A SUPPLEMENT To Dr. HAMMOND's Paraphrase and Annotations ON THE New Testament .

IN WHICH His Interpretation of many important Passages is freely and impartially examin'd , and confirm'd or refuted :

And the SACRED TEXT further explain'd by new Remarks upon every Chapter .

By Monsieur LE CLERC .

English'd by W. P.

To which is prefix'd , A LETTER from the Author to a Friend in England , occasion'd by this Translation .

LONDON : Printed for Sam. Buckley , at the Dolphin against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet . M. DC.XC.IX .

HAVING perus'd several Sheets of an English Version of my Additions to Dr. Hammond on the New Testament , which were sent me over , I was well satisfied with the care and faithfulness of the Translator , not doubting of his exactness in the other Sheets , which I have not yet look'd over ; but considering how unfit Judges of such kind of Writings , those who can read them only in their mother Tongue often are , I could not tell whether I had any occasion to rejoice . For hereby those things are submitted to the Censure of the Vulgar , which are in part above a vulgar Capacity ; for there are several things in this Volume , which , tho render'd into English , cannot be understood but by those who have some skill in the Greek Language , and in Heathen and Ecclesiastical Antiquities . No others can safely enough judg of them , because the force of Arguments many times entirely depends upon knowing the use of the Greek Tongue , or Ecclesiastical or Profane History . Yet no Men determine more confidently of these things than those who want that knowledg ; because they think themselves competent Judges of every thing that is written in their own Language . And therefore I have often wonder'd that the learned Man , whose Annotations I have translated into Latin , did not chuse rather to write in Latin , than in English ; when he very well knew that a great many , nay all the best things he had written in them , were such as could not be understood by mere English Readers . Besides , I did not know whether some learned Men of your Church-Clergy might think well of a Translation of my Additions ; not because I have any where opposed the Doctrins of the Church of England , but because many , I can't tell why , are displeased that the Books of Strangers should be read by their Countrymen . I have found this by experience , both before and not long since , when one that was a perfect Stranger to me , without my Knowledg and Consent , turned into English the Lives of some Fathers that I had written in French a considerable time before , in the Bibliotheque Vniverselle . For those English Lives , which I have not yet seen , stirred up against me the learned Dr. Cave , who perhaps would have said nothing about the French Lives ; at least he was till that time silent , when in truth he had no reason to reflect upon me for any thing I had said in them , as I shall some time or other , and perhaps soon , shew . And yet there is no man it may be in the Continent , that has a greater value for the English Clergy , and other learned Men of that Nation , than I , or that speaks or writes oftner in their praise ; and this not out of Flattery ( for what Advantages have I , or can have from thence , who have long since settled my self in Holland ? ) but because I am really of that mind . And this I have testified also by my Actions , having translated several of their Writings into more known Languages than English , that every one might have the benefit of the Learning of the English Nation . What therefore can be the reason , why some English Gentlemen are unwilling to have my Writings read in English ? I do not know , nor do I think my self concerned to be very inquisitive into it .

But as I am a lover of Peace , and utterly averse to all Contention , it would perhaps have been more for my satisfaction if I had continued under the shelter , if I may so speak , of the Latin Tongue , and so neither feared the rash Censures of the ignorant , nor provoked the displeasure of those learned Men , who would have no body heard but themselves . Yet since I am forced to take my Chance , and the Bookseller has thought fit to make me appear to his Countrymen in English , I shall say a few things to you , as my Friend , by which I may perhaps remove the prejudices and misapprehensions of some People .

Since my Latin Version of Dr. Hammond was published , I find he is become very famous , by that multitude of Copies which have been dispersed into all parts of Europe , and are much used by all that study the Scriptures . But notwithstanding the eagerness of Buyers and Readers , there have been divers Censures passed upon this my Undertaking . And some of them are come to my knowledg , to which I shall briefly reply .

There are some who would not have had me taken up so much time and pains in translating Dr. Hammond ; but rather my self have written a new Paraphrase on the New Testament , adding those things which I thought were omitted by other Interpreters . These think too favourably of me , and not honourably enough of the learned Doctor . But I who know my self and him better , and understand what it is to keep within compass , count it an honour to have my fragments added to his completer Labours ; if I may but do it with the leave of those who are of a contrary opinion . And that I speak herein sincerely , and not out of any feigned Modesty , sufficiently appears by the great trouble I have taken upon self , more for Dr. Hammond's sake than my own ; for if I had not had a great esteem for his Writings , I should never have translated such a large Volume ; nor would I have added any thing to idle Fictions , or spent time in confuting things , the weakness of which every one might see . And indeed as there are three things requisite in an Interpreter , without which nothing extraordinary can be expected from him , and which , if any one has , he does ill except he employs them for the publick good ; those , in my judgment , were all found in Dr. Hammond . To wit , a knowledg of the Tongue wherein the Author writes whom we undertake to interpret , and the Subject of which he treats ; a continual and careful reading of that Writer , so as to become perfect Masters of his Stile and Method ; and lastly a sort of Critical or Grammatical Habit , acquired by long Custom , and confirmed by reading the best Interpreters , so as to be able to apply what we know of the Language and Things , skilfully and pertinently , whenever there is occasion .

Dr. Hammond was not only a very skilful Divine , but an excellent Grecian and likewise Hebrician , the Idioms of which Language are often mixed by the Writers of the New Testament with Greek Expressions . They that understand only speculative Divinity , often stumble in particular Passages , and many times look for Doctrins , true indeed in themselves , but nothing at all to their purpose , in places where they are not ; and know not how to make a right use of those places whence they may really be deduced . They are contented not to oppose the received Doctrins , and think they cannot do amiss in seeking them any where , provided the words do not too plainly oppose it . By which means we see the Antient Interpreters of Scripture , both Greek and Latin , because they had no regard to Words or Grammar , but minded only truth of Doctrine , have strangely mistaken the genuin sense of Scripture . Hence , in part , came innumerable vain Allegories ; which I do not call vain , because they contain false Doctrins , but because they are grounded upon no certain reason . Hence proceeded the violent Interpretations , and pitiful Subtilties , with which the Writings of those Interpreters abound . We need but read St. Austin's Commentaries on the Psalms , where we shall scarce meet with a page , that has not some examples of this kind . Which if it were a true way of interpreting , any thing , almost might be proved or disproved out of any place whatsoever . This Dr. Hammond carefully avoided , and would have avoided more , if some particular things had not a little too often occurred to his thoughts ; as the Heresy of the Gnosticks , the Destruction of Jerusalem , and Church-Discipline ; which three things he frequently sought for , where no body acquainted with the Apostles stile , had ever before look'd for them , and few again ever will . Yet , as I said before , Dr. Hammond does not near so often dash upon this Rock , as the Antient , or most late Interpreters , especially those who have written in the last Age. I might add this also , which is no small commendation of his Annotations , that he follows mostly that scheme of Divinity which is more agreable to Scripture , than the Opinions of many Interpreters , keeping a middle way between those who deduce a sort of fatal Necessity from all eternity , of which necessity the Mind of Man is a mere Instrument ; and those , who like the Heathens , are said to deny that Vertue is at all owing to God .

No Man that reads his Annotations can doubt , whether he had that other faculty of an excellent Interpreter , which I said lay in an exact knowledg of the stile of Scripture , and cannot be acquired but by a constant reading of it . We shall find but few Interpreters so well acquainted with the Sacred Writings : That frequent and exact comparing of the words and expressions of Scripture with one another , which the Reader , upon the first opening of the Book , may observe , puts this matter beyond all doubt .

The third Qualification , which I said was a Critical Habit of judging concerning the meaning of places , tho it was not so great in him as the two former , was however considerable . And this I doubt not he attained by a diligent reading of the best Writers , especially Grotius ; and he would have acquired it in a much greater degree , if the constant trouble of defending the Church of England , against several sorts of Adversaries , had not diverted him . But if we compare him with the Antient Interpreters , or with the greatest part of those who have written in the foregoing Age , we shall find none among the Antients , and but few among those of late , that can be thought his Equals . For the Antients tho they understood Greek , trusted more to their skill in Rhetorick than Language ; and took more pleasure in running out into common places , or Allegories , than in seriously interpreting words and expressions . Origen and St. Jerom , who besides understood Hebrew , did also much more seldom use their knowledg in that kind , than a sort of Eloquence which took much in their Age. And later Interpreters have been more industrious to fill up their Commentaries with their own Divinity , and Controversies with other Sects of Christians , than with strict enquiries into the signification of Words and Phrases . But Dr. Hammond , considering what is expected from an Interpreter , and knowing the difference between a Preacher or a Divine , and an Expositor of Scripture , sets himself to perform the part of an Interpreter , and seldom concerns himself about any thing else .

Which being so , it cannot reasonably be said that I have spent my time ill in translating Dr. Hammond's Annotations , or in illustrating , correcting , and enlarging them . But as mens Judgments commonly are , proceeding not from love to Truth , but from Passion , I find there are others , who whether really or seemingly , affirm that I am not indeed to be blamed for translating Dr. Hammond ; but for annexing those things to his Annotations , wherein I often charge him with Error , or do otherwise contradict his Opinion ; as if I were bound to assent to all that he says , or ought to have so great a reverence for him , as to be afraid of professing that I think he was mistaken in his interpretation of some Passages .

But to give these Men satisfaction , if they are willing to be satisfied , I would fain know which of the two ought to be most valued , Dr. Hammond's Honour , or Truth ? The Reputation of a Man long since dead , and whose Opinions no Law divine or humane obliges us to follow ; or the defence of immortal Truth , which we cannot forsake without offending both God and Men ? If they are of that humour , that they had rather maintain the Honour of a learned Divine , as I before said , but subject to error , than Truth , they are not fit to be spoken with . I will have no contest with such Men as profess themselves enemies to Truth ; but shall leave them , without any reply , to the Mercy of their own perverse Temper . But the Errors , they say , of great Men , ought to be conceal'd , rather than aggravated . I answer , I have no where aggravated any thing , but confuted him in the softest terms , whenever I supposed him in a mistake . However , I don't think the greatest Mens Faults ought to be conceal'd , who the greater they are thought to be , the more liable unwary men are to be deceived by them , and therefore whenever they are out of the way , they ought above all others to be set right again . It is just we should forgive their Mistakes , and bear with their Defects , in consideration of their greater Vertues , and the notable Service they have done the learned World ; but we ought not to let Errors pass under the disguise of Truths . It becomes all Candidates of Learning , especially those that study the Scriptures , to endeavour all they can , and contend earnestly , that Truth upon all occasions may appear ; not that it may be concealed , out of respect to any man , or Error receiv'd instead of Truth . The only thing justly blamable , in those who take upon them to correct the Mistakes of great Men , is , if they charge them falsly , passionately , or maliciously , not for the manifestation of Truth , but to lessen their Reputation ; or if they endeavour to obscure their great Excellencies , and severely inveigh against small Offences as unpardonable Crimes .

But when Mistakes in men , that have otherwise done great service to the World by their Learning , are modestly censured , only with this design , that others may not follow them in an Error ; the Admirers of great Men are so far from having any reason to complain , that if those great Men themselves were to live again , they could not , without the greatest ingratitude , and being chargeable with intolerable Pride , but thank those that had civilly shewn them their Error , and set them in the right way . Men are not so perfect in this World as to be liable to no Mistakes ; and those to whom we give the highest Commendations are not such as have never erred , but whose Mistakes are but few , or only in things of little moment . Let us not therefore extol Men so , as if the greatness of their Judgment , or Learning , had exempted them from the common danger of erring ; nor on the contrary , think them excluded out of the number of great Men , because they are convinced of some Error . I have so high an opinion of Dr. Hammond , upon reading over his Works , that I think there have been few Interpreters ever in the World comparable to him ; tho I have often differ'd from him , and shewn sometimes that he was mistaken . So no man has a greater value for H. Grotius , or is more forward to commend him , or does it more frequently than I ; yet I have sometimes confuted him , both in these Additions and elsewhere , without any abatement of my esteem or veneration for him . I am none of those , who are always upon the extreams both in applauding men and reviling them . I am for commending , without envy , what is praise-worthy ; and rejecting , without malice , what is opposite to Truth .

But you ought not , they say , to have mixed things of another kind with Dr. Hammond's Annotations . Why not ? for it 's true he ought not to have any thing attributed to him that he did not say ; but in a Work published so long after his death , and that in another language , I don't see why I might not add what I thought wanting in him , tho perhaps he himself would not have approved of my Additions , if he had been alive . For I did not publish this work for his use , but of them who are now living , or for posterity , who may reasonably have a greater regard to Truth than to Dr. Hammond . They who do not like my Additions , may refuse to buy them . They may get Dr. Hammond's Annotations in English by themselves . But are there not great Volumes published both in England and Holland , in which the Commentaries of learned men both Papists and Protestantes , greatly differing in their opinions from one another , are printed together ? And who even among the Papists , was ever displeased upon that account , or did not rather highly commend the design , because by that means what is wanting in some is supplied by others ? But tho I am not always of Dr. Hammond's judgment , yet the differences between us are much fewer , than between the Critical Interpreters of the Old and New Testament ; and if they had not , I would certainly never have undertaken to translate any thing of his . But because I agreed with him as to the chief points of Religion and the manner of Interpreting , therefore I translated his Annotations , tho I differ'd from him in some things . As I would have others bear with me whenever I disagree with them , so I cannot only bear with , but also love and respect others when they disagree with me . I count it an honour , as I said before , to have my short Remarks published with his accurate Labours ; but if I may speak a little boldly without offence , I do not think so meanly of my own performances as that their value , if it be any , can seem e're the less by their being joined with Dr. Hammond's . If I had thought so , I would never have published them either together or alone . I might be mistaken indeed , as all men are commonly dim-sighted in that which concerns themselves ; which whether it be true of me , let learned and impartial Readers only judg : but I could not but do what I thought fit to be done .

There is fallen lately into my hands an English Pamphlet intitled A Free but Modest Censure of some Controversial Books written in English , and among the rest of my Ars Critica , tho a Latin Treatise , and quite of another nature from those Controversies . To which there is also added the Authors judgment concerning my design in translating Dr. Hammond , of which I shall here subjoin a few things . That Modest , but Free Writer , whosoever he be , will not take it amiss , or at least cannot in reason , if I modestly and freely vindicate my intention . He says , it is a harmful project to publish Dr. Hammond ' ' s Annotations on the New Testament , and at the same time to mix my own Additional Notes with them , This , says he , is a politick way to promote the Cause , especially in England , where the Works of that learned and pious Annotator are in so great esteem : When his Criticisms and Interpretations are blended with the Socinian ones , how easily will they be both imbibed together ? I thought fit to caution my Countrymen about this hazard , that they may not be betrayed into Error , even the worst of Errors , whilst they are intent upon studying the Truth .

The Cause I have undertaken to defend , both in all my other printed Works , and my Additions to Dr. Hammond , is no other than the Cause of Christ and his Apostles ; whose Authority alone ( in matters of Religion ) all Protestants think is to be regarded and followed , if we may judg of their Opinion by the Confessions they subscribe ; of which mind I always was and ever shall be . I value the Authority of Socinus , or any other uninspired persons whatever , destitute of reason , no more than Dr. Hammond's or the Council of Trent's . When I think they agree with Christ and his Apostles , I assent to them ; and if not , I differ from them . I never read all Socinus his Works , nor like his peculiar Opinions , so far as I know them , any more than other mens , whom I judg to be in an Error . Nay , I have sometimes confuted them , and as I see occasion shall confute more of them ; not with a design to make his Followers odious , or to gain the favour of any Mortal , but to vindicate Truth . However , I am not of their mind who because men err in some things , that are otherwise obedient to the Precepts of the Gospel , and look for the coming of Christ to judg the quick and the dead , after the resurrection , by the rule of the Gospel , and reward the Good and punish the Wicked ; and think not that they can attain Salvation by any other means , than the Faith they have in Christ , as one sent from God , which Faith alone they hope by the mercy of God , to have imputed to them for righteousness : I am not , I say , of their mind that sentence such men to everlasting Flames , into which they would , if they were able , immediately hurry them , without the least mercy ; and in the mean time decree in a cruel manner to persecute them with Execrations , and Ecclesiastical and Civil Punishments . I have not so learned Christ , I do not find the Apostles ever acted in that manner : and whilst they are silent , and do not lead the way by their Example , I had rather incur the danger of being too merciful , than expose my self to the Charge of the least Cruelty and Barbarity . God will much sooner forgive them that heartily love him , that is , who keep his Commandments , and especially that great and so often repeated one of loving our Neighbour , their excessive Charity , if any Charity can be excessive towards men fearing God and Christ , tho in some things erroneous ; than that horrible inhumanity , with which they are frequently defamed , and persecuted , and forced to endure all manner of Punishments , only because they profess themselves not to believe , what they think Christ or his Apostles never revealed . I had infinitely rather stand in the number of the merciful , before the tribunal of the great Judg , than in the company of Persecutors , whatever their Riches or Honours are in this World . I had rather be in the mean while evil spoken of and suspected of Errors , which I am as far from as can be , than appear by any means to countenance such Barbarity .

Nor am I of their mind , who oppose those that differ from them with any kind of Arguments , after the example of bad Lawyers , who deny all that their Adversaries affirm , and affirm all they deny . Truth , in my judgment , can never be well defended but by Truth . Let others contend with Passion , and affirm what it is the interest of their party should seem true , or deny , not that which they are sure is false , but which they think it necessary should appear so , that their side may prevail ; as for me I will always say what I think true , and shall never fear any danger to the Christian Religion from Truth . This was heretofore the mind of a great man , for whom Dr. Hammond had always a very high value , whom he often transcribed , whom he defended against the Calumnies of his Adversaries , and in whose praise he every where speaks . All know very well that I describe Hugo Grotius , who whenever he thought Socinus , or Crellius , truly interpreted any place of Scripture , made no scruple to follow them ; tho he knew at the same time that some ill minded men reviled him for it . Wherefore Dr. Hammond has justly more than once pleaded his Cause , as every one , that has read over the second Volume of his Works , knows .

I am not at all for diminishing Dr. Hammond's Reputation , as I have already sufficiently declared ; I do not deny but he was a pious and learned man ; nay if I had not those thoughts of him , I would never have undertaken to translate one line of his Writings . But my Animadversions neither need his Piety nor Learning to make them be read , if they are valuable ; and if they are not , the Learning and Piety of Dr. Hammond will not procure me the Reader 's favour : on the contrary , if I am any where mistaken , the comparing them with Dr. Hammond will but render my Mistakes the more visible . But Socinian Doctrins , says my Censurer , will be imbibed with the true . I answer , I have before denyed , that I follow Socinus as my Guide ; but I don't understand why this Censurer should be so much afraid lest the true Doctrins asserted by Dr. Hammond should not be effectual to prevent the ill impressions ▪ that false and Socinian Interpretations may make upon Readers minds . If I were to reason after his manner , I should say that this Censurer is a close Socinian ; who by secret methods e●●●●●ours to advance the credit of Socinus his Opinions . For it must needs be a very powerful Doctrine in his apprehension , which if any , tho never so little , of it be mixed with the Writings of Orthodox Divines , it so obscures all their Reasons , that whether they will or no , it is easily imbibed . This way of arguing tends more to magnify and promote , than to depress and extinguish Socinianism , against which the most learned Annotations on the New Testament are not , it seems , a sufficient Preservative . Besides this , there is another thing which gives ground for suspicion , and it is what my Censurer , and other such as he generally stand by . To wit , If a person be any thing ingenious , or more learned than ordinary , and writes out of the common road , he is presently a Socinian ; as if all men of sense must needs turn Socinians . We have lately had a remarkable instance of this in the worthy and ingenious Mr. Lock , who , because he reasons more accurately about many things , than any before him had done , in his Excellent Treatise of Humane Vnderstanding , is immediately cried down as a Socinian , by this Censurer and others . This is in earnest to favour the Socinians , to make all good wits of their number . Just such reports were formerly spread at Hug. Grotius , and Ren. Cartesius ; which were no disgrace at all to those men , but an honour to the Socinians . So Erasmus was before charged with Arianism , by the Monks of those times , and others no better than they ; as if it had been impossible for a man of his capacity to be Orthodox . I am conscious to my self how far I come short of those great men in learning and natural abilities ; but if my Censurer was in earnest in the commendations he bestows upon me , he must needs own , that those endowments of mind which he attributes to me , were also the occasion of my falling into those Opinions , which he calls the worst of errors . But if he only flatter'd me , that he might speak the more spitefully of me afterwards , let me tell him , that feigned Respect is an argument of very little candour , to say no worse of it .