The second Argument,1 by which we confirm the truth of the Scriptures, is taken from the testimonies that are given to them by our enemies;2 the Gentiles themselves being Judges: As, to instance in the Flood, there are many that have made mention of it. Those Floods that are related by the ancient Greek Historians come so near it, that they must needs have the relation of it from the Jews, though they have mingled it with many falsehoods, we have not the Writings of them, but fragments in the Writings of others, as of Alexander Polyhistor, in Josephus and Cyril: They say that there was a great Flood, and that there was one Nicurus, to whom Saturn revealed it, and bade him make an Ark; and he did so, and gathered some of all beasts into it, and that the Ark was in Armenia, and that the fragments of it are in Heliopolis. And Abidenus saith, that it was a common opinion, that the men, that the Earth brought forth, gathered themselves together and builded a great Tower, which was Babel; and the gods being angry with it, threw it down with a great wind, and thence came the confusion of tongues. And for the pillar of Salt, Josephus saith, that some of it was remaining in his time. And for Abraham, many speak of him, and also of Moses, there are many that agree in their story of him, but the Chaldee Historians especially, and some of the ancientest Greek Historians. Diodorus ⟨p. 54⟩Siculus relates the history of him, though mingled with falsehoods, of what he did in Egypt, and what laws he gave the people, and how he cast out the Canaanites, and that he said he received his laws from a God called Jah, and that they were such laws as separated that people from all others, and that his God was such an one, as could not be seen, &c. And Strabo saith, that he reproved the Egyptians for worshipping visible gods, and therefore he was cast out, and his people with him, &c. After this, when Cyrus did restore the Kingdom of the Jews, and had overcome Darius, Zenophon reports this, that when he came into Babylon, he gave commandment, that no Syrian should be hurt: now Syria lies upon Judea, even as one Shire doth upon another, so that they were all called Syrians. Moreover, Megasthenes, the Chaldean Historian, relates, that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Egypt, Phoenicia, and Syria, and all those parts he brought into captivity;
The second Argument,1 by which we confirme the truth of the Scriptures, is taken from the testimonies that are given to them by our enemies;2 the Gentiles themselves being Iudges: As, to instance in the Floud, there are many that have made mention of it. Those Flouds that are related by the ancient Greek Historians come so neare it, that they must needs have the relation of it from the Iewes, though they have mingled it with many falshoods, wee have not the Writings of them, but fragments in the Writings of others, as of Alexander Polyhistor, in Iosephus and Cyril: They say that there was a great Floud, and that there was one Nicurus, to whom Saturne revealed it, and bade him make an Arke; and he did so, and gathered some of all beasts into it, and that the Arke was in Armenia, and that the fragments of it are in Heliopolis. And Abidenus saith, that it was a common opinion, that the men, that the Earth brought forth, gathered themselves together and builded a great Tower, which was Babel; and the gods being angry with it, threw it down with a great wind, and thence came the confusion of tongues. And for the pillar of Salt, Iosephus saith, that some of it was remaining in his time. And for Abraham, many speake of him, and also of Moses, there are many that agree in their story of him, but the Chaldee Historians especially, and some of the ancientest Greek Historians. Diodorus ⟨p. 54⟩Siculus relates the history of him, though mingled with falshoods, of what he did in Aegypt, and what lawes he gave the people, and how he cast out the Canaanites, and that he said he received his lawes from a God called Iah, and that they were such lawes as separated that people from all others, and that his God was such an one, as could not be seene, &c. And Strabo saith, that he reproved the Aegyptians for worshipping visible gods, and therefore he was cast out, and his people with him, &c. After this, when Cyrus did restore the Kingdome of the Iewes, and had overcome Darius, Zenophon reports this, that when he came into Babylon, he gave commandement, that no Syrian should be hurt: now Syria lyes upon Iudea, even as one Shire doth upon another, so that they were all called Syrians. Moreover, Megasthenes, the Chaldean Historian, relates, that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Aegypt, Phoenicia, and Syria, and all those parts he brought into captivitie;
- 1Arg. 2.
- 2The testimonies that are given to the Scriptures by adversaries.
