Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

tion, and likewise in a Harmony of the Evangelists ascribed to Severus, who was bishop of Antioch in 518, and afterwards; which has been published by Montfaucon.

a

b

They who are curious may consult Mill, Bengelius, Wetstein, Wolfius, and others, upon this point. 18. I have selected out of this Commentary a few only, of many observations, that deserve notice. Upon the whole, it is a good performance: and we may hence perceive, that there were some, before our times, who read the scriptures with care and understanding.

19. My readers, I hope, will not omit to recollect, that beside the testimony to the four gospels, we have seen in this work quotations of the Acts, of several epistles of the apostle Paul, and of the first epistle of Peter. I would here add, that the epistle to the Hebrews is quoted in this Commentary; and the epistle of James.

d

с

с

20. This writer, like many other of the ancients, asserts free-will in strong terms.

CHAP. CXXIII.

1.

INNOCENT I. BISHOP OF ROME.

INNOCENT the First succeeded Anastasius, in the year 402. The seventh and last decree, or article of a letter of his to Exuperius bishop of Tholouse, contains a catalogue of the books of the Old and New Testament, which are in the canon.

f

2. The scriptures of the New Testament are these: four books of the gospels; fourteen • epistles of the apostle Paul; three epistles of John; two epistles of Peter; an epistle of Jude; an epistle of James; the Acts of the apostles; the apocalypse of John.' After which, mention is made of some other writings, which ought to be rejected and condemned.

3. It should be observed, that many of Innocent's letters are suspected to be supposititious; this in particular, and especially the last decree or article in it: for it is not very easy to conceive, what reason there should be for Innocent to send a catalogue of books of scripture to Exuperius: and it may not be amiss to take notice, that this letter of Innocent is not represented to be written, as in council, but only upon his own authority.

4. Nevertheless, after all, we cannot forbear to observe, with some satisfaction, that this catalogue of scripture is exactly the same with our own.

[blocks in formation]

liorum libri quatuor, apostoli Pauli epistolæ 14, epistolæ Joannis tres, epistola Petri duæ, epistola Judæ, epistola Jacobi, Actus apostolorum, Apocalypsis Joannis. Cætera autem .... non solum repudianda, verum etiam noveris esse damnanda. Innoc. ad Exuper. Ep. Tholos. ap. Labb. Conc. T. ii. P. 1256.

8 Vid. Cav. H. L. T. i. p. 379. Basnag. Hist. de l'Eglise. 1. viii. c. 8. n. vi. p. 439. Beaus. Hist. de Manich. T. i p. 359.

CHAP. CXXIV.

PAULINUS, BISHOP OF NOLA, IN ITALY.

I. His time. II. His testimony to the scriptures.

a

I. PONTIUS Meropius Paulinus, or Paulinus Nolanus, placed by Cave at the year 393, was born about 353: ordained presbyter in 393; bishop of Nola in Campania, in 409, as some think; or, as Pagi argues, and with great appearance of probability, in 403. He died in 431, in the 78th year of his age.

II. I observe in him a few things:

1. His works, in prose, abound with texts of scripture, quoted, or alluded to.

с

2. As Paulinus quotes Ps. ciii. or civ. ver. 18, agreeably to Jerom's version, I place the quotation below, with a critical remark of Jerom upon that text.

d

с

3. Paulinus often quotes the Canticles: I place below two of his quotations of that book. 4. He quotes the book of Ecclesiasticus with great respect, as written by Solomon.

g

f

5. In a letter, supposed to be written in the year 400, to Amandus, then presbyter, and afterwards bishop of Bourdeaux, and successor to Delphinus, Paulinus speaks after this manner : He says, that John outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre, because he was the youngest: he also says, that it had been handed down by tradition, that John survived all the other apostles, and wrote the last of the four evangelists, and so as to confirm their most ⚫ certain histories; but though he was last in time, he was first in point of sublimity: he there also speaks of John as writer of the Revelation: and as he proceeds, he observes, that in the beginning of St. John's gospel all heretics are confuted, particularly Arius, Sabellius, Photinus, • Marcion, and the Manichees.

[blocks in formation]

h

book of the Acts, and all St. Paul's epistles, particularly

■ Vid. Cav. H. L. T. i. Fabric. ad Gennad. cap. 48. Pagi Ann. 431. n. 53. Basnag. Ann. 394. n. 10. 11. 432. n. 5. Paulin. Vit. ad Calc. opp. edit. Paris. 1685. Du Pin. T. iii. p. 146. Tillem. Mem. T. xiv.

Ann. 403. n. 10... 13. Vid. Eund. A. 431, n. 53. Montes' enim, inquit, excelsi cervis, et petra refugium 'herinaceis.' Ad Amand. Ep. 9. al. 22. n. 4. p. 45. Paris. 1685. 4to.

d Petra refugium herinaceis."] Pro quo in Hebræo positum est Sphannim,' et omnes xopoyguλias voce simili transtulerunt exceptis Septuaginta, qui lepores interpretati sunt. Sciendum autem, animal esse non majus hericio, habens simitudem muris et ursi. Unde in Palæstinâ apxтoμus dicitur; et magna est in istis regionibus hujus generis abundantia ; semperque in cavernis petrarum, et terræ foveis habitare consueverunt. Ad Sunn. et Fret. Ep. 135. T. ii. p. 658. *... quâ et in Canticis Canticorum voce blanditur: Co'lumba,' inquit, mea, perfecta mea, quoniam caput meum ' repletum est rore, et crines mei guttis noctis.' [cap. v. 2.] Ad Sever. Ep. 23. al. 3, et 4. n. 33. p. 143.-Hæc oscula sponso suo jam tunc parabat ecclesia, quando cantabat : Osculetur me ab osculis oris sui.' [cap. i. 2.] Ib. n. 37. P. 146.

6

[ocr errors]

'Nam in Ecclesiastico per Salomonem loquitur divina sapientia: Quia multi periclitati sunt auri causâ, et facta est in facie illius perditio ipsorum.' [cap. xxxi. 6.] Ad Milit. Ep. 25. al. 39. p. 168.

Subvenit itaque nobis, et de evangelio adolescentis apostoli beata velocitas illa, quâ Petrum affectu currendi parem,

sed majoris ævi pondere tardiorem, ad sepulcrum Domini præcucurrit; ut resurrectionem corporis prior inspiceret, qui solus in pectore recumbebat. Unde geminos in alveum cordis sui traxerat fontes, quos in orbem idem postea revelationis et evangelii præco diffudit.... Idem, ultra omnium tempora apostolorum ætate productâ, postremus evangelii scriptor fuisse memoratur; ut sicut de ipso vas electionis ait: [Gal. ii.] quasi columna firmamentum adjiceret fundamentis ecclesiæ, priores evangelii scriptores consonâ auctoritate confirmans; ultimus auctor libri tempore, sed primus in capite sacramenti. Quippe qui solus e quatuor fluminibus ex ipso summo divini capitis fonte decurrens de nube sublimi sonat: 'In principio erat verbum.' Transcendit Möysen.... Iste et evangelistis cæteris, vel ab humano Salvatoris ortu, vel a typico legis sacrificio, vel a prophetico præcursoris Baptistæ præconio evangelium resurrectionis exorsis, altius volans, penetravit et cœlos. Ad Amand. Ep. 21. al. 24. n. 1, 2. p. 114.

Joannes igitur, beatus Dominici pectoris cubator,.... inebriatus Spiritu Sancto,. . . ab ipso intimo et infinito omnium principiorum principio evangelii fecit exordium. Quo uno omnia diaboli, quæ in hæreticis latrant, ora clauduntur. Ibid. n. 4. p. 115.

[blocks in formation]

a

7. He celebrates St. Luke as a physician for soul and body; whence it may be concluded, he supposed him to be spoken of in Col. iv. 14. At the same time he ascribes to St. Luke, two books; undoubtedly meaning his gospel, and the Acts of the apostles.

8. He often quotes the epistle of St. James, the first epistle of St. Peter, and the first epistle of St. John, but I do not recollect any quotations in him of the second epistle of St. Peter, or the epistle of St. Jude, or the second and third of St. John; though it may be reckoned highly probable, that they were all received by him.

b

9. He often quotes, or refers to the book of the Revelation, which is ascribed by him to the apostle John, in the passage above cited, and elsewhere.

10. He either read, or at least understood, the apostle's exhortation in 1 Cor. ix. 24, in this manner: So run, that ye may all obtain.'

11. I put also in the margin his translation of that expression, 1 Cor. ix. 27; "I keep under my body."

[ocr errors]

с

12. He quotes 1 Pet. ii. 23, after this manner: But yielded [or committed] himself,' unto death, to him that judgeth unjustly.'

13. In a letter written to St. Augustine, in 410, or soon after, he asks of him the solution of divers questions, taken out of the Psalms, the apostle, and the gospel: those from the apostle are taken out of the epistle to the Ephesians, to the Romans, and other epistles of Paul.

h

CHAP. CXXV.

PELAGIUS.

1. CAVE speaks of Pelagius at the year 405, the supposed time of his publishing his heresy: Basnage,' at 412: Pagi, at 410, and following years: in whom, as well as in many others, his history may be seen. It is generally allowed, that he was a Britain; and many think of the country now called Wales. His name was Morgan, or Marigena; which he changed into Pelagius, of more agreeable sound, and the same meaning. His remaining works, beside fragments, or quotations in Augustine, and others, are, an epistle to Demetrias, written in 413, or 414; a Commentary upon all St. Paul's epistles, except that to the Hebrews; and, a Confession of Faith, called Symbolum ad Damasum. The most beautiful edition of Pelagius's Commentaries that I know of, is in the twelfth tome of Le Clerc's edition of Augustine's works, which is an additional tome to the Benedictine edition; but the edition of these Commentaries, which I shall refer to, is that in the fifth tome of Martianay's edition of Jerom's works.

n

[ocr errors]

2. In the Symbol he says, that he receives the New and Old Testament in the same num'ber of books that the catholic church does. his Commentaries he vindicates the Old Tes

a Hic medicus Lucas prius arte, deinde loquelâ.
Bis medicus Lucas. Ut quondam corporis ægros
Terrenâ curabat ope, et nunc mentibus ægris
Composuit gemino vitæ medicamina libro.

P. 153. D. S. Felice Natal. 9. ver. 424. &c. b Poteras, Roma, intentatas tibi illas in Apocalypsi ininas non timere, si talia semper ederent munera senatores tui. Ad. Pamm. Ep. 13. al. 37. n. 15. p. 75.

[ocr errors]

Quæ causa dicendi apostolo fuit: Sic currite, ut apprehendatis omnes.' Quod in agone terreno contra est, ubi non potest lucta nisi dispari luctantium sorte finiri, ut unius gloria alterius ignominia sit. Ad. Sever. Ep. 24. al. 2. n. 15. p. 161. Conf. Theodoret. in loc.

d Lividum facio corpus meum, et in servitutem redigo.

Ad Aug Ep 50. n. 13. p. 299.

Ad Aug. Ep. 50. al. 43 n. 7. p. 296.

See S. Paulin. Art. 49. Tillem. Mem. T. 14.

8 Hæc interim de Psalmis. Nunc et de apostolo quodcumque proponam. Dicit ad Ephesios. Ad Aug. Ep. 50.

In

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

tament against the Manichees: in his letter to Demetrias, he speaks of the volumes of both the Testaments.

a

3. In his epistle to Demetrias, and in his Commentaries, he quotes many books of the Old and New Testament; particularly the Acts of the apostles, the epistle of James, both the epistles of Peter. I need not refer to the places, nor transcribe the words.

4. Whether Pelagius received the epistle to the Hebrews may be questioned: it is, indeed, several times mentioned in his Commentaries upon the thirteen epistles of Paul; but possibly some may suspect those passages to be interpolations: for, if he had received the epistle to the Hebrews as Paul's, he would have written a Commentary upon it, as well as upon the rest. However, it may not be amiss to recollect here, that in the chapter of Augustine it was observed, that Julian, the Pelagian, freely quotes the epistle to the Hebrews as Paul's.

C

5. In his Commentaries," he quotes the Revelation of John.

e

f

6. In his letter to Demetrius, Pelagius speaks highly to the advantage of the scriptures. He tells that lady, that from them only she can receive a full knowledge of the will of God; and recommends to her the study of them: he there speaks of the scriptures, as an epistle sent to us from the Divine Majesty; and he thinks it strange, that men do not receive them with joy and veneration. Upon Coloss. iii. 16, he says, that laymen ought to be skilful in the word of God; and, indeed, Pelagius himself seems to have been always a layman, destitute of ecclesiastical honours: and upon 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17, he says, the scriptures were designed for general use, that we might profit thereby.

[ocr errors]

7. I shall now observe a few other things, either various readings, or explications of texts. 8. He says, that' in some things in the seventh chapter to the Romans, Paul does not speak of himself, now a Christian; but of another, still under the law.

9. St. Paul says, 1 Cor. v. 9; "I have written to you in an epistle." Pelagius" understands the apostle to mean the epistle which he was then writing: which I take to be right.

10. Upon Galat. i. 19, he says, that James was called the Lord's brother, because he was son of Mary, wife of Cleophas, his mother's sister.

[ocr errors]

11. I scarce need to observe, that he supposeth the epistle to the Ephesians to be written to the Christians at Ephesus.

12. Upon Philip. ii. 14, he says, that God works in us to will by persuasives, and setting • before us rewards: and he who perseveres to the end will be saved.'

13. Pelagius was an orthodox Homoüsian. And when Paul styles our Lord, Col. i. 15, "the first-born of every creature," or of the whole creation,' he supposeth him to intend

• Plena sunt utriusque Testamenti volumina hujusmodi testimoniis Ad Demetriad. p. 16. in cap. vii.-N. B. In quoting the epistle to Demetrias, the pages are those of St. Jerom's fifth tome; and the number of chapters, or sections, refers to the edition of the same epistle, in the appendix to the second tome of St. Augustine's works.

[ocr errors]

Sicut et ipse ad Hebræos perhibens docet. In Ep. ad Rom. cap. i. p. 928. Vid. et in Rom. cap. viii. p. 953. in 2 Cor. cap. iv. p. 1018. in Eph. c. v. p. 1058. in Coloss. cap. i. p. 1070.

See before, p. 586.

d Cum tradiderit regnum Deo et Patri.] Regnum scilicet humani generis, secundum Petri epistolam, et Apocalypsim Joannis, Patri tradendum adserit esse per filium. In 1 Cor. xv. p. 1007.

• Scito itaque, in scripturis divinis, per quas solus potes plenam Dei intelligere voluntatem, prohiberi quædam.... Ad Demetr. p. 17. in. cap. 9.

Propter quod maxime sanctarum scripturarum studium diligendum est; illuminanda divinis eloquiis anima: et, coruscante Dei verbo, diaboli repellendæ sunt tenebræ. Ib. p. 27. infr. m. cap. 26.

Nobis vero Deus ipse, æterna illa majestas, ineffabilis atque inestimabilis potestas, sacras literas, et vere adorandos præceptorum suorum apices mittit. Et non statim cum gaudio et veneratione suscipimus? p. 21. cap. 10.

His ostenditur, verbum Christi non sufficienter, sed abundanter etiam laïcos habere debere; et docere se invicem, vel monere. Ap. Hieron. T. v. p. 1074.

г

i Vid. Basnag. Ann. 412. n. 8.

Ideo data est legis instructio, ut ejus consilio cuncta fa-cientes, juste justa faciamus. Ib. p. 1099.

Numquid non Paulus nondum erat Dei gratiâ liberatus ? Unde probatur, quia ex alterius personâ hæc loquitur. . . Et rursum in personâ ejus, qui sub legere erat, hæc loquitur.. In Rom. cap. 7. ver. 24, 25 p. 948. in. Vid. et ad ver. 18. P. 947. M.

[ocr errors]

Hoc ipsum in hac epistolà ita scripsi, non ut a gentibus,. sed ab his qui peccant in ecclesiâ. separemini. Ad 1 Cor. v. p. 983.

" Unde Jacobus secundum cognationem frater Domini dicitur, quoniam de Marià Cleopha, sorore matris Domini,, natus esse monstratur. In Gal. p. 1037.

• ' Qui sunt Ephesi, et fidelibus in Christo Jesu.'] Non omnibus Ephesiis, sed his qui credunt in Christo. In Eph. i.. p. 1048.

P Velle operatur in nobis suadendo, et præmia promittendo. Qui perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit. &c. Ad Philip. p. 1094.

"Credimus... in verum Dei filium, non factum, aut adopti-vum, sed genitum, et unius cum Patre substantiæ, quod Græci dicunt poo: atque ita per omnia æqualem Deo Patri, ut. nec tempore, nec gradu, nec potestate, possit esse inferior. Symb. Explan. ad Damas. ap. Hieron. T. v. p. 122. Conf. Pagi. Ann. 405. n. 4

Primogenitus secundum assumti hominis formam, non tempore, sed honore, juxta illud: Filius meus primogenitus Israël. In Col. cap. 1. p. 1070.

Christ's human nature; and not that he was first in point of time, but in point of honour and dignity: as Israel is called God's "first born," or best beloved, and most favoured.

[ocr errors]

14. I likewise put in the margin his explication of Col. i. 19, "that in him should all fulness dwell." The

[ocr errors]

15. In 1 Tim. iii. 16, he had not " God," but which' "was manifest in the flesh." same reading is in another Commentary upon St. Paul's thirteen epistles, ascribed to Hilary the deacon of which an account was given formerly.

a In aliis, hoc est, in apostolis, patriarchis, vel prophetis, gratia fuit ex parte. In Christo autem tota divinitas habitavit corporaliter, quasi si dicas summaliter. Ibid. p. 1070. Et manifeste magnum est pietatis sacramentum, quod

'manifestatum est in carne.'] Quod scire te cupio sacramentum incarnationis Christi, per quem generi humano pietas collata est. p. 1090.

C See p. 522.

T. Bensley. Printer,

Bolt Court, Ficet street, London.

END OF VOL. II.

« ElőzőTovább »