Works, Book 4 · Letter 29 – Letter 30
EPISTLE XXIX.
Mr. Mede his Third Letter to Archbishop Usher, excusing his unwillingness to accept the Provostship of Trinity Colledge in Ireland: containing also an account of Lawenus his Animadversions upon his Clavis, and his Answer; together with his Explication of Ezek. 4. 6, &c.
Right Reverend and my most Honoured Lord,
I Make no question but your Colledge is far better provided of a Provost than it would have been of me, who never could perswade my self I was fit to be the Head and Governour of the only Seminary of a Kingdom. And therefore though my name were the Second time brought upon the Stage, yet was it without consent or privity of mine. Indeed a Proposition was made unto me upon Mr. Bedle's pre…erment (and before the news thereof was sent to him) whether I would accept the place, in case I were again chosen thereto. Unto which because I answered not by a direct and categorical denial, but only alledged divers reasons, both from mine own unfitness in divers respects, and other circumstances which might and did deter me therefrom, leaving them who made the motion to infer the conclusion; it pleased some (to whom I am yet beholden for their affection) so to interpret it, as if in modesty only I had by such a kind of answer concealed my willingness: which as soon as I understood and that some (Sir Nathaniel Rich by name) endeavoured upon the motion of some others to procure me to be named by his Majesty, I presently took him off, and that so effectually as he stirred no more; though perhaps I was not a little blamed by some of my friends for so doing. But enough of this.
For my Clavis, I am afraid that Reverend Archbishop your Lordship nameth values it far more than it deserveth; though it may be something I have by God's goodness discovered toward the better understanding of that Book; which if I have, the praise be to God alone, to whom it is only due.
But I cannot imagine what those Additions thereto should be, which your Lordship saith you received out of the North of Ireland. I sent a Copy or two to Franeker to Doctor Ames; he sends one of them to Daniel Lawenus, an ancient Student in those parts in that Prophecy, (whose Apparatus to a bigger volume of many years study was printed the same year,) desiring his censure of it. He finding it not to sute with his Notions, wrote presently Stricturae in Clavem Apocalypticam, not knowing my name, but calling me Synchronista; and sometimes seemed to be very angry in his confutation of me, though he agreed with me in the mainest Paradox of all. He sends it to Doctor Ames, as I suppose not intending me. But the Doctor dispatcheth it to me, together with his printed Book, for my better understanding his meaning; desires to receive again from me what I thought fit to oppose by way of defence. Thus unwittingly I made my self work, yet such as in the doing I at length found some benefit by, having my torpid thoughts revived and quickned, and the second time more able to wield any notions than they were at the beginning. But I should admire if your Lordship had seen a Copy of this. For besides that I sent into Friseland, I conceive not how any other should get abroad, having, as I thought, kept mine own Copy private in my study.
That touching the years of Israel and Iudah, I know not what it should be, unless that the 40. years of Iudah's sin, for which the*Ezek. 4. 6. Prophet lay so many days upon his right side, were the years of Manasses Idolatry, to which the Scripture particularly ascribes their captivity, 2 Kings 24. 3. & ch. 23. 26. Ier. 15. 4. Which I thought had been a novelty, and cried foreign but since I find it to be the opinion of R. Kimchi, whom I suppose also the first author thereof.*An…al. Eccles. Tom. 4. Salianus adds Hieronymus (not Iosephus) de Prado, & Funccius; but I never looked them. It was but a conjecture, which, had it been new, I conceived would not have been altogether unacceptable to your Lordship, whom yet far be it from me to teach or inform, but only to be better instructed or confirmed by your Lordship's profounder judgment.
Presently after my Clavis was printed, I drew, at the intreaty of some friends, Specimina Interpretationum Apocalypticarum ad amussim Clavis Apocalypticae; which finding beyond my expectation or merit to be accepted, I have since gone more largely through some part thereof, as The Description of the Theatrum Apocalypticum, chap. 4. The 6 Seals and 7 Trumpets unto the 11. Chapter: The rest is yet but Specimina, as it was in the beginning; the last Chapter whereof I once sent your Lordship, namely de Millennio. But could I have gotten an orthographical Scribe, I would have sent your Lordship all ere this, both Specimina and the larger Expositions upon the first half. But I had no such of mine own, and those who have are not so kind as to lend them for any hire. And for my self, I should never get through that which is mine own, without everlasting mending, blurring, and pausing at every sentence to alter it. I am exceedingly sorry for the death of Buxtorf and Amama, especially the latter, as being but now in store, and one that had a natural genius to inlighten the Text of Scripture, and to find the notion of the Sacred language.
If Ireland will not spend the remainder of my Pamphlets, if your Lordship have opportunity to send them, I shall willingly entertain them again, their fellows being all gone.
Thus with my most humble Service remembred to your gracious Lordship, desiring the God of Heaven to bless and preserve your Grace, I rest, and am
Christ's Colledge, May 4. 1630. Your Lordship's, most ready to be commanded, Ioseph Mede.
EPISTLE XXX.
My Lord of Armagh his Letter to Mr. Mede, commending his Comment on the Apocalyps and his learned Conjectures upon the Succession of the Babylonian Kings in Berosus, &c.
Worthy Sir,
I Received long since your most accurate Explication of the principal Chapters of the Revelation, together with your learned Conjectures upon the succession of the Babylonian Kings recorded in the fragments of Berosus and Megasthenes. I cannot sufficiently commend either the one or the other; but acknowledge my self to have learned from you in both what otherwise would never have come into my mind. I am now in hand with a Treatise De Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Primordiis, setting down as much as may be found in the Manuscripts that remain of our Nation touching that Argument. I have entred also upon the Determination of the Controversies which concern the Chronologie of the Sacred Scripture: wherein I shall in many places need your help. I desire to hear from you of the state of things there: and so recommending all your godly studies and endeavours unto the blessing of our good God, evermore rest
Armagh, August 10. 1632. Your most assured loving Friend, Ia. Armachanus.