the Sepulchre nor the Seal of Pontius Pilate nor the Guard could hold him any longer under the power of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Death for so long he must be held under Destroy this Temple within three days I will build it up again Now the Jews laboured all they could to disannul this Prophesy and to keep him longer yea for ever in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and under the Power of Death To this end rolling on his Sepulchre a Stone sealing it and setting a Guard saying This Deceiver said while he was living that within three days he would rise again Now this is more than to be buried for he might have risen in so few hours again but till the 34 hours expired he could not without the disannulling of Jonas's Prophecy And now from Christ's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I pass unto mine own for I am to speak with dead Phrase in a kind of living 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obscuratus ab amicis meis living in tenebris dark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum blattis ac tineis quotidie rixans Out of this place of obscurity I would gladly enter into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Guttural omitted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that House that Temple of God called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mercy Chaldaice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebraice as the word is taken Jonah 2. 8. They that observe vain Vanities forsake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Mercies the God of Mercies as the Apostle calls him the Syriac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 merciful now as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said so say I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your Lordship must be this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or else I shall still remain telluris inutile pondus unprofitable to the Church burying invitus my Talent in the Ground Whereas David tells me Psal. 92. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Righteous shall flourish as a Palm-tree the reason he renders in the words following They shall bring c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And as the Apostle saith to the same effect The Grace of God was not in vain in me therefore saith he I laboured more abundantly then they all The Grace of God is operative in whomsoever it is which not suffering me to be idle makes me seek late full Employment Now as for me God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for your Lordship's Health that you may still fight Jehovah's Battels for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and all other points which these devilish Spirits of the Jesuits the Locusts of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the bottomless pit by their smoaky Doctrine do resist I humbly beseech your Lordship to have a care of your Health and a while to spare your self from being tantus helluo librorum till you have perfectly recovered your former Health for much reading is a weariness to the Flesh. There is a company of Mistresses of Witchcraft Nahum 3. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lately discovered your Lordship will by others understand the Particulars I only touch the General And thus with my humble Duty and Observance to your Lordship ever remembring you in my poor Prayers I rest now and ever your Lordship 's ever obliged Ralph Skynner From Waltham-stow January 26. 1624. LETTER CIV Right Reverend in God I Have sent your Grace Cunradus Graserus on the ten last Verses of the 11th Chapter of Daniel whose tenet is contrary to Junius and Broughton Now to satisfy your Lordship's next Request That the Hebrew Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of that memorial 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is frequently put for the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 articulo loco Prepositionis these places sufficiently prove 1. Rabbi David Kimchy in his Preface on the Psalms saith thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There be some Psalms also that have this Title or Epigraph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to David instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for David As Psal. 20. To the Master Quirester 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Psalm to David
where it should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to his Son Seth and to Noah are attributed 600 Years for which Scaliger setteth down 700 thinking that to be signified by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which rather should have been noted by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereas there is meant thereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 600. Likewise to Mahalaleel there are attributed there 75 Years and to Methusalach 77 for which Eusebius in his Greek Chronicle pag. 4. hath 65 67. Which Scaliger in his Notes upon the place pag. 243. a would have reformed according to his Samaritan Chronography But that Eusebius was in the right and his Chronography wrong appeareth now plainly by the Samaritan's own Text of the Bible Only one fault there is in Eusebius or in the corrupt Copy of Georgius Syncellus rather which Scaliger used in annis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 patrum ante Diluvium Namely in the 60 Years attributed to Exoch Which to have been miswritten for 65 appeareth not only by the consent of the Samaritan both Chronicle and Text but also by the total sum of the Years from Adam to the Flood which as well in Ensebius pag. 9. Graeci Chronici lin 10. pag. 19. lin 36. as in Georgius Syncellus is noted to be annorum 1307 which Scaliger in his Notes pag. 248 b. and 249 b doth wrongfully mend 1327. and pag. 243 a with a greater Error terminate with the time of Noah's Birth blaming George the Monk for extending them as the truth was to the Year of the Flood From the Creation to the Flood according to the Hebrew Verity are 1656 Years according to the Samaritan Text 1307 according to Eusebius his reckoning out of the Septuagint 2242 and according to Africanus 2262. George followeth Eusebius his Account which he noteth to be 20 Years less than that of Africanus 186 greater than the Hebrew and 935 greater than the Samaritan for that he meant so and not as it is written pag. 243 a. Scaligeri 930 is evident even to this that in the self-same place he maketh the difference betwixt the Hebrew Account which every one knoweth to be 1656 and the Samaritan to be annorum 349. Now for the Years that these Fathers lived post 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is an exact agreement between the Samaritan Text and the Chronicle of Eusebius save that herein the application of them to the Years of Noah there is a manifest Error of the Scribe Pag. 4. lin 1 and 2 putting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adhuc tamen restat te vindice dignus nodus St. Hierom in his Hebrew Questions upon Genesis affirmeth that he found the Year of Mathusalah and Lamech to be alike in Hebraeis Samaritanorum Libris And indeed the Hebrew hath as he setteth it down that Mathusalah lived 187 Years before he begat Noah But in the Samaritan Text it is far otherwise that Mathusalah lived 67 Years before he begat Lamech 653 after 720 in all and Lamech 53 Years before the birth of Noah And these numbers are in the self-same sort related by Eusebius who lived before St. Hierom lest any Man should imagine that since his Time the Samaritan Text which we have might be altered Now it is to be noted that by both these Accounts it falleth out that the Death of Mathusalah doth concur with the Year of the Flood And it is the principal intent of St. Hierom in this place to solve the Difficulty moved out of the Greek Edition that Mathusalah lived 14 Years after the Flood by appealing unto the Books of the Hebrews and the Samaritans wherein Mathusalah is made to die Eo Anno as he speaketh quo caepit esse diluvium This general peradventure might run in St. Hierom's memory when he wrote this which well might make him think that the particular Numbers of both Texts did not differ especially if as it is likely he had not the Samaritan Text then lying by him to consult withal But howsoever his slip of memory derogateth nothing from the Credit of that which we are sure was in the Samaritan Text before he committed this to writing I come now to the Years of the Fathers which lived after the Flood Wherein for the Time ante 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon the course of the Chronology doth depend there is an exact agreement betwixt the Samaritan Text and Chronicle From whom also Eusebius doth not dissent if the Error be amended which hath crept into pag. 10. lin 12. Graeci Chronici where 130 Years are assigned to Arphaxad instead of 135. For that this was the Error not of Eusebius but of the Transcriber appeareth evidently both by the Line next going before where Sem after the begetting of Arphacsad is said to have lived 500 Years 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereas there would be but 495 Years to the 111th of Phaleg if 130 Years only had been assigned to Arphacsad and not 135 and by the total Sum thus laid down in the 20th line of the same page 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And indeed in the Years ante 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 post diluvium there is a full agreement both in the total Sum and in all the Particulars betwixt the Samaritan Account and that of the LXX as it is related by Eusebius Gainan in both being omitted which sum of 942 being added to the former of 1307 maketh up the full number of 2249 from the first of Adam to the 70th Year of Terah the very same Sum which is laid down by Eusebius pag. 19. lin 37. Graeci Chronici and answereth precisely to the Collection of the Particulars that are found in my Samaritan Bible In Scaliger's Samaritan Chronicle pag. 618. Emend the particulars being summed up amount to 2267 2365 it is in Scaliger pag. 625. which number so laid down in the Chronicle and partly misreckoned partly miswritten in the Commentary is by the same Scaliger in his Notes upon Eusebius pag. 249. b. amended 2269 nimirum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neque dubium est ita esse saith he of which yet I do very much doubt or rather do not doubt at all because I know the Error was not in the Transcriber but in the Chronologer himself who accounteth from the Birth of Noah to the Birth of Arphacsad as did also Africanus and others before him 600 only and not as Eusebius and others more rightly 602 from whence unto the 70th of Terah by the joint consent as well of Eusebius as of the Samaritan Text and Chronicle there are 940 Years For Scaliger's 937 pag. 249. b. Eusebian is but an Error of that noble Wit who intending higher Matters did not heed so much his ordinary Arithmetick In the numbering of the Years of these Fathers post 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is not the like consent betwixt the LXX and the Samaritan as was before Our Greek Copies differing very much herein
Duty But here is not all for it seems he hopes by the words of your Decree to hold all this till he be possessed of some Ecclesiastical Benefice notwithstanding his Term by the Charter expires at Midsommer We have answered my Lord Chancellor as your Grace shall find by these inclosed and do humbly desire your Grace to certify either him or us of your intention and to draw a Line or two to be sent to the rest of the 〈◊〉 for this Allowance if you 〈◊〉 it for mine own and the Fellows Discharge in the paying it These Letters your Grace will be also pleased to send us back as having by reason of the shortness of time no time to copy them We have obtained this night a Warrant from my Lord Chancellor to the Serjeant at Arms to arrest Sir James Caroll who in all this time of your Grace's being in Dublin would never be seen and is now as we hear in Town We have not yet delivered your Grace's return of the Reference made to you at the Council Table touching the Inclosure at the Colledg-Gate as having but lately received it In the mean while the Scholars upon St. Matthew's Day at night between Supper and Prayer-time have pulled it all down every Stick and brought it away into the Colledg to several Chambers Yet upon warning that night given at Prayers that every Man should bring into the Quadrangle what he had taken away there was a great pile reared up in the Night which we sent Mr. Arthur word he might fetch away if he would and he did accordingly This Insolency though it much grieved me I could not prevent I did publickly upon the Reference pray them to be quiet signifying our hope that we had of a friendly composition but when they heard that Mr. Arthur fell off they would no longer forbear Concerning the Affairs in England I know your Grace hath better intelligence than I. Our Translation goeth on in the Psalms and we are now in the 88th Mr. Neile King is in Chester Your Grace will pardon this scribling And so I commit you to God desiring to be remembered in your Prayers and resting Your Grace's in all Duty W. Bedell Trinity Coll. March 5. 1628. LETTER CXXXVI A Letter from Sir Henry Bourgchier to the most Reverend James Usher Arch-bishop of Armagh Most Reverend in Christ my very good Lord I Must first desire your Grace's pardon for my long silence and that you will be pleased to believe that it proceeded not from any neglect of him whom I have so long and so much honour'd I presume your Grace continually receiveth advertisement of what passeth here from abler Pens than mine and therefore my pains in that may well be spared Among the rest you cannot be ignorant of the close imprisonment of your Grace's Friend and Servant Mr. Selden for some offence given or rather taken at his carriage and deportment in Parliament Here is lately deceased the Earl of Marleburgh I was often with him about his Irish Collections and was so happy in the pursuit of them that I received from him the greatest part of them not many days before his death Also the Earl of Westmoreland is lately dead and my ancient Friend and Kinsman the Earl of Totnes deprived of his sight and not like to live many days If his Library will be sold I will strain my self to buy it wholly for it is a very select one But howsoever I will not miss God willing his Irish Books and Papers Mr. Selden's Titles of Honour is ready to come forth here and his De Diis Syris at Leyden both well enlarged I wish he were so too that his Friends who much love him might enjoy him Sir Robert Cotton doth add to his inestimable Library Mr. Thomas Allen hath been lately bountiful to it He is now in London and also Mr. Brigges If I should only enumerate those who make enquiry of your Grace's Health their Names would fill a Letter Mr. Brigges's Book of Logarithms is finished by a Dutch-man and printed again in Holland Mr. Brigges tells me that Kepler is living and confesses his mistake in the advertisement of his Death by being deceived in the similitude of his name with one D. Kapper who died in that manner as he related But it appears sufficiently by his long-promised Tabulae Rodolphiae which now at last are come forth but they answer not the expectation which he had raised of them Dr. Bainbridge is well at Oxford Dr. Sutcleffe is lately deceased Yesterday at Newgate Sessions Fa. Muskett your Grace's old Acquaintance was arraigned and two other Priests and one of them an Irish-man they were all found guilty of Treason and had judgment accordingly There were an hundred Recusants presented at the same time It is said that a Declaration shall come forth concerning the Arminian Doctrine done by those Divines who were at the Synod of Dort L. Wadding our Country-man hath published a second Tome of his Annales Fratrum Minorum The Jesuit's Reply to your Grace is not to be gotten here those that came into England were seized and for ought I can hear they lie still in the Custom-house that which I used was borrowed for me by a Friend of the Author himself half a year since he being then here in London and going by the Name of Morgan Since the Dissolution of the Parliament there is a strange suddain decay of Trade and consequently of the Customs God grant there follow no inconvenience in the Common-Wealth The French and Dunkerkers are very bold upon the Coast of England and I hear of no means used to repress them It is said that our Deputy shall be presently removed his designed Successor my Lord of Danby is expected from Garnsey He was imployed thither to furnish that Island with Munition and other Necessaries when there was some jealousy of the French while that Army lay hovering about the parts of Picardy and Normandy but it is now gone for Italy and is passed the Mountains they have taken some Town in Piedmont the King is there in Person It is now said that Matters are accommodated by Composition if not it will prove a bloody War between those two great Kings and the French will put hard for the Dutchy of Millain I humbly desire to be held in your Grace's Opinion as one who will ever most willingly approve himself Your Grace's very affectionate Friend and humble Servant Henry Bourgchier London March 26. 1629. Sir Robert Cotton desires to have his humble respects presented to your Grace LETTER CXXXVII A Letter from Mr. Archibald Hamilton to the most Reverend James Usher Arch-bishop of Armagh Most Reverend ON Thursday last I understood by certain intelligence that my Lord of London whether by the perswasion of Sir Henry Wotton or others I know not earnestly moved his Majesty in Dr. Bedell's behalf Provost of Dublin-Colledg that he might be preferred to the Bishoprick of Kilmore which his Majesty hath granted and the
you as bringing with it the joyful news of your Life together with your godly Caveat of putting us in mind of our subjection to the Law of Mortality which Instructiâ—n God did shortly after really seal unto me by his Fatherly Chastisement whereby he brought me even to the Pits brink and when I had received in my self the Sentence of Death was graciously pleased to renew the Lease of my Life again that I might learn not to trust in my self but in him which raised the Dead our Comfort is that Life as well as Death and Death as well as Life are equally ours For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords I heartily thank you for your large Relation of the state of your Differences there Let me intreat you to take present care that a fair Copy be taken as well of your Lectures touching Grace and Free-will as of your others touching the Euchariâ—t which I much desire you should finish that it may not be said of you as it hath been noted of Dr. Whitaâ—er 〈◊〉 and Chamier That God took them all away in the midst of their handling of that Argument making an end of them before they made in end of that Controversie It is great pity your Lectures should be hazarded i◠〈◊〉 exemplari two at least I would have and preserved in two divers places lest that befal to them which happened to Dr. Raynold's Answer to Sanders touching the King's Supremacy a Copy whereof I have by God's good Providence recovered and his writing of Christ's Descent into Hell which I fear is utterly abolished Mr. Vâ—ssius having some notice that I intended to publish Marianus Scotus the printed Fragment of his Chronicle being scarce worthy to be accounted his sent me word that he likewise had a like intention to print the same out of a Manuscript Copy which he received from Andr. Scotus and desired that either I would receive his Notes for the setting forward of that Edition or else send unto him what I had in that kind I purpose to send unto him my Transcript both of Marianus himself and of his Abbridger Robertus Lotharingus Bishop of Hereford as also the History of Gotteschalcus and the Predestination-Controversy moved by him which I am now a making up whereunto I insert two Confessions of Gotteschalcus himself never yet printed which I had from Jacobus Sirmondus I touch there also that Commentitious Heresy of the Predestinatians which was but a Nick-name that the Semi-Pelagians put upon the Followers of St. Augustine who is made the Author thereof in the Chronicle of Tiro Prosper whose words in the Manuscript are Praedestinatorum Haeresis quae ab Augustino accepisse dicitur initium not as in the printed Books Ab Augustini libris male intellectis for which I desire you should look your Manuscript Prosper which is joined with Eusebius his Chronicle in Bennet-Colledg Library I could wish also that when you came thither you would transcribe for me Gulielmus Malmesburiensis his short Preface before his Abbreviation of Amalarius which is there in Vol. 167. and Scotus de Perfectione Statuum which is there in Vol. 391. cum Tragediâ—â— Seneca if it be but a short Discourse I have written a large Censure of the Epistle of Ignatius which I forbear to publish before I have received a Transcript of the Latin Ignatius which you have in Caius Colledg Vol. 152. of Dr. James Catalogue if I could certainly have learned that Mr. Thâ— Whaley had been in Cambridg I should have written to him for procuring it unto me but if he fail I must make you my last refuge whatever Charges be requisite for the transcription Mr. Burnet will see defâ—ayed You have done me a great pleasure in communicating unto me my Lord of Salisbury's and your own Determination touching the Efficacy of Baptism in Infants for it is an obscure point and such as I desire to be taught in by such as you are rather than deliver mine own Opinion thereof My Lord of Derry hath a Book ready for the Press wherein he handleth at full the Controversy of Perseverance and the Certainty of Salvation He there determineth that Point of the Efficacy of Baptism far otherwise than you do accommodating himself to the Opinion more vulgarly received among us to which he applieth sundry Sentences out of St. Augustine and among others that De Baptismâ— Sacramenta in solis electiâ— hoc verè efficiâ—nt quâ—d figurant I have finished the History of Gotteschalcus and the Predestination Controversy stirred up in his Time whereunto you have given a good furtherance in your learned Observations sent unto me touching the original of the Nick-name of the Predestinatiani imposed by the Semi-Pelâ—gians upon the Followers of St. Augustine I have had out of Corbey Abbey in France two Consessions written by Gotteschalcus himself which as yet have not been printed If we could but obtain Râ—thranâ—s his Treatise of the some Argument written unto the Eâ—peror Charles the same time I doubt not but it would give us as great contentment as his other Work doth De 〈◊〉 ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for he held constantly St. Augustine's Doctrine against the Semi-Pelagians I have now in hand Institutionum Chronologicarum Lib. 3. wherein I labour by clearness of method and the easy manner of handling to make that perplexed Study familiaâ— to the Capacity of the meanest Understanding Therein I handle only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making up as it were the Body of an Act. After which I intend if God spare my Life and Health to fall upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Sacred Chronology and there to handle all the Controversies of that kind which may bring Light to the Sacred History and the Connexion of it with the Exotical I have review'd also my Answer to the Jesuit's Challenge and enlarged it with many Additions which by this time I suppose are newly printed â—n London Forget not in your Prayers Ja. Armachanâ—t Your most assured Friend and Brother Drogheda Dec. 10. 1630. LETTER CLX A Letter from Dr. Ward to the most Reverend James Usher Arch-bishop of Armagh Most Reverend and my very good Lord I Received your Lordship's Letter sent by Mr. Stubbin by which I understood of your Lordship's late Recovery even from the Jaws of Death but more fully by Mr. Stubbin himself who related unto me the great hazard you Lordship was in by so excessive bleeding so many days together as is almost ineredible So that as it is said of Abraham that he received his Son from the Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so we all even God's Church have received your Lordship in like manner à â—aucibus Oxci Praise be to the Lord of Life who killeth and reviveth again who bringeth down to Hell and bringeth back again To him be given all Glory for ever Amen Amen Since the receipt of your Lordship's
occasionally and I hope without your dislike I will insert verbatim desiring your Lordship to confirm me or which perhaps there will be more cause for to reform me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per me nempe indignum ministrum ejus cui Deus non spiritum timoris sed virtutis dedit 2 Tim. 1. 7. Chrysostomus Homil. 16. ad Antiochenos Doctor vinctus erat verbum volabat ille in carcere latitabat doctrina alata passim currebat Tertullianus ad Martyres Habet carcer vincula sed vos soluti Deo estis Ignatius causam afferens cur Trallensibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non scriberet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inquit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Addit deinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. ubi legitur in omnibus editis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sententiâ implicatâ vel potius nulla Nos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exigua mutatione pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substituendo eruimus sensum similem Paulino Scribere inquit potuimus vobis altiora at nos retuimus respectus imbecillitatis vestrae neque enim quia in carcere detinemur eo minus caelestia Angelorum ordines c cognoscere potis sum contemplari Seneca 3. 20. de Beneficiis Corpora obnoxia sunt c. mens quidem sui juris Quae adeo libera vaga est ut ne ab hoc quidem carcere cui inclusa est teneri queat quo minus impetu suo utatur ingentia agat in infinitum comes coelestibus exeat Cicero de vere invicto Lib. 3. de Finibus Cujus etiamsi corpus constringatur animo tamen vincula nulla injici possunt I have had Letters from Sir G. R. at Paris which call upon me for A. Gellius upon whom I have more Matter congested than I have published upon Apuleius but the digesting which is the more troublesome part remains Which when I shall have leisure or appetite for I yet see not I heard long since and I doubt by too true a Reporter of the death of my intimate Friend Sarravius in that City Mr. Selden I hear as he flourishes in Estate so declines in strength it will be your Lordship's favour when you see him to mention my humble Service to him I live here God be praised in no want but in little health and much solitude which hath cast me into the passio Hypocondriaca that afflicts me sore and which is worse into some fits of Acedia 'gainst which I arm my self as I can by Prayer and otherwise The Air of this place in the Winter is as to many others most pernicious to me the Conversation of this place both in Winter and Summer is most contrary to me but the Great Duke's Civilities rather than ought else have made me thus long abide here Much Comfort and Favour I should esteem it sometimes to hear from your Lordship there being no Man in the World near whose Person and indeed at whose feet I would die so willingly as at your Lordship's and at those of Bignonius whose infinite Learning and transcendent Christian Humility have made me a perpetual Servant and Slave to him Mr. Jeremy Bonnel Merchant in the Old Jewry who perhaps will present this Letter hath the ready and weekly means of conveyance hither Your Graces most humble and faithful Servant John Price Florence Decemb. 1 11. 1653. LETTER CCLXXXIV A Letter from the Right Reverend Thomas Morton Bishop of Duresm to the most Reverend James Usher Arch-bishop of Armagh Salutem in Christo Jesu Most Reverend Father in God TOO long silence among Friends useth to be the Moth and Canker of Friendship and therefore I must write unto your Grace although I have nothing to write but this Nothing And yet I have as much as Tully had to his Friends Si vales bene est c. Notwithstanding in earnest I grieve at the Heart to hear of your Grace's declination of Sight though it be my own Disease yet so I thank God that it is not more considering mine Age. Something I should add of O Tempora O Mores albeit an Exclamation which I reprove in the Authors because of Hysteron proteron for that it ought to be rather O Mores O Tempora but it is God that moves the Wheels and blessed be his holy Name and let it be our comfort my Lord that in his good Time he would remove us from those vexatious Mutabilities If there were any thing in my Power which I might contribute as grateful unto your Grace I would not be wanting However according to the mutual Obligation between us I shall still commend your Grace to the Protection of the Almighty to the glory of saving Grace in Christ Jesus I am Your Grace's in all dutiful acknowledgment Th. Duresm Jan. 20. 58. My Lord Since the conclusion of this Letter I have been moved by this Bearer that your Grace would be pleased to favour him in his reasonable Request unto you Th. D. LETTER CCLXXXIV A Letter from Mr. Thomas Whalley to the most Reverend James Usher late Arch-bishop of Armagh Right Reverend YOur last Letter to me dated April 7. I received not till Easter-even April 15. your Messenger bringing it too late to my Nephew as he saith The Holy-days being past I have since wholly attended to satisfy your demands touching the Autumn Aequin and Mr. Lin. computation is Ecl. ad a m. I m. Olymp. 293 ae which I have here sent you inclosed with my whole Proceedings therein that you may the better judg thereof where if you espy any Error as well may be among such variety and wanting the help of any other Man albeit I have been very careful to examine my whole working over and over again let me intreat so much that you would be pleased to certify me thereof Indeed at last I found out Garsilias whom you call Garsills his other Copy which also transcribed by my Scholar for lack of leasure in my self because I have not my own Copy at home to compare the difference only I have sent you examined though by my self and him together D. Ward saith he remembreth your Business and will be with you as he sent me word within this week Though I have calculated the Autum Aequ as precisely as I could by the Prutenicks yet you know by Tycho's Observations the Prut fail of the true Ingress into the Aequinoctial 12 hours sometimes and sometimes more which 4000 Years backward will perhaps make a greater difference than in 400 of Tycho's You may read in Peucer whereabout the Aequin Vernal was at the first Olymp. c. Amandus Polanus in Syntagm Theolog. and Origan in his Ephem have argued contrarily touching the World's Original Time which methinks in regard of correspondence of the Second Adam with the first Adam as in other things so in this should be in the Spring as Polanus holdeth when our Saviour suffered for the Recreation as I may so speak of the