The Christian Synagogue, To the reader 1
TO THE STVDIOVS YOVNG DIVINES, VVHO ARE DESIROVS To attaine to the knowledge of the Scriptures, Grace, Mercy, and Peace.
IT was the earnest Prayer of the Talmud Babylon.Iewes (deare Brethren) that, Aarons rod might flourish, (that is) the children of the Priests might prosper: Children in Iob are called budds: Therefore they called Iob 29. 5.the children of the Priests Flores sacerdotales: when Aarons rod flourished it was a token that the Priesthood should continue. It is my heartie prayer to God that Aarons rod may still flourish, that there may be a hopefull seed to succeed, and that the Schooles and Vniversities may Plin. l. 3. c. 12.be like the Pom-citron, that goodly tree, which beareth apples at all times, some falling off, some ripe, and some budding, out: So, as many notable lights decay, other may supply their places. Now that this may be effectuate, first it is requisite, that yee studie to be holy: for as the ornaments which Aaron the high priest put vponupon him, were nothing, if he had not (HOLINES TO THE LORD) written Exod. 28. 36.vponupon his forehead in a plate of Gold. So, if yee should speake with the tongue of Men and Angels, and be profane, what availeth all your learning. Salomon saith, that beautie Pro. 11. 22.in a woman without goodnesse, is as a Ring in a Swines snout. So is learning without grace in a profane Youth.
The second thing which I would recommend to you (my brethren) is, the studie of the holy Scriptures in their owne proper language, the Hebrew and the Greeke; so that they speake not to you by an interpreter; and that the proverbe in the Talmud, may not be applied to you, Benzoma semper foris est: this man is never within: for to reade the Scriptures without considering the originall, is nothing but a standing in the doore, and never entring within the house, you either cannot, or else you will not. Those that cannot, are to be excused, but those that will not, Let them heare what God saith in the prophecie of Hosea, Because thou hast despised knowledge, I will also despise thee, that thou shalt be no more Priest to me. Looke first to the excellencie of the Hebrew tongue, which is knowne, first, Harmonice, (by the sound thereof) comparing it with all other tongues, it borrowes of none, but all borrow of it. Secondly, it is knowne Etymologice, by the derivation thereof, for the names that are derived, are either true, allusiue, or false. Allusiue, his name is Naball, for he Gen. 27. 36 1 Sam. 25. 25.is a foole indeed. False, he is called Iacob, a Supplanter. But the names which the Lord imposed first, were all true, and carry a reason with them why they are so called: as Adam, because he was formed out of redd Gen. 2. 7.earth, and Chava, because she was the mother of Gen. 3. 20.all living creatures, Abraham, because he was the Gen. 16. 5.Father of many Nations, &c. They cannot therefore be imposed by chance, nor are they allusiue, or false. Thirdly, if the grace, efficacie, and perspicuitie of this Language be considered, it will stirre vp a great delight in thee. Here yee shall not finde the stammering tongue of Moses, nor Exod 4. 10.the polluted lippes of Esay, nor Ieremy speaking as a Esay 6. 5. Iere. 1. 6.childe: but yee shall heare the Lord himselfe speaking: Who spake as never▪man spake. Leaue the rotten Ioh. 7. 46.Cisternes, praise the Rivers, but commend the Fountaines aboue all. Yee hauehave many helps now, which your Fathers had not in former ages. It was the complaint of one R…hhagiga in his time, that the Fathers had plowed, sowen, reaped, fanned the Wheat, and set the Bread vponupon the Table: but the children had not a mouth to eate it. Let it not be so said of you, when all things are so prepared for you.
Many worthy Divines hauehave travelled in this subiect before, chiefly that worthy Divine M. Perkins, in his Prophetico foreign cuius memoria in benedictione. So Hyperius, and Keckerman; but that of the Apostl… incouraged me. 1 Cor. 14. 30. (When he sayes) If any thing be revealed to him that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace, for ye may all prophecie one by one, that all may learne, and all may hauehave comfort. Some little gleanings perhaps ye may finde here, for the Lords harvest is so great that all cannot be gathered in A Dwarfe set vponupon the shoulders of a Giant, will see some thing which the Giant himselfe cannot see.
As for you who hauehave your senses exercised, I take not Heb. 12. 11vponupon m…e to giuegive any directions to you, but submit my selfe most humbly to your charitable censure: wishing that some of you who hauehave greater light, would prosecute this kinde of studie, which is so profitable to the Church of God, remembring that saying of the Iewes, foreign Buxtorf. abbrev.foreign Math 25. 19.qui addunt ipsis addetur, & qui substrahit, substrahetur ipsi▪ vntounto every man that hath, it shall be given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath, shall be taken away. If any thing be said amisse, reproue me, and it shall be like a precious oyle that shall not breake my head: If any thing be Psal 141. 5.well done, giuegive the Lord the first fruits, and take the remnant to your selues. Thus leaving my travels to your charitable iudgement, I bid you farewell.