The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 1. Browne Thomas

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СКАЧАТЬ than did that other the State of Rome. ] There were two Triumvirates, by which the peace of Rome was distracted; that of Crassus, Cæsar and Pompey, of which Lucan, l. 1.

      – Tu causam aliorum—

      Facta tribus Dominis communis Roma, nec unquam

      In turbam missi feralia fœdera Regni.

      And that other of Augustus, Antonius and Lepidus, by whom, saith Florus, Respublica convulsa est lacerataque, which comes somewhat near the Author's words, and therefore I take it that he means this last Triumvirate.

       Sect. 19. Pag. 32.

       Would disswade my belief from the miracle of the brazen Serpent. ] Vid. Coqueum in, l. 10. Aug. de Civ. Dei, c. 8.

       And bid me mistrust a miracle in Elias, etc. ] The History is 18. 1 Reg. It should be Elijah. The Author in 15. cap. lib. 7. Pseudodox. sheweth it was not perform'd naturally; he was (as he saith) a perfect miracle.

       To think the combustion of Sodom might be natural. ] Of that opinion was Strabo, whereupon he is reprehended by Genebrard in these words: Strabo falsus est – dum eversionem addicit sulphuri et bitumini e terra erumpentibus, quæ erat assignanda Cœlo, i.e. Deo irato. Tacitus reports it according to the Bible, fulminis ictu arsisse.

      Sect. 20. Pag. 33.

       Those that held Religion was the difference of man from Beasts, etc. ] Lactantius was one of those: Religioni ergo serviendum est, quam qui non suspicit, ipse se prosternit in terram, et vitam pecudum secutus humanitate se abdicat. Lactant de fals. Sapientia, cap. 10.

       The Doctrine of Epicurus that denied the providence of God, was no Atheism, but, etc. ] I doubt not but he means that delivered in his Epistle to Menæceus, and recorded by Diogenes Laertius, lib. 10. Quod beatum æternumque est, id nec habet ipsum negotii quicquam, nec exhibit alteri, itaque neque ira, neque gratia tenetur, quod quæ talia sunt imbecillia sunt omnia; which the Epicurean Poet hath delivered almost in the same words.

      Omnis enim per se divum natura necesse 'st

      Immortali ævo summa cum pace fruatur,

      Semota à nostris rebus sejunctaq; longè:

      Nam privata dolore omni, privata periclis

      Ipsa suis pollens opibus nihil indiga nostri

      Nec bene pro meritis capitur, nec tangitur ira.

Lucret. lib. 2.

       That Villaine and Secretary of Hell, that composed that miscreant piece of the three Impostors. ] It was Ochinus that composed this piece; but there was no less a man than the Emperour Frederick the Second, that was as lavish of his tongue as the other of his pen; Cui sæpe in ore, Tres fuisse insignes Impostores, qui genus humanum seduxerunt: Moysem, Christum, Mahumetem. Lips. monit. et exempl. Politic. cap. 4. And a greater than he, Pope Leo the Tenth, was as little favourable to our Saviour, when he us'd that speech which is reported of him, Quantas nobis divitias comparavit ista de Christo fabula.

      Sect. 21. Pag. 34.

       There are in Scripture, stories that do exceed the fables of Poets. ] So the Author of Relig. Laici. Certè mira admodum in S. S. plus quam in reliquis omnibus Historiis traduntur; (and then he concludes with the Author) sed quæ non retundunt intellectum, sed exercent.

       Yet raise no question who shall rise with that Rib at the Resurrection. ] The Author cap. 2 l. 7. Pseudodox. sheweth that it appeares in Anatomy, that the Ribs of Man and Woman are equal.

       Whether the world were created in Autumn, Summer, or the Spring, etc. ] In this matter there is a consent between two learned Poets, Lucretius and Virgil, that it begins in Spring.

      At novitas mundi nec frigora dura ciebat,

      Nec nimios æstus, nec magnis viribus auras.

Lucretius

      Which he would have to be understood of Autumn, because that resembles old age rather than Infancy. He speaks expresly of the Fowls.

      Principio genus alituum variæq; volucres

      Ova relinquebant exclusæ tempore verno.

Lucret.

      Then for Virgil.

      Non alios prima nascentis origine mundi

      Illuxisse dies aliumve habuisse tenorem

      Crediderim, ver illud erat, ver magnus agebat

      Orbis, et hibernis parcebant flatibus Euri.

Virgil 2. Georgic.

      But there is a great difference about it betwixt Church-Doctors; some agreeing with these Poets and others affirming the time to be in Autumn: but truly, in strict speaking, it was not created in any one, but all of the seasons, as the Author saith here, and hath shewed at large. Pseudodox. Epidemic. lib. 6. cap. 2.

      Sect. 22. Pag. 35.

       'Tis ridiculous to put off or down the general floud of Noah in that particular inundation of Deucalion, ] as the Heathens some of them sometimes did: Confuderunt igitur sæpe Ethnici particularia illa diluvia, quæ longe post secuta sunt, cum illo universali quod præcessit, ut ex fabulis in Diluvio Deucalionæo sparsis colligere licet; non tamen semper nec ubique. Author. Observat. in Mytholog. Nat. Com. Then amongst those that confound them, he reckons Ovid and Plutarch.

       How all the kinds of Creatures, not onely in their own bulks, but with a competency of food and sustenance, might be preserved in one Ark, and within the extent of 30 °Cubits, to a reason that rightly examines it will appear very feasible. ] Yet Apelles the Disciple of Mercion, took upon him to deride the History of Moses in this particular, alledging that it must needs be a fable, for that it was impossible so many creatures should be contain'd in so small a space. Origen and St. Aug. to answer this pretended difficulty, alleadge that Moses in this place speakes of Geometrical (and not vulgar) cubits, of which every one was as much as six vulgar ones; and so no difficulty. But Perer. l. 10. com. in Genes, quest. 5. de arca, rejects this opinion of Origen, as being both against reason and Scripture.

      1. Because that sort of Cubit was never in use amongst any people, and therefore absurd to think Moses should intend it in this place.

      2. If Moses should not speak of the same Cubits here, that he mentions in others places, there would be great æquivocation in Scripture: now in another place, i. e. Exod. 27. he saith, God commanded him to make an Altar three Cubits high; which if it shall be meant of Geometrical Cubits it will contain 18 vulgar Cubits; which would not only render it useless, but would be contrary to the command which he saith God gave him, Exod. 20. Thou shall not go up by steps to my Altar. СКАЧАТЬ