COLLECTIONS

FROM

FABRICIUS

T

And OTHERS,

CONCERNING

ES DRA S

HE Learned Allix fuppofes this Book of Efdras was written by a Monta. nist, who was a Jew: But this is not probable; fince Barnabas's Epi. piftle quotes the Fourth of Efdras, ch. 12. v.4. and Barnabas wrote long before Montanus; and Jofephus quotes the Third Book of Efdras.

This is a Quotation from Picus Mirandula, containing the Mysteries of the Cabbala, in his Apo logy, pag 82. Hi funt libri fcientiæ Cabbale, in quibus Efdras merito venam intellectus, id eft, ineffabilem de fuperfubftantiali Deitate theologiam, fapien tia fontem,id eft, de intelligibilibus angelicifque formis exactam metaphyficam, & fcientia flumen, ideft, de rebus naturalibus firmiffimam philofophiam effe, clara imprimis voce pronuntiavit.

Hi libri apud Hebræos hâc tempeftate tanta religione coluntur, ut neminem liceat, nifi annos quadringinta natum illos attingere. Hos ego libros non me. diocri impenfa mihi cum comparassem, fummâ diligen. tia, indefeffis laboribus cum perlegiffem, vidi in illis (teftis eft Deus) religionem non tam Mofaicam quàm Chriftianam; ibi Trinitatis myfterium, ibi Verbi incarnatio, ibi Meffiæ divinitas, ibi de peccato originali, de illius per Chriftum expiatione, de cælefti Jerufalem, de cafu Dæmonum, bos 70 libros evolville Je jactavit Picus Mirandula.

And from hence I may infer, that the Fourth of Efdras is divided in the Cabbala into 70 Books: And this ought to be inquired into by them who can read them; and then there will remain 134 of the Old Scripture compiled or revised by Efdras, and divided into fo many Books by him. But now we count 39; and the reafon of that Number, is, Haggai, Zachary, Malachi, Ezra, Nehemiah, were added to the 34, after Efdras's Return from Babylon; where the 134 were trang scribed by his Order.

Note,

Note, That fince Barnabe, Jofephus, and the Cabbala quote Efdras; and all the Old Fathers acknowledge him to be a Prophet, and to have restored the Scripture: (Vide Iren. lib. 3. c.25.) Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. has preferved the Greek; and Theodoret, in his Prefation on the Pfalms, Clem. Alexandrinus, Strom. p. 329, and 342. Tertullian, de cultu fam. cap. 31. St. Jerome, pag. 134. Bafil, Epift. ad Chilonem, p. 142. Chryfoftom, Hom. 8. in Epift. ad Hebræos, p. 785. Athanafius junior, in Synopfi facræ Scripture; Leontius Byzantinus, de Setis, p. 428. I may certainly infer, that Efdras was never written by a Christian Montanist; fince all these Authors affirm what is writ Chap. 14. of transcribing and amending the Copies of Scripture. Some object, that it cannot be true, as Juftin fays in his Dialogue with Tryphon, that the Jews took away what Efdras had faid of their rejecting the Meffias. I may reply, That they did not reckon Efdras among the Canon of Scripture; but it was a Book kept in their Archives, as an Ecclefiaftick Writer, in the Ages after their Canon was fettled; and afterwards it was admitted into their Cabbala; and whether the Words eras'd by the Jews, are in that Copy, we may inquire to justifie Justin.

Epiphanius, concerning the 72 Prophets, rec. kons Efdras the 57th Prophet; and his Prophecies

were

were writ in the first and fecond Apocrypha, and in Malachi; and none in Ezra and Nehemiah.

The Author of the Middle State of Souls depar ted, p. 11. affirms of this Book of Efdras, that it has a much better Claim to be reckoned amongst the Canonical Books of the Old Testament, than any other of the controverted Books, which are called Apocryphal, for many reafons he menti. ons: there is nothing in it contrary to the Analogy of Faith; nothing Romantic, neither in Subftance nor Stile; orthodox and pious, worthy of a noble and holy Penman: It was printed in all the Roman Bibles, as facred, till the Council of Trent. 'Tis cited by the Fathers, with the Canonical Prophets 'Tis often quoted in the New Teftament; Luke 11. V. 49. from ch. 1. v. 32. by our Saviour, St. Matthew 23. v. 37. Efdr. ch. 1. v. 30. and Caftalie had a good Opinion of this Book.

Selden in his Table Talk, pag. 10. fays, The Apocrypha is bound with the Bibles of all Churches that have been hitherto: Why fhould we leave it out?

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DAGE 20. line 19. a Comma after coming; 1. 20. no Stop after time; p. 22 line ult. for Distinction read Deftru&tion; p. 26. 1. 27. r. 70 Weeks; P. 31. 1. 7. r. many others; p. 37. 1. 40. r. Rev. ch. 19. p. 39. 1. 1. for Sin, r. bis ; p. 54. 34. for Diftinction r. Destruction; p. 55. 1. 6. for Ways, r. Wars; 1. 13. r. Sion is built; p. 56. 1. 28. r. Firft Beast is; 1. 32. r. This Sion; p. 75. 1. 19. for Proverbs r. Prophecies; p. 78. 1.32. for 15th r. 12th; p. 79. 1. 7. add Times after Time; p. 99. 1. 7. dele Captive; p. 109. 1. 33. r. fought with the Syrians; p. 116. 1. 24. for Money r. many; P. 144. 1. 5. for Land r. Laws; p. 153. l. 15. for Sight r. Light; p. 159. 1. 17. r. unwalled ; p. 165. 1. 6. for disguised read disgraced.