A Seasonable Discourse, Part 3
Of the Orientall Languages. The Myſteries of Jewiſh Learning.
COncerning the Orientall Languages, and the writings of Jewiſh Myſteries, which are found therein; this is their prerogative before all other Tongues and Writings of the World. That the firſt Oracles of God were uttered therein; that the fundamentall Principles of all true Worſhip and Religion towards God, were firſt made known, by them to the world, that the rules of Juſtice, Judgement, and Prudency in occonomicall and civill Government amongſt men, were firſt expreſſed in them, and that the Hiſtory of the originall of all Nations, was never truly recorded but only by them; for it is unqueſtionably true, that at firſt all theſe things have been peculiar to the Jewes, and from them by degrees were propagated unto the reſt of the Nations. Therefore no doubt much reſpect is juſtly due unto thoſe Languages; and if their hidden treaſures were opened, it is moſt certain, that a great addition of Wiſdom would thereby redound unto the reſt of the world. For although there were no more to be expected from thence, but a more diſtinct knowledge of the ancient wayes of God towards the firſt Inhabitants of the world, and a more perfect inſight in thoſe Religious and Judiciall Statutes which he gave unto his own people, (of which we are much in the dark) and for which the other Nations did judge the Izralites a wiſe and underſtanding people,Deut. 4.6) yet that alone ſhould be a ſufficient motive to cauſe us earneſtly to affect this ſtudy, becauſe that which Chriſt doth uſe as an Argument to quicken his Diſciples attention and diligence, to underſtand the hidden. Wiſdom of his Parables, ſhould in this caſe be a motive to cauſe us to deſire the knowledge of that which hath been of old. He ſaith, that he who is inſtructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, ſhould be as a man who is a Houſe-holder, Mat. 13.52.who bringeth out of his Treaſures things new and old.
Although then we have the beſt and the new things of God, (wherein we that were laſt, are become firſt) yet we are not rightly fitted for his Kingdom, till we get into our Treaſures, the old alſo which we want. It is true indeed, that the new alone may fit us ſufficiently for ſalvation in things privately for our ſelves neceſſary; but yet we are then but half inſtructed for the advancement of the Kingdom to the world, if we have not the old alſo.
Therefore although the intrinſicall worth, and due eſteeme of the originall knowledge of ancient and hidden Truths, which without thoſe Languages cannot be attained, ſhould ſuffice to encourage us unto this endeavour: yet this other inducement which concernes the Kingdom of God, ſhould have a ſtronger influence upon us, and will no doubt inforce this to the full, if it be rightly apprehended; for we ſhall find upon due conſideration, that the new ſtore of the Kingdom, which we have in our Treaſury, is to be counted but an imperfect proviſion, ſo long as the old is not brought in alſo, and that the imperfection thereof (as to the building up of Chriſts Kingdom) is herein, viz. 1. That it is defective in vertue by it ſelf alone, to propagate the knowledge of the Meſſias unto the apprehenſion of thoſe Nations, who are accuſtomed unto that which hath been of old.
2. That the full confirmation of the Teſtimony of Jeſus, even to our ſelves that are Gentiles, ſhall not be compleated in a publick and Church way uncontrolably to the conviction of all, till both the Old and the New be brought forth together, to evidence the ſame truth in all ages of the world; if therfore either the propagation of the Goſpel effectually unto others, or the full confirmation of it to our ſelves (which are the great concernments that Chriſtians have upon earth) ſhould have any influence upon our deſires, then it will follow that we ought to endeavour the propagation of the knowledge of thoſe tongues; which will diſcover unto us the writings which containe the old Proviſion and Store of the Houſe of God, which are the true ancient Myſteries of the Jewiſh Learning, and whereby we ſhall be inabled, to diſcover unto them the writings which containe the New Proviſion, and Store of the Houſe of God, which God hath betruſted us withall in latter times to diſpence unto others.
For firſt, how is it poſſible to have communication with thoſe Nations in any thing without the knowledge of their Languages. And Secondly, How can their be any effectuall or rationall dealing with the Jews more eſpecially in matter of Religion, except we have a true and full in-ſight in their ancient, and they in our moderne Learning? Now that we are really oblieged, faithfully to endeavour, to have ſome communication & dealings with them in matters of Religion, will evidently appear, if we reflect conſcionably upon the glory of God, which cannot otherwiſe be ſavingly manifeſted,Phil. 2. Marke 16.15. Iſa. 48. Jer. 56.2 Rev. 18. but in the face of Jeſus Chriſt upon the ſtate of their poor ſouls, who are our elder brethren in the Faith, as concerning the election for the Fathers ſake: and upon the diſcharge of our duty whereunto God hath called us in the holy profeſſion; which is to hold forth unto the world the word of life, to declare the teſtimony of Jeſus unto all creatures, and to publiſh even to the end of the earth, the deſtruction of the ſpirituall Babylon as well as of the temporall, and Redemption of all Iſrael from their captivity. Rom. 11.26. and 15.11. If (I ſay) we reflect conſcionably upon theſe Motives, and conſider the opportunities which God doth put into our hands, to advance this endeavour, we ſhall find our ſelves highly obliged, to have ſome dealings with the Eaſterne Nations, and cheefly with the Jewes that are amongſt men for the advancement of Chriſtianity; becauſe it is manifeſt to all, that we have dealings with them in other things, even a free Commerce and Trade for worldly Commodities amongſt them all: and if we can make our addreſſes unto all of them in worldly things, how unanſwerable will it be before God, if we ſhould not intend at all to make any application towards any of them in ſpirituall things, which things both they may receive from us and we from them, with ineſtimable profit unto both, through the manifeſtation of Chriſt his glory in his Kingdom. For the benefit of the Trade will be reciprocall, at leaſt very much for our advantage, by the confirmation of that Truth whereof God hath made us partakers above them; and according to the promiſes made of old unto them, ſeeing not only a clearer underſtanding of the things delivered by the ſpirit in the old Teſtament, will be granted by this meanes; but alſo many of the Myſteries of the new Teſtament, and cheifly that of the deſire of all Nations, the Meſſias, will be opened more fully to us by them, and by us unto them: becauſe it is evidently found of late by ſome that have traded, with their moſt ancient Rabbinicall writers, (men with them of unqueſtionable credit) that they ſpeake plainly from the words of Moſes and the Prophets, the ſame Truths which are revealed unto us by the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts; whereby they do give, not only unto us a manuduction to underſtand (for the ſtrengthning of our Faith) the harmony of the Old and New Teſtament more fully; but they alſo lay a ground of conviction for thoſe of their own Nation, to be dealt withall by us more effectually, for the Demonſtration of the Truth, when we ſhall be able to back it with the Authority of their own Teachers, whom they dare nor contradict.
There be ſome who have already gained much by this Trade, and if ſome reall courſe were taken to ſettle it amongſt us, by bringing their Authors to be Printed, and tranſlated, and in Publick view this truth would be made out unto all; that the Chriſtian Religion doth teach nothing, but that Truth nakedly, which of old was darkly ſpoken of, and beleived by the cheif Doctors of the Jewes themſelves, and from the beginning by Moſes and the Prophets.
This uſefulnes of the Orientall languages, and of the Jewiſh Rabinicall writings, hath moved many in the reformed Churches abroad, to apply themſelves of late unto the ſtudy thereof, with much diligence and induſtry; the example therefore of others, together with the like inclination in any here, raiſed upon the fore-named conſiderations, doth give us an encouragement to hope well of the ſucceſſe of this deſire. If then the countenance of Authority may be obtained, with maintenance to carry on the deſign, which by private Contribution hath been ſet up at London houſe, according to the Petition ſigned by the hands of many Miniſters, and others of the City well-affected, to the advancement of Learning and Piety: we would humbly move, that the ſettlement which ſhall be made, may be ſo conſiderable as to deſerve the name of a Colledge, for the propagating of Orientiall Languages and Learning; that is, that out of the reſerve which is kept for the advancement of Religion and Learning, ſuch an allowance may be made, as will maintaine ſome Profeſſors, and Students whoſe employment ſhould be,
1. To uphold Publickly a conſtant weekly Lecture in theſe Languages.
2. To attend the private inſtructions alſo, of ſuch as ſhall deſire the ſame.
3. To publiſh (a Printing Preſſe being erected which they ſhould ſet a work and over-ſee) and tranſlate ſuch Manuſcripts as ſhall be found moſt uſefull, for the propagating of the Truth amongſt thoſe Nations, and acquainting us with their Learning.
4. To advance the Printing of the new Teſtament into thoſe Languages at eaſie rates, to be made Common amongſt the Orientals and chiefly the Jewes.
5. To endeavour to facilitate the learning of thoſe Tongues, by the abridgment of Grammaticall intricaſies, and the naturall harmony which is found between them.
6. To tranſlate alſo ſome of our Treatiſes into theſe Languages, to be imparted unto them for their converſion to the Truth.
Towards theſe employments, if the State would be pleaſed to allow but one thouſand pounds a year, and appoint Fee-offies in truſt, who ſhould be over-ſeers of the Colledge, and have power to receive the voluntary Contributions, as ſhall be given towards the advancement of theſe deſignes from time to time, (to maintaine the charges of Printing, to buy in Manuſcripts, and procure a Library of Orientall Bookes and to ſend Agents abroad, that they may trade in a Religious way with them) If (I ſay) ſuch an allowance were made for ſuch enployments and Fee-offies appointed; it is very evident that the glory of God thereby be very much advanced, the honour of this Nation greatly upheld, and the reall intentions of Parliament, to propagate Religion, and Learning manifeſted to their praiſe, in this and after Ages.
If ſuch a foundation were laid, and by the Countenance of Authority the work owned; then all thoſe that have been hitherto ſo forward, and well wiſhers to this deſigne here would be encouraged to enlarge themſelves, when they ſhould ſee that the enterprize would come to ſome perfection. Others from abroad will be drawn to a concurrence and communication in thoſe endeavours; the work might be carried on by a Correſpondencie; and the Honour of the whole ſucceſſe would be due to thoſe that ſhall lay the Foundation, whereupon others may add to the building. The diligence and zeale of the Romiſh Condare in their Colledge de Propaganda Fidem ſhould ſtirre us up to emulation, to doe our dutie in a better cauſe: for their Colledge is contrived only to maintain and educate Seminaries, to diſturb the peace of the reformed Churches, and propagate their own Superſtition; but this ſhould be to advance unto all, the meanes of Pietie and Learning which are concealed; and to uphold the fundamentalls of Chriſtianity, which are to be ſet up above humane Intereſts and particular Controverſies; wherein the deſigne will be ſo much the more ſubſervient unto Piety, by how much it will aime onelyonly at the propagation and confirmation of things Neceſſarie, and indifferently profitable unto all, which in the paſſionate fits of particular diſputes, are for the moſt part laid aſide and diſregarded, to the great prejudice of the truth of Chriſtianity; and the overthrow of Common edification. Therefore if by the proſecution of thoſe things which may convict the Jewes of the truth of Chriſtianity; Chriſtians themſelves might get occaſion to conſider their common Intereſt, and therein be drawn to profeſſe a nearer Union then hitherto they have thought upon, this would be a collaterall happineſſe, which may poſſibly flow from this undertaking additionally. And we may promiſe to our ſelves ſome ſuch accidentall ſucceſſe becauſe in good workes of a publique nature, which have an univerſall influence upon the whole ſubſtance of Religion;Revel. 22.2. all the advantages cannot be overſeen at once: They are like the trees of Paradice, which beare twelve manner of fruits, and yeeld their fruit differently every monethmonth.