The TWELVE Diflertations OUT OF Monfieur Le Clerk's GENESIS, CONCERNING Hebrew Tongue. Manner of Interpreting the Bible. Temptation of Eve by the Serpent. Confufion of Languages. Original of Circumcifion. Divine Appearances in the Old Teftament. Pillar of Salt. Coming of Shiloh. Several Obfcure Texts in Genefis Explain'd 'Done out of Latin by Mr. BROWN. To which is Added, A Differtation concerning the Ifraelites Paf Ornari res ipfa negat, contenta docere. Hor. Export 12:4-51 76940 12-13-51 MFP THE PREFACE TO THE READER. T HE following Differtations contain fuch Variety of Learning, and Liberty of Thought, out of the common road of Commentators, and Divines (who generally confine themselves within the Rules and Pale of the Church) that the Publishing of them in English was thought necessary for the inftructing and polishing of those, who imploy their happy Hours in the Study of the Holy Scriptures. 'Tis true, Two very Reverend Prelates of our own Church have lately treated of thefe Matters not without Reflecting on the Author Mr. Le Clerk; yet 'tis no ill manners to cloath him in the fame A 2 Lan Language, that the Justice and Reason of their Contempt and Accufations may the more clearly appear. I am not infenfible of the many Calumnies fixt on the Learned Author upon the account of thefe Differtations, and the Letters be formerly Publifh'd concerning Inspiration, and the Lives of fome Fathers, yet his late Treatife of the Causes of Incredulity, and the Truth of Christianity, hath diffipated all thofe Afperfions, and demonftrates to the World, that he could never give any occafion to Infidels or Unbelievers to infult the fimplicity of the Gospel, or the Lines of the Church; 'tis maliciously fuggefted, that he hath forgot to reckon his own Writings amongst his many Causes of Deifm, and Scepticism; for tho in his Juvenile Paftimes at Saumur, and Geneva, he might fow fome wild Tares, and run beyond the bounds of Difcretion in Matters of Faith; yet by culture and ripeness of years, he arriv'd at that strength and prefence of mind, that all his Productions became chafte, and very charming, infomuch that the Illuftrious City of Amfterdam adopted him into the Number of ber Profeffors, where he adorns the Oriental Chair, and deferves to shine in a more Noble Sphere; but the Climate, we live in, is too grofs to receive fuch a fine and exalted Genius, born to illuminate the dark Mysteries of Antiquity, and to let us into the Sanctum San&torum; for certainly never any Mortal came better better prepar'd to unvail the Beauty of the Scriptures; many great Endowments meeting in him; a fingular Penetration, vaft reading and Study, a profound skill in the Languages with an univerfal erudition, a clear Judgment, an boneft Candor, and a Sublimity above Party or Faction; Talents not very common among Thofe who have the Honour to unlock thofe Venerable Archives. The Bible without difpute contains more good Morals, and more hidden Treasures than all the Volumes of the Alexandrian, the Vatican, or Bodleian Libraries, and therefore our Libertines have no reason to deride the pains taken to open them. But fome cry out aloud, there lurks a Snake under the Grass, and Venom Sprouts out of the Mouth of the tempting Serpent; Beware of his winding Infinuations, and bis gentile Turnings. Ob incu rable Jealoufie! that will not distinguish between Superftition and Religion, between Godliness, and Gain, or between the Ancient and Modern Christianity. A Man must be of a very sower habit of Body, that will not bear an innocent Freedom, especially in an Age and Kingdom, where Nullius in Verba is the Motto. Criticks and Philofophers have always claim'd a particular fort of Liberty, and Boldness, which the wifeft States have thought fit to difpenfe with; for Truth is not eafily come at, many rubs and thorns lying in the way, so that few work thro' |