A Fit Conjucture of Religion and Learning, Book 2 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. II, Of the Usefulnesse of Learning.
IT is usefull for Physicians, Lawyers, but especially for Divines.Ita hodiè majori jure linguae Graecae peritia requiritur in medico, quam in jurisconsulto; major etiam notitia scientiae naturalis. At jurisconsulto magis opus cognitione historiarum & Phylosophiae moralis ac civilis. Theologum magis, quam jurisconsultum, aut medicum, Logicis & Metaphysicis imbutum esse covenit, etiam magis illi necessaria est notitia Orientalium linguarum. Vossius de Rat. studiorum. Linguae Latinae cognitionem nostro seculo penè esse necessariam nemo ambigit, etsi enim & sine illa quidam non inutiles Ecclesiis fuerunt, cum tamen lingua illa totius Christianismi quasi quoddam commune sit vinculum, & omnes ingeniorum quos orbis Christianus hactenus produxit foetus, imprimis in hac nostra professione, lingua illa sint editi vel in eam traducti, mutilam valde cognitionem esse oportet, quae sine hujus linguae notitia habetur. Ut omittam, multum de ministri futuri aestimatione detrahi, qui aliquam saltem hujus linguae promptitudinem non comparavit. Reliquarum duarum, nempè Graecae & Hebraicae utilitas est tanta, ut, cui Deus & tempus & ingenium largitur, sine maximo dispendio iis carere non possit. Quid enim jucundius quam▪ Prophetas & Apostolos sua lingua lequentes audire? Quam Spiritus▪ S. sensa ex ipsis fontibus haurire. Walaei Orat. de studii Theolog. recta institutione. Dolendum est quod Hieronymo defuit punicae linguae peritia vel Augustino Hebraicae. Nam si alteruter, aut Patrum quis alius caetera edoctus, linguam utramque calluisset, ex punica in Hebraicam potuisset transfundere, unde as…ulsisser magna lux non paucis Veteris Testamenti locis quae nobis sunt obscurissima. Bocharti Geog. Sac. l. 2. c. 16.
Languages, Arts and Sciences are great helps to the attaining of knowledge in Divinity.
1. A competent knowledge of the Languages, at least of the three learned ones, Hebrew, Greek and Latine, is very convenient, if not necessary, for one that would be a compleat Divine; Such see with their own eyes.
The knowledge and interpretation of Tongues is a very great gift of God, promised by him in times past, Esa. 19. 18. bestowed by Christ, attributed to the holy Ghost, Acts 2. Paul commends the study of Languages to the Church and all its members, 1 Cor. 14.
He which shall professe to be an absolute learned Divine without the knowledge of three tongues at the least, may think well of himself, but hardly he shall get and retain the credit he seeketh among learned men in this learned age. Doctor Fulk against Martin.
Non exigua fuit▪pars eruditionis in Origene, Epiphanio, Hieronymo, linguae Hebraicae cognitio. Cham. Corp. Theol. l. 2. c. 2.
Ierom, Reuchline, Oecolampadius were famous for their skill in Hebrew, Greek and Latine.
Melchior Adam saith of Casp…r Cruciger, Ad priora exercitia linguae Latinae & Graecae, adjunxit studium linguae Hebraeae, ac omnes ita didicit: ut adeò familiariter ei notae essent, …o si nativa ipsi, non insititiae fuissent.
It hath been the custom in the Reformed Churches, to try the sufficiency of young Ministers by their skill in the original language, Sequimini laudabilem Gallicarum Ecclesiarum consuetudinem, ubi Theologiae Candidato, in utriusque Testamenti originali textu illud quod Praesidi Codicem aperienti se primò exhibet caput, legendum & interpretandum proponitur. An minor in Anglia, Germania, Dania, Belgio, Helvetia caeterisque Provinciis, linguas illas discendi commoditas? Sixtini Amam Paraen. de excitandis, SS. Linguarum studiis. See Erasmus his Ecclesiastes.
How do the Schoolmen (out of ignorance of the Tongues) erre in the exposition of the Old and New Testament, written in Hebrew and Greek, and what barbarisms do they use in the Latine Tongue.
This is the eighth of the eleventh famous nullities which Gentilletus in his Examen Octava nullitas Concilii Tridentini in co vertitur, quod plerique omnes Episcopi caeterique Concilii Praesules, quibus definiendi potestas erat, perexigua admodum eruditione praediti essent. Nec enim in sacris literis, priscorumque Patrum Canonibus ac Decretis, literisque Hebraicis, Graecis & Latinis apprime versati erant, quas vix eorum quisquam à limine salutarat. Maec est Baldi Doctoris doctissimi vulgò probata doctrina, in subtilioribus & perplexis juris quaestionibus hebetiores rudésque literarum judices recusari posse, ut qui ejusmodi nodos solvere nequeant. Gentilet. Exam. Conc. Trid. l. 5.chargeth the Councel of Trent with, viz. the illiteratenesse of many of their Bishops, and other Presidents of their Councel, in whom was the power of deciding Controversies, which the Papists cannot justly object against the members of the famous Synod of Dort.
The ignorance of the Monks is grown to a Proverb, Monacho indoctior. Belluae immanis vox est, quòd Licinius Imperator & nominis Christiani persecutor, literas dixit virus & publicam pestem. Bibliand. de ratione communi omnium linguarum, cap. 6.
The Grounds of the Greek and Hebrew tongue too are well taught in some Grammer Schools.
Fundamenta linguae Graecae in-trivialibus docentur, quarum novi aliquot fic constitutas, ut quot quot ex iis prodeant, Novum Testamentum Graecum Grammaticè possint resolvere, novi Scholas, ubi fundamenta linguae Ebrae…, magno Ecclesiae & juventutis bono jaciuntur. Sixt. Am. Paraen. de excitandis SS. Linguarum studiis.
But saith Mr Webster in his Academiaerum Examen *Pag. 6., It is not yet infallibly concluded which are the true original Copies (especially concerning the Hebrew and the oriental Languages) the Jewish tongue having been often altered and corrupted by their several intermixtures with, and transmigrations into other Nations, or that they have been purely and sincerely preserved unto our hands. For Languages change and alter as fashions and garments; Neither have we any thing to assure us in this point, but bare tradition and history, which are various, perplex, dubious, contradictory and deficient.
To this I answer, Who (but the ignorant) deny that the Hebrew Copies are the Original of the Old Testament. Were not the Scriptures of the Old Testament committed to the Jews? And was not the Hebrew the Jewish language? Indeed the Jews by their Captivity in Babylon learned the Chaldee tongue, and so some of the Old Testament, as Ezra and Daniel were written in that language.
Secondly, What if the Jewish tongue hath been often altered and corrupted, and generally languages change and alter like fashions and garments? Is that any reason why we should doubt of the sincerity of the Hebrew Copies? By this reason we must question the works of Demosthenes, Cicero, and generally all others, because the languages wherein they wrote was since altered.
Thirdly, Is there nothing but bare tradition and History to inform us of the originals, when as the originals themselves are extant before our eyes? And we may know them to be sincere, because generally all Copies throughout the world, though written at several times in several places do accord.
He objects further, Pag. 7. Knowledge of Tongues can but teach the Grammatical Construction, signification and interpretation of words, propriety of phrases, deduction of Etymologies, and such like; all which tend to no farther then the instamping of a bare literal understanding, and all this may be, the mystery of the Gospel being unknown, for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.
To this I answer with Melancthon, If we understand not the signification ofScriptura non potest intelligi Theologicè nisi prius intelligatur Grammatice. Melancth. the words, how can we know the things signified by them? Whereas he opposeth tongues, and the Spirit, Subordinata non pugnant, If he will so rely on the Spirit, as utterly to exclude tongues, Why doth he make use at least of his mother-tongue for the understanding of the Scriptures? He saith there, He that understands the original tongues, in which the Text was written, conceives no more of the minde of God thereby, than he that only can reade or hear read the Translation in the mother-tongue. Yes, because the minde of God is primarily in the Original, and but secondarily in the Translation, in that the Translation is out of the Original, and doth no further contain in it the Word of God, then it doth agree with the Original.
He addes yet further, What difference is there between him that relies upon his Teachers skill, and he that relies upon the skill of a Translator, are they not both alike, since they are but both Testimonia humana, full of errours, mistakes and fallacies?
It is much that he cannot perceive a difference between these two: He that relies upon the skill of a Translator, relies upon it for that particular Translation which he doth make use of: but he that relies upon the skill of his Teacher onelyonly, relies upon it for his general knowledge of the language which is taught him besides, no man hath need so wholly to rely on his Teachers skill, having many other means to know whether his Teacher rightly instruct him or no, as some have to rely on the skill of a Translator, p. 7. But he proceeds.
The errours and mistakes that still remain, and are daily discovered in all Translations, do sufficiently witnesse mens negligence and ignorance, that in the space of sixteen hundred years, have not arrived at so much perfection, as to compleat one Translation.
This very reason which he alleadgeth against the knowledge of Tongues, dothEt sancta Hebraea est lingua, & cuivis Theologiae studioso necessaria. Etsi enim monumenta Apostorum & Evangelistarum Graeca sunt: tamen phrasis est Hebraica. Itaque rectè dixerunt veteres: Hebraeos bibere ex fontibus: Graecos ex rivulis: Latinos ex lacunis. Melch. Adam. in vita Graseri. Paulus linguarum genera tenere donum putat Spiritus Sancti, nos adeò ridemus, ut vix homine putemus dignum? Paulus divinationis muneri, vel anteponit, nos Sophisticis etiam nugis postponimus? Paulus gratias agit Deo, cujus beneficio tantum sibi bonum contigerit, nos eos, qui nobis tantum bonum etiam domi desidentibus è longinquo adferunt, circulatores vocitamus, & indignis modis tractamus? Pet. Mosell. Orat. de var. Ling. Cognit. Vide Crines. De Confus. Ling. cap. xi & xii. shew the necessity of it. For if errours and mistakes do still remain, and are daily discovered in all Translations, Is there not the more need of skill in the Originals, that so we may not be carried away with those errours and mistakes? And how should those errours in Translations be discovered but by skill in the Originals. But suppose that no mans skill in the Originals is so great, as to free him from errours and mistakes in translating, is therefore all his skill to no purpose? By the same reason all Mr Websters preaching should be in vain, because he is not infallible, but sometimes may mistake the meaning of the Scripture which he citeth.
I suppose it therefore very profitable for a Divine (which I think was Reverend Mr Wheatleys usual practice) to reade daily a Chapter in the Old Testament in Hebrew, and in the New Testament in Greek.
Illud enim volo, Theologiae studios… & verbi Dei ministro tantum semper debere esse à rebus aliis otii, ut quotidiè caput aliquod in utriusque Testam. Originali Textu legat, & quidem cum brevi suc…inctoque Commentario, vel Junii, vel Bezae, vel Piscat. vel Vatabli. Sixt. Amam. Consilium de studio Ebraico feliciter instituendo.
Secondly, The Knowledge of the Arts is also very requisite for a Divine.
Therefore Licinius and Iulian envying such a good to the Church of Christ used their endeavours to deprive the Christians of the studies of them, most vain sports being set up in their room.
Christ at first (to shew the glory of his greatnesse) took and imployed Fishermen, such as had no bringing up in Schools. But it was not long after, but learned men came in apace. Learned men of all sorts, Zenas in Law, Tit. 3. 13. Luke in Physick, 1 Tim. 4. 11. Apollo with his Eloquence, Act. 18. 24. Dionyse with hisUrbs Tarsus clara Schola & Academia à Strabone celebrata lib. 14. Divi Pauli patria. Neand. Geog. part. 2. Philosophy, Act. 17. 34. Paul with his much learning, Act. 26. 24. which he had at Tharsus, as famous an University for Asia, as Athens was for Greece. See 1 Cor. 14. 18.
Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Aegyptians, Act. 7. 22. which Nation was one of the most ancient Schools of the world. Salomon passed all the children of the East in their own learning, 1 King. 4. 30. Daniel was brought up, and well seen in the cunning of the Chaldeans, Dan. 1. 4.
First, All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in the Scripture, ofNumerorum imperitia multa facit non intelligi, translatè ac mysticè posita in Scripturis. Ac numerum & musicam plerisque in locis ac sanctis Scripturis posita, honorabiliter invenimus. August. lib. 2. de doct. Christ. cap. 16. & 38. Melancthon linguarum & artium studia comparavit Cophinis, in quibus fragmenta panum colligi & reponi jubebantur, Matth. 14 v. 20. Cum sint adminicula, per quae doctrina coelestis commodè tradi, ad posteros propagari & contra adversarios propugnari possit. Gerh. Meth. Stud. Theol. natural and moral Philosophy, of the Politicks, of Poetry, of History, of Mathematicks, Metaphysicks, and many of them in that one Book of Iob.
How shall a Minister be able without some skill in Logick to analyze his Text? The whole Scripture abounds with Arguments, the strength of which one cannot perceive but from Logick, and how shall he be able to discover or confute the sophistry and false reasoning of Hereticks without it. Cham. Corp. Theol. lib. 2. cap. 18.
Of the use of Logick in Divinity, See Mr Gataker against Saltmarsh, Shadows without Substance, p. 20.
He may draw likewise excellent sentences, famous examples, profitable precepts from History and Philosophy.
The Scripture is full of Metaphors and figurative speeches which have profit as well as ornament. A great part of the whole 6th of Iohn is framed of such speeches, how shall one understand the meaning of such places without some skill in Rhetorick?
Secondly, The knowledge of the Arts is requisite for a Divine to refute errors.Chronólogia & Geographia principem sibi locum vendicant in Theologia quia in sacris literis continetur praeter fidei morumque praecepta, etiam Ecclesiae historia. Est autem olim dictum, Historiae oculos esse Chronologiam & Geographiam. Haec terrarum ambitum describens, locos judicat quibus singula gesta, adeóque quasi in rem praesentem deducit. Illa verò annorum saeculorumque seriem explicat. Cham. Corp. Theol. lib. 2. c. 18.
The Socinians begin in Philosophical principles, and the Papists begin in Logick about accidents, when they would establish their Transubstantiation.
Zanch. de Tribus Elohim parte altera, cap. 1. reckons up this as one cause of heresie, viz. the ignorance of true and solid Philosophy and Logick, and the Liberal Arts.
How many Chronological difficulties are there in the Scripture, which will not be resolved without some skill in Chronology. Compare 1 King. 6. 1. with Acts 13. 20. 2 Kings 24. 10. with 2 Chron. 36. 9. 2 Chron. 22. 2. with 21. 20.
Some say the holy Ghost did obscure some things in Chronology to sharpen mens wits.
Object. Colos. 2. 8. Beware least any man spoil you through Phylosophy and vain deceit, foreign, i. e. through the vain deceit of Philosophy, for either it did promise eternal life, or did not shew the true and certain way which led thither. So Grotius.
Some think he bids them beware of Plato's Philosophy, not of Philosophy in general, Neque Apostolus ad Colossenses veram & naturalem Philosophiam, sed inanem duntaxat & deceptricem damnavit. Zanch▪ ad Arianum Respons.
The learning of the Magi (who were skilled in the Stars and Bodies Celestial) hindred them not in their coming to Christ. The gold and spoils of Egypt, did the Tabernacle no hurt, which was hung all over with them.Some think it is a childish thing for a Minister to use exotick language in a popular Auditory from 1 Cor. 14. 20.
Humane Learning may be lawfully used in a divine exercise, four conditions being observed.
The first concerns the end, the confirmation of faith, not vain glory.
Secondly, If the prophanenesse or Ethnicisme in them be castrated, as Deut. 21.
Thirdly, That we alway…use humane learning as we give the Scripture the upper-hand.
Fourthly, That these …ations of humane Writers, be used not as meat,Vide Sculteti Orationem De Conjungenda Philologiam cum Theologia. We ar…ters (sa…th Paul) to the learned and unlearned. Zanchius in his second Oration, De conservando in Ecclesia p…ro puto Dei verbo, shews, That there are only three necessary causes which happen but seldom, for a good Preacher; extra limites S. literarum, per scripta Poetarum & Philosophorum, aut etiam, Patrum evagari, either by reason of the obstinacy of hereticks, which being not satisfied with the Scriptures, are to be convinced with other reasons and testimonies, or for the calumnies of the malevolent, which it is necessary to refell with other testimonies then those of the Scriptures; or lastly, by reason of the infirmity of some weak brethren, which cannot be a holly divorced from their old superstiti…, and be setled in the truth delivered, unlesse the same be also confirmed by the …stimonies of the ancient Fathers. The Apostle Paul thrice indeed ci…th the sayings of profane Poets, because they were fi… for the matter which he handled, but be neither names the Poets, neither did he do it often (saith he) nor without good reason, but only mentions some short speeches of theirs, seldom, soberly, and as it were obiter, being compelled thereto, that the Gentiles by the sayings of Gentiles might be convinced. Therefore the Fathers do not so use the sayings of Philosophers and Poets in their Homilies to the Church, as in their disputations and books against the Heathens. but as sauce, sparingly. Dr Chalon Serm…on Tit. 1. 13. Philosophandum est sed paucis.
Humane knowledge or learning is abused:
First, When we rest in it, lean not to thine own understanding, when we think to look into divine mysteries with the spectacles of nature.
Secondly, When we boast of it as our chiefest excellency, Ier. 9. 23. Religion is the highest excellency, the truest wisdom is that whereby we know and enjoy the chiefest good.
Thirdly, When we oppose learning to the wisdom of Scripture, and confine God to the Laws of nature, 1 Cor. 1. 23.
Fourthly, The naked Theory of divine knowledge, idle and unactive knowledge, all knowledge is for practice, Prov. 14. 8. Psal. 111. 10. Deut. 4. 6. Prov. 8. 30.
Some times are more favourable to learning then others.
About the time of our Saviours coming, curious Arts, and other civil Disciplines did most flourish. The Grecians sought after wisdom, and secular Philosophy, the Romans after Policy, State-knowledge and Discipline of …rs. All the world almost (above others, those parts wherein Christianity was first placed) was then set upon curious Arts, yet the study and search of Scriptures in a short time devoured all, and brought them to acknowledge allegiance unto it. Dr Iacks. Comment on the Creed Vol. 1. l 1. c. 3.
Wolfius in his Lectiones Memorabiles mentions the learned men of every Century.
Superstition and ignorance both together at the latter end of the ninth Century, as a thick mist dangerously invaded and possessed the Church, when the forging of Legends and Relicks, and such like trumpery was as common and highly esteemed as the Scripture, and preaching was discountenanced, and utterly out of use.
Some places also are more propitious to learning then others.
Athens in Greece, of which see afterwards.Basilea omnibus temporibus produxit viros doctrin…, sapientia arque eloquentia maximos. Neand. Geograph parte 12. Prodierunt ex Sicyone quemadmodum Athenis multi viri praestantes in omni artium ac doctrinarum genere. Id. ibid.
Corduba in Spain is celebrated also this way. It was the Countrey of Avicenna, and Averroes and Razis, and of Seneca Neroes Master, and Lucan the Poet.
Duosque Senecas, unicumque Lucanum
Faecunda loquitur Cord…ba—Martial.
Barbara quinque viris gratatur I…ria, Marco,
Lucano, Fabieque & geminis Senecis,
Qui nugis, versuque, togâ, sophià, atque Cothurn…
Clarent: quid majus Roma superba dedit? Steph. Pasch. Icon.
Many of the Fathers were Africans.
Una etiam Optatos, Cyprianos, Tertullianos,
Atque Augustinos Africa terra tulit.
Edidit haec sancto miracula quatuor orbi.
Nempè aliquid semper gens alit illa novi. Steph. Pasch. Icon.
Devonshire in England.
Carpenter in the second part of his Geog. cap. 15. reckons up these famous men of the West for Arts and Learning, Iewell, Raynolds, Hooker, Sir Walter Rawleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Richard Greenvill, Sir Thomus Bodley, Dr Holland, Hackwell, Prideaux, Justice Doddridge, William Noy.
Essex hath been fruitfull of good Divines, the younger Hooker, Dent, Fen…r, the two Dikes, many Rogers.
Naples in Italy.
Virgil the Prince of Poets lived in Naples, Livie, Horace, Claudian, Francis Petrarch, who was very intimate with Robert King of Naples, Antonius Beccadellus sirnamed Pan…rmit…ne, an excellent Orator, Laurentius Valla, the Refiner of the Latine Tongue, Porcellus a most elegant Poet, Blondus a studious searcher of all Antiquity, Bartholomaus Facius, Nicolaus Saguntinus, all most excellent men.
Many Divines and Philosophers, among which were Ferrandus Valentinus, Qui tres postremi ex ordine praedicatorum Monachi doctissimi fuere. Leand. Alb. Descript. tot Ital. in Campania. Aërem urbs permollem & placidi…imum habet, agrum jucundissimum, quae scilicet multis olim Romanis Imperatoribus virisque Senatoriis at from literarum studiosis huc animi quieti…que causa secedendi occasio fuit. Id. ibid. Vide plura ibid.Michael Epilamius, Ioannes Solerius, Ioannes Cardona, Henricus Panormitanus, Petrus Rassanus, Hieronimus Monopolius, and Iacobus Mantuanus.