7 From the very baseness of falsehood, we learn to admire the lustre of truth. Consider Satan's ambition, though he be the father of lies, to imitate the Scriptural truth. He had his Sorcerers in Egypt, to follow Moses in his wonders; albeit non passibus aequis, they came far short of him. To disgrace and weaken the credit of the Scriptures, he had his Poets and Fabulists, whose Mythologies were obtruded for true reports. But there are three main differences between them: First, there dross was mingled with the gold, water with the wine: happily it was truth, but wronged in the reporting, as a good tale is marred in the telling. That the great Army of Sennacherib was destroyed, both Isaiah and Herodotus agree. But Isaiah says, it was by the Angel of God; Herodotus says, it was by an infinite number of Mice, which in the night-time did eat up the leathers of their armours, targets, and bridles, and hereupon they fled. Secondly, that is said to be derived from the Gentiles to the Jews, which indeed came from the Jews to the Gentiles. Plutarch says that some of the Jews Feasts, yea, their Sabbath-day, and the word Sabbos, was derived from the Feasts of Bacchus. But indeed the solemnities of Bacchus came from them, being nothing so ancient as Moses. Thirdly, there have been like reports, but under borrowed names, as Augustine observes. In allusion to the true History of Jonah, his swallowing and egestion by the Whale; Herodotus writes of one Arion; who for his money being thrown over shipboard, a Dolphin took him on his back, and being delighted with his music, carried him to Tanarus, from whence he went to Penander at Corinth, informing him of his received injury, and strange deliverance. But we may justly suspect, that the Greek tale of the one, meant the Hebrew truth of the other. Satan knowing that it was prophesied of CHRIST, Isaiah 42.7. that he should open the blind eyes, unstop the ears of the deaf, make the lame leap like Harts, and the tongues of the dumb to sing, Isaiah 35.6. He feigned an Aesculapius, and gave on ⟨p. 363⟩as strange wonders of him: and for better facilitating his purpose, he called him the Son of God. Now to wound the Devil with his own weapon, even this argument proves the Divine and indubitate verity of the Scripture.
7 From the very basenesse of falshood, we learne to admire the lustre of truth. Consider Satans ambition, though he be the father of lyes, to imitate the Scripturall truth. He had his Sorcerers in Aegypt, to follow Moses in his wonders; albeit non passibus aequis, they came farre short of him. To disgrace and weaken the credit of the Scriptures, he had his Poets and Fabulists, whose Mythologies were obtruded for true reports. But there are three maine differences betweene them: First, there drosse was mingled with the gold, water with the wine: happily it was truth, but wronged in the reporting, as a good tale is marred in the telling. That the great Armie of Senacherib was destroyed, both Esay and Herodotus agree. But Esay sayes, it was by the Angell of God; Herodotus sayes, it was by an infinite number of Mise, which in the night-time did eat up the leathers of their armours, targets, and bridles, and hereupon they fled. Secondly, that is said to be derived from the Gentiles to the Iewes, which indeed came from the Iewes to the Gentiles. Plutarch sayes that some of the Iewes Feasts, yea, their Sabbath-day, and the word Sabbos, was derived from the Feasts of Bacchus. But indeed the solemnities of Bachus came from them, being nothing so ancient as Moses. Thirdly, there have beene like reports, but under borrowed names, as Augustine observes. In allusion to the true Historie of Ionah, his swallowing and egestion by the Whale; Herodotus writes of one Arion; who for his money being throwen over shipboord, a Dolphin tooke him on his backe, and being delighted with his musike, carried him to Tanarus, from whence hee went to Penander at Corinth, informing him of his received injury, and strange deliverance. But we may justly suspect, that the Greeke tale of the one, meant the Hebrew truth of the other. Satan knowing that it was prophesied of CHRIST, Esay 42.7. that hee should open the blinde eyes, unstop the eares of the deafe, make the lame leape like Harts, and the tongues of the dumbe to sing, Esay 35.6. He fained an Aesculapius, and gave on ⟨p. 363⟩as strange wonders of him: and for better facilitating his purpose, hee called him the Sonne of God. Now to wound the Devill with his owne weapon, even this argument proves the Divine and indubitate verity of the Scripture.
